Travel visa

A visa (from the Latin charta visa, meaning "paper which has been seen")^[1] is a conditional authorization granted by a country to a foreigner, allowing them to enter, remain within, or to leave that country. Visas typically include limits on the duration of the foreigner's stay, territory within the country they may enter, the dates they may enter, the number of permitted visits or an individual's right to work in the country in question. Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a country and thus are, in some countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country. In each instance, a visa is subject to entry permission by an immigration official at the time of actual entry and can be revoked at any time.

A visa is most commonly a sticker endorsed in the applicant's passport or other travel document. The visa, when required, was historically granted by an immigration official on a visitor's arrival at the frontiers of a country, but increasingly today a traveller wishing to enter another country must apply in advance for a visa, sometimes in person at a consular office, by mail or over the internet. The actual visa may still be a sticker or a stamp in the passport or may take the form of a separate document or an electronic record of the authorisation, which the applicant can print before leaving home and produce on entry to the host country. Some countries do not require visas for short visits.

Some countries require that their citizens, as well as foreign travelers, obtain an "exit visa" to be allowed to leave the country.^[2] Uniquely, the Norwegian special territory of Svalbard is an entirely visa-free zone under the terms of the Svalbard Treaty.

Some countries – such as those in the Schengen Area – have agreements with other countries allowing each other's citizens to travel between them without visas. The World Tourism Organization announced that the number of tourists who require a visa before traveling was at its lowest level ever in 2015.^[3][4]

Overview

A visa generally gives non-citizens clearance to enter a country and to remain there within specified constraints, such as a time frame for entry, a limit on the time spent in the country, and a prohibition against employment. Many countries do not require a visa in some situations; this may be the result of treaties specifying reciprocal arrangements. The possession of a visa is not in itself a guarantee of entry into the country that issued it, and a visa can be revoked at any time.

A visa application in advance of arrival gives the country a chance to consider the applicant's circumstances, such as financial security, reason for travelling, and details of previous visits to the country. A visitor may also be required to undergo and pass security or health checks upon arrival at the border.

History

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 traveling by train would have caused bottlenecks if regular passport controls had been used.^[5] Passports and visas became usually necessary travel documents only since World War I.

Long before that, in ancient times, passports and visas were usually the same type of travel documents. In the modern world, visas have become separate secondary travel documents, with passports acting as the primary travel documents.

Conditions of issue

Some visas can be granted on arrival or by prior application at the country's embassy or consulate, 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 travelers 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 pickup 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 visits; these may delineate different formal categories of visas, with different issue conditions.

  Countries that issue visas or permits on arrival as a general rule for all arriving visitors

  Countries that issue visas or permits on arrival to a selected group of nationalities (more than 10)

The issuing authority, usually a branch of the country's foreign 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 himself 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 as AIDS. The exact conditions depend on the country and category of visa. Notable examples of countries requiring HIV tests of long-term residents are Russia^[6] and Uzbekistan.^[7] However, in Uzbekistan, the HIV test requirement is sometimes not strictly enforced.^[7] Other countries require a medical test which includes an HIV test even for short term tourism visa. For instance 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 had no criminal convictions, or that they do not partake in certain activities (like prostitution or drug trafficking). Some countries will deny visas if the travelers passports show evidence of citizenship or travel to a country which 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.

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 unwanted illegal immigration.

Types

Each country typically has a multitude of categories of visas with various names. The most common types and names of visas include:

By purpose

Transit visas

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.

Short-stay or visitor visas

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.
• Visa for medical reasons, 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 preclude permanent employment, for which a work visa would be required.
• Working holiday visa, for individuals traveling between nations offering a working holiday program, allowing young people to undertake temporary work while traveling.
• 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.

Long-stay visas

Visas valid for longer but still finite stays:

• Student visa (F-1 in the U.S.), 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 U.S.
  • Research visa, for students doing fieldwork 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 and L-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 traveling for their respective news organizations. Countries which insist on this include Cuba, China, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United States (I-visa) and Zimbabwe.
• 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.

