Avisa (from Latin charta visa'papers that have been seen';[1] also known asvisa stamp) is a conditional authorization granted by apolity to a foreigner that allows them to enter, remain within, or leave its territory. Visas typically include limits on the duration of the foreigner's stay, areas within the country they may enter, the dates they may enter, the number of permitted visits, or if the individual can work in the country in question. Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a territory and thus are, in most countries, distinct from actual formal permission for analien to enter and remain in the country. In each instance, a visa is subject toentry permission by an immigration official at the time of actual entry and can be revoked at any time. Visa evidence most commonly takes the form of a sticker endorsed in the applicant'spassport or othertravel document but may also exist electronically. Some countries no longer issue physical visa evidence, instead recording details only inimmigration databases.
Some countries require that their citizens, and sometimes foreign travelers, obtain anexit visa in order to be allowed to leave the country. Until 2004, foreign students inRussia were issued only an entry visa on being accepted to University there, and had to obtain an exit visa to return home. This policy has since been changed, and foreign students are now issued multiple entry (and exit) visas.
Historically, immigration officials were empowered to permit or reject entry of visitors on arrival at the frontiers. If permitted entry, the official would issue a visa, when required, which would be astamp in a passport. Today, travellers wishing to enter another country must often apply in advance for what is also called a visa, sometimes in person at aconsular office, by post, or over the Internet. The modern visa may be a sticker or a stamp in the passport, an electronic record of the authorization, or a separate document which the applicant can print before entering and produce on entry to the visited polity. Some countries do not require visitors to apply for a visa in advance for short visits.
Visa applications in advance of arrival give countries a chance to consider the applicant's circumstances, such as financial security, reason for travel, and details of previous visits to the country. Visitors may also be required to undergo and pass security or health checks upon arrival at the port of entry.
Some polities which restrictemigration require individuals to possess anexit visa to leave the polity.[2] These exit visas may be required for citizens, foreigners, or both, depending on the policies of the polity concerned. Unlike ordinary visas, exit visas are often seen as an illegitimate intrusion on individuals' right tofreedom of movement. The imposition of an exit visa requirement may be seen to violatecustomaryinternational law, as the right to leave any country is provided for in theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights.
Uniquely, the Norwegian special territory ofSvalbard is anentirely visa-free zone under the terms of theSvalbard Treaty. Some countries—such as those in theSchengen Area—have agreements with other countries allowing each other's citizens to travel between them without visas. In 2015, theWorld Tourism Organization announced that the number of tourists requiring a visa before travelling was at its lowest level ever.[3][4]
The history of passports dates back several centuries, originating from early travel documents used to ensure safe passage across regions. One of the earliest known references to a passport-like document comes from 445 BC inPersia, where officials were provided letters by the king for safe travel. Similarly, during theHan Dynasty inChina, documents were required at checkpoints to verify travelers' identities. Inmedieval Europe, rulers issued "safe conduct" letters that protected travelers. In 1414, during the reign ofKing Henry V ofEngland, passports became more formalized, allowing foreigners and citizens to travel safely within England. The 19th century saw an increase in international travel due to theIndustrial Revolution, which led to the widespread adoption of passports, particularly for managing the movement of migrant workers.
In Western Europe in the late 19th century and early 20th century,passports and visas were not generally necessary for moving from one country to another. The relatively high speed and large movements of people travelling by train would have caused bottlenecks if regular passport controls had been used.[5] Passports and visas became usually necessary as travel documents only afterWorld War I.[6]
AfterWorld War I, passports became essential for international travel.The League of Nations convened conferences in the 1920s to standardise passports, setting the foundation for modern versions.The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) took over regulation in 1947, leading to machine-readable passports and, eventually, biometric passports in the late 20th century, offering enhanced security and speed in processing travelers.[7][8][9]
Passport receipt for visa application, Embassy of Myanmar, Bangkok
Some visas can be granted on arrival or by prior application at the country's embassy orconsulate, or through a private visa service specialist who is specialized in the issuance of international travel documents. These agencies are authorized by the foreign authority, embassy, or consulate to represent international travellers who are unable or unwilling to travel to the embassy and apply in person. Private visa and passport services collect an additional fee for verifying customer applications, supporting documents, and submitting them to the appropriate authority. If there is no embassy or consulate in one's home country, then one would have to travel to a third country (or apply by post) and try to get a visa issued there. Alternatively, in such cases visas may be pre-arranged for collection on arrival at the border. The need or absence of need of a visa generally depends on the citizenship of the applicant, the intended duration of the stay, and the activities that the applicant may wish to undertake in the country he or she visits; these may delineate different formal categories of visas, with different issue conditions.
The issuing authority, usually a branch of the country'sforeign ministry or department (e.g.U.S. State Department), and typically consular affairs officers, may request appropriate documentation from the applicant. This may include proof that the applicant is able to support him or herself in the host country (lodging, food), proof that the person hosting the applicant in his or her home really exists and has sufficient room for hosting the applicant, proof that the applicant has obtained health and evacuation insurance, etc. Some countries ask for proof of health status, especially for long-term visas; some countries deny such visas to persons with certain illnesses, such asHIV/AIDS. The exact conditions depend on the country and category of visa. Notable examples of countries requiringHIV tests of long-term residents are Russia[10] and Uzbekistan.[11] In Uzbekistan, however, the HIV test requirement is sometimes not strictly enforced.[11] Other countries require a medical test that includes an HIV test, even for a short-term tourism visa. For example,Cuban citizens and international exchange students require such a test approved by a medical authority to enter Chilean territory.
The issuing authority may also require applicants to attest that they have no criminal convictions, or that they do not participate in certain activities (like prostitution or drug trafficking). Some countries will deny visas if passports show evidence of citizenship of, or travel to, a country that is considered hostile by that country. For example, some Arabic-oriented countries will not issue visas to nationals of Israel and those whose passports bear evidence of visiting Israel.[citation needed]
Many countries frequently demand strong evidence of intent to return to the home country, if the visa is for a temporary stay, due to potential unwantedillegal immigration. Proof of ties to the visa applicant's country of residence is often demanded to demonstrate a sufficient incentive to return. This can include things such as documented evidence of employment, bank statements, property ownership, and family ties.