Immigrant visas

Granted for those intending to immigrate to the issuing country (obtain the status of a permanent resident with a prospect of possible naturalization in the future):

• Spouse visa or partner visa, granted to the spouse, civil partner or de facto partner of a resident or citizen of a given country to enable the couple to settle in that country.
• Marriage visa, granted for a limited period before intended marriage or civil partnership based on a proven relationship with a citizen of the destination country. For example, a German woman who wishes to marry an American man would obtain a Fiancée Visa (also known as a K-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.^[8]
• 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.

Official visas

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.

• Diplomatic visas are normally only available to bearers of diplomatic passports.
• Courtesy visas are issued to representatives of foreign governments or international organizations who do not qualify for diplomatic status but do merit expedited, courteous treatment - an example of this is Australia's Special purpose visa.

By method of issue

Normally visa applications are made at and collected from a consulate, embassy or other diplomatic mission.

On-arrival visas

(Also known as Visa On Arrival, VOA), granted at a port of entry. This is distinct from not requiring a visa at all, as the visitor must still obtain the visa before they can even try to pass through immigration.

• 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, 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's Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, causing significant disruption of air travel throughout Europe, and the EU responded by announcing that it would issue visas at land borders to stranded travelers.
  • Under section 212(d)(4) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, visa waivers can be issued to travelers 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 travelers, such as seafarers or air crew.
• Some countries issue them to regular visitors; however, 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.
  • Russia issues visas on arrival for short visits to its Western exclave, Kaliningrad Oblast.

Electronic visas

An electronic visa (e-Visa or eVisa) is stored in a computer and is linked to the passport number; no label, sticker or stamp is placed in the passport before travel. The application is done over the internet.

• Antigua and Barbuda issues Electronic Entry Visa (EEV) online to nationals of countries that require a visa.^[9]
• Armenia issues electronic visas to certain eligible countries.^[10]
• Australia pioneered electronic visa issuance with the Electronic Travel Authority for tourists, and is also issuing the eVisitor for European tourists and businessmen. Recent changes in immigration law mean that almost all visas (including those for permanent residency) are issued electronically by default unless a label is required (for example to board an aircraft). New Zealand citizens however can enter Australia under the Trans Tasman agreement.
• Azerbaijan issues electronic visas to nationals of 81 countries and stateless persons through its ASAN visa system.^[11]
• Bahrain issues electronic visas to nationals of certain eligible countries.^[12]
• Cambodia issues electronic visas to most visitors through their eVisa system.^[13]
• Ethiopia issues electronic visas to nationals of countries that are eligible for visa on arrival.^[14]
• Georgia issues electronic visas to nationals of eligible countries.^[15]
• India now issues electronic visas (called e-Tourist Visas) to nationals of certain eligible countries.
• Ivory Coast allows visitors to apply online for an electronic visa that if approved can be picked up at the Port Bouet Airport in Abidjan.^[16]
• Kenya issues electronic visas to nationals of countries that are eligible for visa on arrival.^[17]
• Kuwait issues electronic visas to nationals of 52 countries via its online portal. Other nationalities may apply for an eVisa if they possess a valid GCC residency and work in select professions.^[18]
• Myanmar issues electronic visas to nationals of eligible countries.^[19]
• New Zealand is now also issuing some visas electronically.
• Rwanda issues electronic visas.^[20]
• Saint Kitts and Nevis issues electronic visas to visitors from countries that require a visa for Saint Kitts and Nevis.^[21]
• São Tomé and Príncipe issues electronic visas to all passengers through the eVisaST system.
• Singapore issues electronic visas to certain eligible countries.^[22]
• Sri Lanka issues electronic visas through the Electronic Travel Authorization system to certain eligible countries.^[23]
• Turkey issues electronic visas as of April 2013 (certain African countries are eligible only if using Turkish Airlines) through the Republic of Turkey Electronic Visa Application System.^[24][25]
• Uganda issues electronic visas to nationals of countries that are eligible for visa on arrival.^[26]
• Vietnam issues electronic visas to nationals of 40 eligible countries.^[27]

These lists are not exhaustive. Some countries may have more detailed classifications of some of these categories reflecting the nuances of their respective geographies, social conditions, economies, international treaties, etc. Others, on the contrary, may combine some types into broader categories.