The main reasons states impose visa restrictions on foreign nationals are to curb illegal immigration, security concerns, and reciprocity for visa restrictions imposed on their own nationals. Typically, nations impose visa restrictions on citizens of poorer countries, along with politically unstable and undemocratic ones, as it is considered more likely that people from these countries will seek to illegally immigrate. Visa restrictions may also be imposed when nationals of another country are perceived as likelier to be terrorists or criminals, or by autocratic regimes that perceive foreign influence to be a threat to their rule.[12][13] According to ProfessorEric Neumayer of theLondon School of Economics:
The poorer, the less democratic, and the more exposed to armed political conflict the target country is, the more likely that visa restrictions are in place against its passport holders. The same is true for countries whose nationals have been major perpetrators of terrorist acts in the past.[12]
Some countries apply the principle ofreciprocity in their visa policy. Visa reciprocity is a principle in international relations where two countries agree to give each other's citizens similar treatment when it comes to visa requirements.[14] For example visa reciprocity is a central principle of the EU's common visa policy. The EU aims to achieve full visa reciprocity with non-EU countries whose citizens can travel to the EU without a visa.[15] For example, when in 2009, Canada reintroduced visa requirements for Czech nationals, arguing it was necessary due to a surge in asylum applications, it raised concerns within the EU about the implications for the common visa policy, the importance of reciprocity in maintaining good relations and ensuring equal treatment for citizens of member states.[16][17]
Government authorities usually impose administrative entry restrictions on foreign citizens in three ways – countries whose nationals may enter without a visa, countries whose nationals may obtain a visa on arrival, and countries whose nationals require a visa in advance. Nationals who require a visa in advance are usually advised to obtain them at a diplomatic mission of their destination country. Several countries allow nationals of countries that require a visa to obtain them online.
The following table lists visa policies of all countries by the number of foreign nationalities that may enter that country for tourism without a visa or by obtaining a visa on arrival with normal passport. It also notes countries that issue electronic visas to certain nationalities. Symbol "+" indicates a country that limits the visa-free regime negatively by only listing nationals who require a visa, thus the number represents the number of UN member states reduced by the number of nationals who require a visa and "+" stands for all possible non-UN member state nationals that might also not require a visa. "N/A" indicates countries that have contradictory information on its official websites or information supplied by the Government toIATA. Some countries that allow visa on arrival do so only at a limited number of entry points. Some countries such as the European Union member states have a qualitatively different visa regime between each other as it also includes freedom of movement.
The following table is current as of 3 October 2019[update]. Source:[18]
Possession of a valid visa is a condition for entry into many countries, and exemption schemes exist. In some cases visa-free entry may be granted to holders of diplomatic passports even as visas are required by normal passport holders (see:Passport).
Some countries havereciprocal agreements such that a visa is not needed under certain conditions, e.g., when the visit is fortourism and for a relatively short period. Such reciprocal agreements may stem from common membership in international organizations or a shared heritage:
British and Irish citizens are entitled the right to travel to and stay in each other's countries without visas or restrictions under theCommon Travel Area.
Citizens of countries in theCommon Travel Area (CTA) do not need visas to travel to and stay in other countries in the CTA.
The United StatesVisa Waiver Program allows citizens of 41 countries to travel to the United States without a visa (although a pre-trip entry permission,ESTA, is needed).[24]
Citizens of Canada and the United States do not require a visa to travel between the two countries. Historically, verbal declaration of citizenship, or, if requested by an officer, the presentation of one of over 8,000 different types of documents indicating US or Canadian citizenship was sufficient in order to cross the border.[25] Since theWestern Hemisphere Travel Initiative came into effect in 2009, a passport, border crossing card, orenhanced driver's license is now required in order to enter the US from Canada by land, or a passport by air.
AnyGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizen can enter and stay as long as required in any other GCC member state.
All citizens of members of theEconomic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), excluding those defined by law as undesirable aliens, may enter and stay without a visa in any member state for a maximum period of 90 days. The only requirement is a valid travel document and international vaccination certificates.[26]
Some countries in theCommonwealth do not require tourist visas ofcitizens of other Commonwealth countries.
Citizens of member states of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations do not require tourist visas to visit another member state, with the exception ofMalaysia andMyanmar; both countries require citizens of the other country to have an eVisa to visit. Until 2009, Burmese citizens were required to have visas to enter all other ASEAN countries. Following the implementation of visa exemption agreements with the other ASEAN countries, in 2016 Burmese citizens are only required to have visas to enter Malaysia.
Nepal andIndia allow their citizens to enter, live, and work in each other's countries due to the Indo-Nepal friendship treaty of 1951. Indians do not require a visa or passport to travel toBhutan and are only required to obtain passes at the border checkpoints, whilst Bhutan nationals holding a validBhutanese passport are authorized to enter India without a visa.
Citizens ofMercosur full member and associate countries can enter without a visa in any of the member and associate countries, just needing to present the ID card.[30][31]
Other countries may unilaterally grant visa-free entry to nationals of certain countries to facilitate tourism, promote business, or even to cut expenses on maintaining consular posts abroad.
Some of the considerations for a country to grant visa-free entry to another country include (but are not limited to):[citation needed]
being a low security risk for the country potentially granting visa-free entry
diplomatic relationship between two countries
conditions in the visitor's home country as compared to the host country
having a low risk of overstaying or violating visa terms in the country potentially granting visa-free entry
To have a smaller worldwide diplomatic staff, some countries rely on other country's (or countries') judgments when issuing visas. For example,Mexico allows citizens of all countries to enter without Mexican visas if they possess a valid American visa that has already been used.Costa Rica accepts valid visas ofSchengen/EU countries,Canada,Japan,South Korea, and the United States (if valid for at least three months on date of arrival). The ultimate example of such reliance is the microstate ofAndorra, which imposes no visa requirements of its own because it has no international airport and is inaccessible by land without passing through the territory of eitherFrance orSpain and is thus "protected" by the Schengen visa system.
Visa-free travel between countries also occurs in all cases where passports (or passport-replacing documents such as laissez-passer) are not needed for such travel. (For examples of passport-free travel, seeInternational travel without passports.)