Electronic travel authorizations

A visa is an advance permission to visit a country, introduced for security reasons. Some countries demand an advance authorization obtained over the internet, which are not defined as visas. See also Electronic Travel Authorization.

• Canada requires all international visitors who do not require a visa except for the United States citizens and residents and who are arriving via air to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (or eTA) before arrival.
• United States has an internet system called Electronic System for Travel Authorization (or ESTA), but this is a security pre-screening only and does not technically qualify as a visa under US immigration law.

Entry and duration period

Visas can also be single-entry which means the visa is canceled as soon as the holder leaves the country; double-entry, or multiple-entry which permits double or multiple entries into the country with the same visa. Countries may also issue re-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 additional work permit.

Once issued, a visa will typically have to be used within a certain period of time.

With 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 entry is permitted into the country. For example, if a visa has been issued to begin January 1 and to expire March 30, 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 January 1 and March 30). Thus, the latest day the traveler could conceivably stay in the issuing country is July 1 (if the traveler entered on March 30). 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 considered illegal immigration even if the visa validity period isn't over (i.e., for multiple entry visas) and a form of being "out of status" and the offender may be fined, prosecuted, deported, or even blacklisted 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 deportable—commonly referred to as an illegal 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 which do not require visas for short stays may require a long stay visa for those who intend to apply for a residence permit. For example, EU does not require a visa for many countries for stays under 90 days, but its members require a long stay visa for longer stays.

Visa extensions

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 the Danish Immigration Service for a Residence Permit after they have arrived in the country. In the United Kingdom, applications can be made to UK Visas and Immigration.

In certain circumstances, it is not possible 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.

Visa run

Some foreign visitors sometimes engage in what is known as a visa run: leaving a country for a short period just before the allowed length of stay runs out, usually to a neighboring country, then return to the 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 an entry without a visa.

Visa runs are frowned upon by some countries' immigration authorities, as such acts may signify that the foreigner wishes to reside permanently and might also work in that country, purposes that visitors are prohibited from engaging in and 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 run, some countries have limits as to how long visitors can spend in the country without a visa, as well as how much time they may have to stay out before "resetting the clock". For example, Schengen countries impose a maximum limit for visitors of 90 days in a 180-day window. 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 or the Caribbean; instead they are readmitted to the United States for the remaining days granted on their initial entry. Some other countries, e.g. Thailand, allow visitors who arrive by land from neighbouring countries a shorter length of stay than those who arrive by air.

In other cases, visa runs may be tolerated in practice. For instance, between Malaysia and Singapore, as there are many cross-boundary businesses and many citizens of each country residing on the other side of the border. Also, foreigners residing in Singapore or Thailand who require visas to enter Malaysia are granted multiple entry visas, and are able to engage in visa runs without any disciplinary actions being taken against them. Another case is between the various immigration zones of the People's Republic of China, namely Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China. In order to maintain Permanent Residence in Hong Kong or Macau, individuals residing in the Mainland often travel back and forth. Similarly, individuals from Hong Kong and Macau, as well as foreigners residing there, may engage in visa runs between the two with little scrutiny from immigration officers.

Also, in some cases, a visa run is necessary to activate new visas or change immigration status of a person, for example, leaving a country and back immediately to activate a newly-issued work visa before a person can legally work in that country.

Visa refusal

In general, an applicant may be refused a visa if he or she does 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 didn't 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 didn't 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
• has no visible means of sustenance
• 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
• has a sexually transmitted disease
• is applying on excessively short notice without an exceptionally justifiable reason
• is a citizen of a country to which the destination country is hostile
• has previously visited, or intends to visit, a country to which the destination country is hostile
• has a communicable disease, such as tuberculosis
• has a passport that expires too soon
• didn't use a previously issued visa at all without a valid reason (e.g., a trip cancellation due to a family emergency)

Even if a traveler does not need a visa, the aforementioned criteria can also be used by border police to refuse the traveler entry into the country in question.

Visa policies

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 likelier 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.^[28][29] According to Professor Eric Neumayer of the London 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".^[28]

Some countries apply the principle of reciprocity in their visa policy. A country's visa policy is called reciprocal if it imposes visa requirement against citizens of all the countries which impose visa requirements against its own citizens. The opposite is rarely true: a country rarely lifts visa requirements against citizens of all the countries which also lift visa requirements against its own citizens, unless a prior bilateral agreement has been made.