As of 2019, theHenley & Partners passport index ranks the Japanese, Singaporean, and South Korean passports as the ones with the most visa exemptions by other nations, allowing holders of those passports to visit 189 countries without obtaining a visa in advance of arrival.[32]However, as of 6 June 2019,[update]the Passport Index ranks theUnited Arab Emirates passport as the one with the most visa exemptions by other nations, allowing holders of this passport to visit 173 countries[33] without obtaining a visa in advance of arrival.
Normally, visas are valid for entry only into the country that issued the visa. Countries that are members ofregional organizations or party to regional agreements may, however, issue visas valid for entry into some or all of the member states of the organization or agreement:
TheSchengen Visa is a visa for theSchengen Area, which consists of most of theEuropean Economic Area, plus several other adjacent countries. The visa allows visitors to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period[citation needed]. The visa is valid for tourism, family visits, and business.
TheCentral American Single Visa (Visa Única Centroamericana) is a visa for Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It was implemented by theCA-4 agreement. It allows citizens of those four countries free access to other member countries. It also allows visitors to any member country to enter another member country without having to obtain another visa.
AnASEAN common visa scheme has been considered with Thailand and the "CLMV" countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam opting in earlier. After talk arose of a CLMV common visa,[34] with Thailand being omitted, Thailand initiated and began implementation of a trial common visa with Cambodia, but cited security risks as the major hurdle. The trial run was delayed,[35] but Thailand implemented a single visa scheme with Cambodia beginning on 27 December 2012 on a trial basis.[36]
ThePacific Alliance, which currently consists ofChile,Colombia,Mexico, andPeru, offer a common visa for tourism purposes only in order to make it easier for nationals from countries outside of the alliance to travel through these countries by not having to apply for multiple visas.[38]
AnEast African Single Tourist Visa is under consideration by the relevant sectoral authorities under theEast African Community (EAC) integration program. If approved the visa will be valid for all five partner states in the EAC (Kenya,Tanzania,Uganda,Rwanda, andBurundi). Under the proposal for the visa, any new East African single visa can be issued by any partner state's embassy. The visa proposal followed an appeal by the tourist boards of the partner states for a common visa to accelerate promotion of the region as a single tourist destination and the EAC Secretariat wants it approved before November's World Travel Fair (orWorld Travel Market) in London.[39] When approved by the East African council of ministers, tourists could apply for one country's entry visa, which would then be applicable in all regional member states as a single entry requirement initiative.[40] This is considered also byCOMESA.
TheSADC UNIVISA (orUnivisa) has been in development sinceSouthern African Development Community (SADC) members signed a Protocol on the Development of Tourism in 1998. The Protocol outlined the Univisa as an objective so as to enable the international and regional entry and travel of visitors to occur as smoothly as possible.[citation needed] It was expected to become operational by the end of 2002.[41] Its introduction was delayed and a new implementation date, the end of 2006, was announced. The univisa was originally intended to only be available, initially, to visitors from selected "source markets" including Australia, theBenelux countries, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[41] It is now expected that when the Univisa is implemented, it will apply to non-SADC international (long-haul) tourists travelling to and within the region and that it will encourage multi – destination travel within the region. It is also anticipated that the Univisa will enlarge tourist market for transfrontier parks by lowering the boundaries between neighbouring countries in the parks. The visa is expected to be valid for all the countries with trans frontier parks (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe) and some other SADC countries (Angola and Swaziland).[42] As of 2017, universal visa is implemented byZambia andZimbabwe. Nationals of 65 countries and territories are eligible for visa on arrival that is valid for both countries. This visa is brandedKAZA Uni-visa programme afterKavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA). It is expected that other SADC countries will join the program in the future.[43]
TheCARICOM Visa was introduced in late 2006 and allowed visitors to travel between 10CARICOM member states (Antigua & Barbuda,Barbados,Dominica,Grenada,Guyana,Jamaica,St. Kitts & Nevis,St. Lucia,St. Vincent & the Grenadines, andTrinidad and Tobago). These ten member countries had agreed to form a "Single Domestic Space" in which travellers would only have their passport stamped and have to submit completed, standardized entry and departure forms at the first port and country of entry. The CARICOM Visa was applicable to the nationals of all countries except CARICOM member states (other than Haiti) and associate member states, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the overseas countries, territories, or departments of these countries. The CARICOM Visa could be obtained from the Embassies/Consulates of Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago and in countries that have no CARICOM representatives, the applications forms could be obtained from the embassies and consulates of the United Kingdom. The common visa was only intended for the duration of the2007 Cricket World Cup and was discontinued on 15 May 2007. Discussions are ongoing into instituting a revised CARICOM visa on a permanent basis in the future.
A predecessor of the Schengen common visa was theBenelux visa. Visas issued by Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg were valid for all the three countries.
Visas can also besingle-entry, which means the visa is cancelled as soon as the holder enters the country;double-entry; ormultiple-entry, which permits double or multiple entries into the country with the same visa. Countries may also issuere-entry permits that allow temporarily leaving the country without invalidating the visa. Even a business visa will normally not allow the holder to work in the host country without an additionalwork permit.
Once issued, a visa will typically have to be used within a certain period of time.
In some countries, the validity of a visa is not the same as the authorized period of stay. The visa validity then indicates the time period when the entry is permitted into the country. For example, if a visa has been issued to begin on 1 January and to expire on 30 March, and the typical authorized period of stay in a country is 90 days, then the 90-day authorized stay starts on the day the passenger enters the country (entrance has to be between 1 January and 30 March). Thus, the latest day the traveller could conceivably stay in the issuing country is 1 July (if the traveller entered on 30 March). This interpretation of visas is common in the Americas.
With other countries, a person may not stay beyond the period of validity of their visa, which is usually set within the period of validity of their passport. The visa may also limit the total number of days the visitor may spend in the applicable territory within the period of validity. This interpretation of visa periods is common in Europe.
Once in the country, the validity period of a visa or authorized stay can often be extended for a fee at the discretion of immigration authorities. Overstaying a period of authorized stay given by the immigration officers is consideredillegal immigration even if the visa validity period is not over (i.e., for multiple entry visas) and a form of being "out of status" and the offender may befined, prosecuted,deported, or evenblacklisted from entering the country again.
Entering a country without a valid visa or visa exemption may result in detention and removal (deportation or exclusion) from the country. Undertaking activities that are not authorized by the status of entry (for example, working while possessing a non-worker tourist status) can result in the individual being deemed liable for deportation—commonly referred to as anillegal alien. Such violation is not a violation of a visa, despite the common misuse of the phrase, but a violation of status – hence the term "out of status".
Even having a visa does not guarantee entry to the host country. The border crossing authorities make the final determination to allow entry, and may even cancel a visa at the border if the alien cannot demonstrate to their satisfaction that they will abide by the status their visa grants them.
Some countries that do not require visas for short stays may require a long-stay visa for those who intend to apply for aresidence permit. For example, the EU does not require a visa of citizens of many countries for stays under 90 days, but its member states require a long-stay visa of such citizens for longer stays.
Countries that issue visas or permits on arrival as a general rule for all arriving visitors which Nigeria is now included, where ALL nationals can obtain VOA at ANY Nigerian airport boader
Countries that issue visas or permits on arrival to a selected group of nationalities (more than 10)
Countries that do not routinely issue visas or permits on arrival to foreign visitors
Also known as visas on arrival (VOA), they are granted at a port of entry. This is distinct from visa-free entry, where no visa is required, as the visitor must still obtain the visa on arrival before proceeding to immigration control.
Almost all countries will consider issuing a visa (or another document to the same effect) on arrival to a visitor arriving in unforeseen exceptional circumstances, for example:
Under provisions of article 35 of the Schengen Visa Code,[44] a visa may be issued at a border in situations such as the diversion of a flight causing air passengers in transit to pass through two or more airports instead of one. In 2010, Iceland'sEyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, causingsignificant disruption of air travel throughout Europe, and theEU responded by announcing that it would issue visas at land borders to stranded travellers.
Under section 212(d)(4) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act,[45] visa waivers can be issued to travellers arriving at American ports of entry in emergency situations or under other conditions.
Certain international airports in Russia have consuls on-duty, who have the power to issue visas on the spot.
Some countries issue visas on arrival to special categories of travellers, such as seafarers or aircrew.
Some countries issue them to regular visitors. There often are restrictions – for example:
Belarus issues visas on arrival in Minsk international airport only to nationals of countries where there is no consular representation of Belarus.
Thailand only issues visas on arrival at certain border checkpoints. The most notable crossing where visas on arrival are not issued is the Padang Besar checkpoint for passenger trains between Malaysia and Thailand.
Countries granting electronic visas to select nationalities
Countries requiring electronic registration from most visa exempt visitors (excluding Australian eVisitor)
Countries that plan to introduce eVisas in the future
Countries without electronic visas facilities
An electronic visa (e-Visa or eVisa) is stored in a computer and is linked to the passport number so no label, sticker, or stamp is placed in the passport before travel. The application is done over the internet, and the receipt acts as a visa, which can be printed or stored on a mobile device.
Many countries have a mechanism to allow the holder of a visa to apply to extend a visa. In Denmark, a visa holder can apply to theDanish Immigration Service for aResidence Permit after they have arrived in the country. In the United Kingdom, applications can be made toUK Visas and Immigration.
In certain circumstances, it is impossible for the holder of the visa to do this, either because the country does not have a mechanism to prolong visas or, most likely, because the holder of the visa is using a short stay visa to live in a country.
This person left and then went backLaos on the same day in order to activate another period of stay.
Some foreign visitors engage in what is known as avisa run: leaving a country—usually to a neighboring country—for a short period just before the permitted length of stay expires, then returning to the first country to get a new entry stamp in order to extend their stay ("reset the clock"). Despite the name, a visa run is usually done with a passport that can be used for entry without a visa.
Visa runs are frowned upon by immigration authorities as they may signify that the foreigner wishes to reside permanently and might also work in that country – purposes that are prohibited and that usually require an immigrant visa or a work visa. Immigration officers may deny re-entry to visitors suspected of engaging in prohibited activities, especially when they have done repeated visa runs and have no evidence of spending reasonable time in their home countries or countries where they have the right to reside and work.
To combat visa runs, some countries have limits on how long visitors can spend in the country without a visa, as well as how much time they have to stay out before "resetting the clock". For example,Schengen countries impose a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. Some countries do not "reset the clock" when a visitor comes back after visiting a neighboring country. For example, the United States does not give visitors a new period of stay when they come back from visiting Canada, Mexico, orthe Caribbean; instead they are re-admitted to the United States for the remaining days granted on their initial entry.[47] Some other countries, e.g. Thailand, allow visitors who arrive by land from neighboring countries a shorter length of stay than those who arrive by air.
In some cases, a visa run is necessary to activate new visas or change the immigration status of a person. An example would be leaving a country and then returning immediately to activate a newly issued work visa before a person can legally work.
Exit visas may be required to leave some countries. Many countries limit the ability of individuals to leave in certain circumstances, such as those with outstandinglegal proceedings or large government debts.[48][49][50] Despite this, the termexit visa is generally limited to countries that systematically restrict departure, where the right to leave is not automatic. Imposing a systematic requirement for exit permission may be seen toviolate the right tofreedom of movement, which is found in theUDHR and forms part ofcustomary international law.[51]
Countries implementing exit visas vary in who they require to obtain one. Some countries permit the free movement of foreign nationals while restricting their own citizens.[52][53] Others may limit the exit visa requirement to resident foreigners in the country onwork visas, such as in theKafala system.[54][55][56][57]
Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon,Oman, Saudi Arabia, and theUnited Arab Emirates all have an exit visa requirement for alien foreign workers. This is part of theirkafala work visa sponsorship system. Consequently, at the end of a foreign worker's employment period, the worker must secure clearance from their employer stating that the worker has satisfactorily fulfilled the terms of their employment contract or that the worker's services are no longer needed. The exit visa can also be withheld if there are pending court charges that need to be settled or penalties that have to be meted out. In September 2018, Qatar lifted the exit visa requirement for most workers.[58] Persons are generally free to leave Israel, except for those who are subject to astay of exit order.[59]
Nepal requires its citizens emigrating to the United States on anH-1B visa to present an exit permit issued by the Nepali Ministry of Labour. This document is called a work permit and needs to be presented to Nepali immigration to leave Nepal.[60]
Uzbekistan was the last remaining country of theformer USSR that required anexit visa, which was valid for a two-year period. The practice was abolished in 2019.[61] There had been an explicitUnited Nations complaint about this practice.[62]
North Korea requires that its citizens obtain an exit visa stating the traveller's destination country and time to be spent abroad before leaving the country.[citation needed] Additionally, North Korean authorities also require North Korean citizens to obtain a re-entry visa from a North Korean embassy or North Korean mission abroad before being allowed back into North Korea.[citation needed]
The government of the People's Republic of China requires its citizens to obtain aTaiwan Travel Permit issued by the People's Republic of China's authorities with a valid endorsement prior to visiting theRepublic of China if they depart from the mainland (besides Chongqing, Nanchang or Kunming if they leave for the Republic of China for transit[63]). The endorsement is ade facto exit visa for ROC-bound trips for mainland citizens of China.[64]
Singapore operates an Exit Permit scheme in order to enforce thenational service obligations of its male citizens and permanent residents.[65] Requirements vary according to age and status:[66]
Exit permit, where Minimum Term of Engagement is not complete
6+ months
Exit permit
Iran, Taiwan[68] and South Korea also require male citizens who are older than a certain age but have not fulfilled their military duties to register with localMilitary Manpower Administration office before they pursue international travels, studies, business trips, and/or performances. Failure to do so is a felony in those countries and violators would face up to three years of imprisonment.
TheSoviet Union and itsWarsaw Pact allies required exit visas both foremigration and for those who wanted to leave the Soviet Union for a shorter period.
Some countries require that an alien who needs a visa on entry be in possession of a valid visa upon exit. To satisfy this formal requirement, exit visas sometimes need to be issued.
A rare type 2 USSR exit visa. This type of visa was issued to those who received permission to leave the USSR permanently and lost theirSoviet citizenship. Many people who wanted to emigrate were unable to receive this kind of exit visa.
Russia requires an exit visa if a visitor stays past the expiration date of their visa. They must then extend their visa or apply for an exit visa and are not allowed to leave the country until they show a valid visa or have a permissible excuse for overstaying their visa (e.g., a note from a doctor or a hospital explaining an illness, missed flight, lost or stolen visa). In some cases, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can issue a return-Home certificate that is valid for ten days from the embassy of the visitor's native country, thus eliminating the need for an exit visa.
A foreign citizen granted a temporary residence permit in Russia needs a temporary resident visa to take a trip abroad (valid for both exit and return). It is also colloquially called anexit visa. Not all foreign citizens are subject to that requirement. Citizens of Germany, for example, do not require this exit visa.
In March 2021, during theCOVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom required everyone leaving England to fill out an exit form detailing their address, passport number, destination, and reason to travel.[70] Permitted reasons to travel included for work or volunteering, education, medical or compassionate reasons such as weddings and funerals.[71] Travellers may have been required to carry evidence to support their reason to travel.[72]
TheUnited States of America does not require exit visas. Since 1 October 2007, however, the U.S. government requiresall foreign and U.S. nationalsdeparting the United States by air to hold a valid passport (or certain specific passport-replacing documents). Even though travellers might not require a passport to enter a certain country, theywill require a valid passport booklet (booklet only, U.S. Passport Card not accepted) to depart the United States in order to satisfy the U.S. immigration authorities.[74] Exemptions to this requirement to hold a valid passport include:
U.S. Permanent Resident/Resident Alien Card (Form I-551);
U.S. Military ID Cards when travelling on official orders;
Emergency Travel Document (e.g. Consular Letter) issued by a foreign embassy or consulate specifically for the purpose of travel to the bearer's home country.
Nationals of Mexico holding one of the following documents:
(expired) "Matricula Consular"; or
Birth certificate with consular registration; or
Certificate of Nationality issued by a Mexican consulate abroad; or
Certificate of Military Duty (Cartilla Militar); or
Voter's Certificate (Credencial IFE orCredencial para Votar).
In addition,green card holders and certain other aliens must obtain a certificate of compliance (also known as a "sailing permit" or "departure permit") from theInternal Revenue Service proving that they are up-to-date with their US income tax obligations before they may leave the country.[75] While the requirement has been in effect since 1921, it has not been stringently enforced, but in 2014 theHouse Ways and Means Committee has considered beginning to enforce the requirement as a way to increase tax revenues.[76]
Australia, citing COVID-19 concerns, in 2020 banned outward travel by both Australian citizens and permanent residents, unless they requested and were granted an exemption. In August 2021 this ban was extended to people who are ordinarily resident in countries other than Australia as well. Exceptions apply to business travel and travel for "compelling reasons" for three months or longer, among others.[77][78]
On 1 November 2021, after 20 months, the exit permit system was scrapped andNew South Wales andVictoria officially re-opened their borders in addition to ending quarantine requirements on arrival for fully vaccinated individuals. However, on 27 November 2021, 72-hour quarantine requirements were reinstated over concerns about theSARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
In general, an applicant may be refused a visa if they do not meet the requirements for admission or entry under that country's immigration laws. More specifically, a visa may be denied or refused when the applicant:
has committed fraud, deception, or misrepresentation in his or her current application as well as in a previous application
has obtained a criminal record, has been arrested, or has criminal charges pending
is considered to be a threat to national security
does not have a good moral character
has previous visa/immigration violations (even if the violations did not happen in the country the applicant is seeking a visa for)
had their previous visa application(s) or application for immigration benefits refused and cannot prove that the reasons for the previous refusals no longer exist or are not applicable any more (even if the refusals did not previously happen in the country the applicant is seeking a visa for)
cannot prove to have strong ties to their current country of nationality or residence (for those who are applying for temporary or non-immigrant visas)
intends to reside or work permanently in the country she/he will visit if not applying for an immigrant or work visa respectively
fails to demonstrate intent to return (for non-immigrants)
fails to provide sufficient evidence/documents to prove eligibility for the visa sought after
does not have a legitimate reason for the journey
does not have adequate means of financial support for themselves or family
does not have adequate medical insurance, especially if engaging in high risk activities (e.g. rock climbing, skiing, etc.)
does not have travel arrangements (i.e. transport and lodging) in the destination country
does not have health/travel insurance valid for the destination and the duration of stay
is a citizen of a country to which the destination country is hostile or at war with
has previously visited, or intends to visit, a country to which the destination country is hostile
Even if a traveller does not need a visa, the aforementioned criteria can also be used by border control officials to refuse the traveller's entry into the country in question.
For passing through the country of issue to a destination outside that country. Validity of transit visas are usually limited by short terms such as several hours to ten days depending on the size of the country or the circumstances of a particular transit itinerary.
Airside transit visa, required by some countries for passing through their airports even without going through passport control.
Crew member, steward, or driver visa, issued to persons employed or trained on aircraft, vessels, trains, trucks, buses, and any other means of international transportation, or ships fishing in international waters.
For short visits to the visited country. Many countries differentiate between different reasons for these visits, such as:
Private visa, for private visits by invitation from residents of the visited country.
Tourist visa, for a limited period of leisure travel, no business activities allowed.
Medical visa, for undertaking diagnostics or a course of treatment in the visited country's hospitals or other medical facilities.
Business visa, for engaging in commerce in the country. These visas generally precludepermanent employment, for which awork visa would be required.
Working holiday visa, for individuals travelling between nations offering a working holiday program, allowing young people to undertake temporary work while travelling.
Athletic or artistic visa, issued to athletes and performing artists (and their supporting staff) performing at competitions, concerts, shows, and other events.
Cultural exchange visa, usually issued to athletes and performing artists participating in a cultural exchange program.
Refugee visa, issued to persons fleeing the dangers of persecution, a war or a natural disaster.
Pilgrimage visa: this type of visa is mainly issued to those intending to visit religious destinations and/or to take part in particular religious ceremonies. Such visas can usually be obtained relatively quickly and at a low cost; those using them are usually permitted to travel only as a group, however. The most well-known example isSaudi Arabia'sHajj visa.[79]
Visas valid for long term stays of a specific duration include:
Student visa (F-1 in the United States), which allows its holder to study at an institution of higher learning in the issuing country. The F-2 visa allows the student's dependents to accompany them in the United States.
Research visa, for students doingfieldwork in the host country.
Temporary worker visa, for approved employment in the host country. These are generally more difficult to obtain but valid for longer periods of time than a business visa. Examples of these are the United States'H-1B andL-1 visas. Depending on a particular country, the status of temporary worker may or may not evolve into the status of permanent resident or to naturalization.
Journalist visa, which some countries require of people in that occupation when travelling for their respective news organizations. Countries that insist on this includeCuba,China,Iran,Japan,North Korea,Saudi Arabia, theUnited States (I-visa), andZimbabwe.
Residence visa, granted to people obtaining long-term residence in the host country. In some countries, such as New Zealand, long-term residence is a necessary step to obtain the status of a permanent resident.
Asylum visa, issued to people who have suffered or reasonably fear persecution in their own country due to their political activities or opinion, or features, or association with a social group; or were exiled from their own country.
Dependent visa, issued to certain family members of holder of a long-stay visa of certain other types (e.g., to spouse and children of a qualified employee holding a temporary worker visa).
Digital nomad visa, fordigital nomads who want to temporarily reside in a country while performing remote work. Thailand launched its SMART Visa, targeted at high expertise foreigners and entrepreneurs to stay a longer time in Thailand, with online applications for the visa being planned for late 2018.[80]Estonia has also announced plans for a digital nomad visa, after the launch of itse-Residency program.[81]
Granted for those intending to settle permanently in the issuing country (obtain the status of a permanent resident with a prospect of possible naturalization in the future):
Spouse visa orpartner visa, granted to thespouse,civil partner or de facto partner of a resident or citizen of a given country to enable the couple to settle in that country.
Family member visa, for other members of the family of a resident or citizen of a given country. Usually, only the closest ones are covered:
Parents, often restricted to helpless ones, i.e. those who, due to their elderly age or state of health, need supervision and care;
Children (includingadopted ones), often restricted to those who have not reached theage of maturity or helpless ones;
Often also extended to grandchildren or grandparents, where their immediate parents or children, respectively, are for whichever reason unable to take care of them;
Marriage visa, granted for a limited period before intended marriage or conclusion of a civil partnership based on a proven relationship with a citizen of the destination country. For example, a German woman wishing to marry an American man would obtain a Fiancée Visa (also known as aK-1 visa) to allow her to enter the United States. A K1 Fiancée Visa is valid for four months from the date of its approval.[82]
Pensioner visa (also known as retiree visa or retirement visa), issued by a limited number of countries (Australia, Argentina, Thailand, Panama, etc.), to those who can demonstrate a foreign source of income and who do not intend to work in the issuing country. Age limits apply in some cases.
These are granted to officials doing jobs for their governments, or otherwise representing their countries in the host country, such as the personnel of diplomatic missions.
Adiplomatic visa in combination with a regular or diplomatic passport.[83]
Acourtesy visa is issued to representatives of foreign governments or international organizations who do not qualify fordiplomatic status but do merit expedited, courteous treatment – an example of this isAustralia'sspecial purpose visa.
The Henley Passport index ranks passports according to the number of destinations that can be reached using a particular country's ordinary passport without the need of a prior visa ("visa-free").[84][85][86] The survey ranks 199 passports against 227 destination[87]countries,territories, andmicro-states.[88][89][90]
TheIATA maintains a database of travel information worldwide and all destinations that are in the IATA database are considered by the index.[91] However, because not all territories issue passports, there are far fewer passports ranked than destinations about which queries are made.[92]
As of 16 July 2024, theSingaporean passport offers holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a total of 195 countries[93] and territories,[94] followed by theJapanese,French,German,Italian, andSpanish passports offer holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a total of 192 countries followed by theAustrian,Finnish,Irish,Luxembourgish,Dutch,South Korean andSwedish passports, each offering 191 visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries and territories to its holders.[95] These rankings were subsequently followed by theBelgian,Danish,New Zealand,Norwegian,Swiss, andBritish passports, each offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 190 countries and territories.[96] While the 2024 Henley Passport Index shows a worldwide improvement in access to visa-free travel, the gap between the top and the bottom ranked countries has widened.[97]
Asian countries like Japan and Singapore have dominated the top position in the Index for the last five years.[98]
TheAfghan passport has once again been labelled by the index as the least powerful passport in the world, with its nationals only able to visit 28 destinations visa-free.[99][100] This was followed by theSyrian passport at 29 destinations, theIraqi passport at 31 destinations and thePakistani andYemini passports at 34 destinations. Among African countries, theSomali passport is the weakest passport according to the index.[101]
Many countries require a minimum number of blank pages to be available in the passport being presented, typically one or two pages.[102] Endorsement pages, which often appear after the visa pages, are not counted as being valid or available.
Some other countries require vaccination only if the passenger is coming from an infected area or has visited one recently or has transited for 12 hours in those countries: Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.[105][106]
Very few countries, such as Paraguay, just require a valid passport on arrival.
However many countries and groupings now require only an identity card – especially from their neighbours. Other countries may have special bilateral arrangements that depart from the generality of their passport validity length policies to shorten the period of passport validity required for each other's citizens[107][108] or even accept passports that have already expired (butnot been cancelled).[109]
Some countries, such as Japan,[110] Ireland and the United Kingdom,[111] require a passport valid throughout the period of the intended stay.
In the absence of specific bilateral agreements, countries requiring passports to be valid for at least 6 more months on arrival include Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Bahrain,[112] Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel,[113] Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru,[114] Philippines,[115] Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Vietnam.[116]
Countries requiring passports valid for at least 4 months on arrival include Micronesia and Zambia.
Countries requiring passports with a validity of at least 3 months beyond the date of intended departure include Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Honduras, Montenegro, Nauru, Moldova and New Zealand.Similarly, theEEA countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, allEuropean Union countries (except Ireland) together with Switzerland also require 3 months validity beyond the date of the bearer's intended departure unless the bearer is an EEA or Swiss national.
Countries requiring passports valid for at least 3 months on arrival include Albania, North Macedonia, Panama, and Senegal.
Bermuda requires passports to be valid for at least 45 days upon entry.
Countries that require a passport validity of at least one month beyond the date of intended departure include Eritrea, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, the Maldives[117] and South Africa.
Countries of theSchengen area require non-EU passports to be less than 10 years old upon entry.[118] A number of holders of British passports, which until September 2018 could be issued with a validity period of up to 10 years and nine months if the previous passport was not expired, were unable to travel to the EU subsequent toBrexit due to this restriction.[119]
Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States,[120] routinely deny entry to non-citizens who have acriminal record, while others impose restrictionsdepending on the type of conviction and the length of the sentence.
The government of a country can declare a diplomatpersona non grata, banning them from entering the country or expelling them if they have already entered. In non-diplomatic use, the authorities of a country may also declare a foreignerpersona non grata permanently or temporarily, usually because of unlawful activity.[121]
Kuwait,[122] Lebanon,[123] Libya,[124] and Yemen[125] do not allow entry to people withpassport stamps from Israel or whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa, or where there is evidence of previous travel to Israel such as entry or exit stamps from neighbouring border posts in transit countries such as Jordan and Egypt.
To circumvent thisArab League boycott of Israel, the Israeli immigration services have now mostly ceased to stamp foreign nationals' passports on either entry to or exit from Israel (unless the entry is for some work-related purposes). Since 15 January 2013, Israel no longer stamps foreign passports atBen Gurion Airport. Passports are still (as of 22 June 2017[update]) stamped atErez when passing into and out ofGaza.[citation needed]
Iran refuses admission to holders of passports containing an Israeli visa or stamp that is less than 12 months old.
Several countries mandate that all travellers, or all foreign travellers, befingerprinted on arrival and will refuse admission to or even arrest travellers who refuse to comply. In some countries, such as the United States, this may apply even to transit passengers who merely wish to change planes rather than golandside.[126]
Fingerprinting countries/regions include Afghanistan,[127][128] Argentina,[129] Brunei, Cambodia,[130] China,[131] Ethiopia,[132] Ghana, Guinea,[133] India, Japan,[134][135] Kenya (both fingerprints and a photo are taken),[136] Malaysia upon entry and departure,[137] Mongolia, Saudi Arabia,[138] Singapore, South Korea,[139] Taiwan, Thailand,[140] Uganda,[141] the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Many countries also require a photo be taken of people entering the country. The United States, which does not fully implementexit control formalities at its land frontiers (although long mandated by its own legislation),[142][143][144] intends to implementfacial recognition for passengers departing from international airports to identify people who overstay their visa.[145]
Together with fingerprint and face recognition,iris scanning is one of three biometric identification technologies internationally standardised since 2006 by theInternational Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for use ine-passports[146] and the United Arab Emirates conducts iris scanning on visitors who need to apply for a visa.[147][148] The United StatesDepartment of Homeland Security has announced plans to greatly increase the biometric data it collects at US borders.[149] In 2018, Singapore began trials of iris scanning at three land and maritime immigration checkpoints.[150][151]
^Robertson, Craig (29 November 2012),""The Passport Nuisance"",The Passport in America, Oxford University Press, pp. 215–244, retrieved29 September 2024
^Encompasses Schengen member states – Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania and countries without border controls – Monaco, San Marino, Vatican and a country accessible only via Schengen area – Andorra.
^"Turismo" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Mercosur. Retrieved26 July 2021.
^"TheHenley & Partners Passport Index"(PDF). Henley & Partners Holdings Ltd. 26 March 2019. Retrieved6 June 2019.This graph shows the full Global Ranking of the 2019 Henley Passport Index. As the index usesdense ranking, in certain cases, a rank is shared by multiple countries because these countries all have the same level of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access.
^Baker, Vicky (20 June 2013)."Passport expiry dates and blank pages: what are the rules?".The Guardian. Retrieved13 January 2024.The number of remaining blank pages a passport should have is also an issue. Some travellers have reported arriving with one or less than one full page left and waiting for hours at immigration, until an official reluctantly grants them entry. The FCO lists no hard and fast rules because, in many cases, there aren't any.
^"Yellow Fever".Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). African Union. Retrieved23 August 2021.African countries that requires (sic) Yellow Fever vaccination certificate: Countries that require vaccination for all travellers older that 9 months or 1 year: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameron, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'lvoire, DRC, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Niger, Togo.
^"Fièvre jaune" (in French). 2 September 2018. Retrieved27 August 2019.
^"Yellow Fever".Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). African Union. Retrieved23 August 2021.African countries that requires Yellow Fever vaccination certificate: Countries that requires (sic) vaccination for travellers from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission or transit for 12 hours in those countries: Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
^"Visitor Visa".travel.state.gov. US Department of State. Retrieved13 January 2024.Passport valid for travel to the United States – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). Each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate application, including any family members listed in your passport.
^"Countries whose citizens are allowed to enter Turkey with their expired passports".Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Republic of Turkey. Archived fromthe original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved6 July 2018.Countries whose citizens are allowed to enter Turkey with their expired passports: 1. Germany – Passports expired within the last year / ID's expired within the last year, 2. Belgium - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 3. France - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 4. Spain - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 5. Switzerland - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 6. Luxemburg - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 7. Portugal - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 8. Bulgaria – Valid ordinary passport
^"Frequently Asked Questions".Embassy of Japan in Malaysia. Retrieved13 January 2024.Q: Do I need at least 6 months passport validity in order to enter Japan? A: Japan does not have any regulations relating to passport validity, so long as your passport will be valid until after you leave Japan.
^"Entering the UK".Gov.UK. Retrieved17 March 2021.You're not from an EEA country: you must have a valid passport to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.
^Calder, Simon (24 April 2017)."Airline lobbying for a relaxation of draconian rules for London-Auckland travellers".The Independent.Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved7 July 2018.Travellers heading west from the UK to New Zealand may soon be able to avoid the onerous requirement to clear US border control during the refuelling stop at Los Angeles airport (LAX). Unlike almost every other country in the world, the US insists on a full immigration check even for passengers who simply intend to re-board their plane to continue onwards to a foreign destination. Air New Zealand, which flies daily from Heathrow via Los Angeles to Auckland, says there are currently "strict requirements for travellers" in transit at LAX. Through passengers to Auckland on flight NZ1 or Heathrow on NZ2 must apply in advance for an ESTA (online visa) even though they have no intention of staying in the US. They also have to undergo screening by the Transportation Security Administration.
^"China to Start Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors".Air Canada. 31 January 2019. Retrieved7 July 2018.Effective 27 April 2018, border control authorities at all of China's ports of entry, including its airports, will start collecting the fingerprints of all foreign visitors aged between 14 and 70. Diplomatic passport holders and beneficiaries of reciprocal agreements are exempted..
^"Immigration & Visas FAQs".Kenya Airports Authority. Retrieved6 May 2019.Will visitors still have their digital photo and fingerprints taken at the immigration desk on arrival? Yes, the need to have photos and fingerprints taken upon arrival is to authenticate that the person who applied for the Visa is the same person at the port of entry
^Brown, Theresa Cardinal (9 May 2016)."Biometric Entry-Exit Update: CBP Developing Land Border Process".Bipartisan Policy Center. Retrieved25 April 2019.While a requirement for a biometric entry-exit system has been in law for over a decade, it is not yet a reality. Many reasons for the long gestating development have been documented in BPC's 2014 report Entry-Exit System: Progress, Challenges, and Outlook, including the technological, operational, and cost challenges of creating exit systems and infrastructure where none exist today. However, many critics, especially in Congress, simply accused the Department of Homeland security of dragging its feet... the major operational, logistical, and technical challenge in implementing exit capability at our ports has been the land borders. Unlike airports and seaports, the land border environment is not physically controlled, there is no means to get advance information on who is arriving, and the sheer volume of travel—both vehicular and pedestrian—creates challenges in any system to not further exacerbate delays. While biometric exit for land vehicular traffic is still in the "what if" stage, CBP is moving ahead and piloting systems and technology to use with the large population of pedestrian crossers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
^Lipton, Eric (21 May 2013)."U.S. Quietly Monitors Foreigners' Departures at the Canadian Border".The New York Times. Retrieved25 April 2019.Long demanded by lawmakers in Congress, it is considered a critical step to developing a coherent program to curb illegal immigration, as historically about 30 percent to 40 percent of illegal immigrants in the United States arrived on tourist visas or other legal means and then never left, according to estimates by Homeland Security officials.
^Lipton, Eric (15 December 2006)."Administration to Drop Effort to Track if Visitors Leave".The New York Times. Retrieved25 April 2019.Efforts to determine whether visitors actually leave have faltered. Departure monitoring would help officials hunt for foreigners who have not left, if necessary. Domestic security officials say, however, it would be too expensive to conduct fingerprint or facial recognition scans for land departures.
^"Iris Scanner Could Replace Emirates ID In UAE".SimplyDXB. 11 June 2017. Retrieved7 July 2018.The breach of privacy is probably the biggest threat to the biometric technique of iris recognition. Secondly, a device error can false reject or false accept the identity which can also have some heinous consequences. Lastly, the method isn't the most cost-effective one. It is complex and therefore expensive. Furthermore, the maintenance of devices and data can also be relatively burdensome. However, thanks to the oil money and spending ability of Dubai, they are economically equipped to effectively embrace this system.
^Roberts, Jeff John (12 September 2016)."Homeland Security Plans to Expand Fingerprint and Eye Scanning at Borders".Fortune. Fortune Media IP Limited. Retrieved24 April 2019.Unlike with documents, it's very hard for a traveler to present a forged copy of a fingerprint or iris. That's why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to vastly expand the amount of biometric data it collects at the borders. According to Passcode, a new program will ramp up a process to scan fingers and eyes in order to stop people entering and exiting the country on someone else's passport.
^"Singapore tests eye scans at immigration checkpoints".Reuters. 6 August 2018. Retrieved24 April 2019.Singapore has started scanning travellers' eyes at some of its border checkpoints, its immigration authority said on Monday, in a trial of expensive technology that could one day replace fingerprint verification.
1British Overseas Territories.2 These countries span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia.3 Partially recognized.4Unincorporated territory of the United States.5 Part of the Kingdom of Denmark.6Egypt spans the boundary between Africa and Asia.