A fee may be charged for issuing a visa; these are often also reciprocal, so if country A charges country B's citizens US$50 for a visa, country B will often also charge the same amount for country A's visitors. The fee charged may also be at the discretion of each embassy. A similar reciprocity often applies to the duration of the visa (the period in which one is permitted to request entry of the country) and the number of entries one can attempt with the visa. Other restrictions, such as requiring fingerprints and photographs, may also be reciprocated. Expedited processing of the visa application for some countries will generally incur additional charges.

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 to IATA. 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.

Country	Total (excl. electronic visas)	Visa-free	Visa on arrival	Electronic visas	Notes
Afghanistan[30]	0
Albania[31]	78	78
Algeria[32]	8	8
Angola[33]	2	1	1
Antigua and Barbuda[34]	100	100
Argentina[35]	81	81	0	2
Armenia[36]	138	51	87
Australia[37]	1	1	0	36+9+145
Azerbaijan[38]	24	9	15	81
Bahamas[39]	120	120
Bahrain[40]	69	5	64
Bangladesh[41]	174+	25	All-20		Limited VOA locations.
Barbados[42]	108	108
Belarus[43]	100	21+79
Belize[44]	97	97
Benin[45]	18	18
Bhutan[46]	3	3
Bolivia[47]	174+	51	124+
Bosnia and Herzegovina[48]	79	79
Botswana[49]	103	103
Brazil[50]	90	90
Brunei[51]	58	52	6
Burkina Faso[52]	68	17	51
Burundi[53]	5	5
Cambodia[54]	184+	7	All-10
Cameroon[55]	4	4
Canada[56]	52	52
Cape Verde[57]	193+	19	193+
Central African Republic[58]	13	13
Chad[59]	13	11	2
Chile[60]	92	90	2
China[61]	12	12
Colombia[62]	95	95
Comoros[63]	194+	0	All
Republic of the Congo[64]	13	0	13
Democratic Republic of the Congo[65]	6	3	3
Costa Rica[66]	90	90
Côte d'Ivoire[67]	21	21
Cuba[68]	19	19
Djibouti[69]	191+	0	All-3
Dominica[70]	192+	All-2
Dominican Republic[71]	107	8	99
Ecuador[72]	182+	All-12
Egypt[73]	8+	8	N/A
El Salvador[74]	86	86
Equatorial Guinea[75]	1	1
Eritrea[76]	3	2	1
Ethiopia[77]	42	2	40		Limited VOA locations.
Fiji[78]	107	107
Gabon[79]	4	3	1	191
Gambia[80]	125	121	4
Georgia[81]	92	92
Ghana[82]	25	19	6
Grenada[83]	117	103	14
Guatemala[84]	86	86
Guinea[85]	21	21
Guinea-Bissau[86]	194+	14	180+
Guyana[87]	54	54
Haiti[88]	191+	All-2
Honduras[89]	84	84
Hong Kong[90]	148	148
India[91][92]	3	3	1	150	Limited e-Tourist Visa locations.
Indonesia[93]	168	168
Iran[94]	184+	8	176+
Iraq[95]	3	1	2
Ireland[96]	89	58			+31 EU/EEA/CH citizens.
Israel[97]	97	97
Jamaica[98]	116	93	23
Japan[99]	67	67
Jordan[100]	130	10	120		Limited VOA locations.
Kazakhstan[101]	61	61
Kenya[102]	43	43	0	All-16
Kiribati[103]	68	68
North Korea[104]	0
South Korea[105]	113	113
Kuwait[106]	58	5	52	52
Kyrgyzstan[107]	81	61	20
Laos[108]	175+	15	All-30
Lebanon[109]	86	7	79		Entry is prohibited for holders of any passport regardless of nationality bearing a stamp or visa issued by Israel
Lesotho[110]	49	49
Liberia[111]	15	15
Libya[112]	2	2
Macau[113]	187+	78	All-7
Macedonia[114]	84	84
Madagascar[115]	194+	0	All
Malawi[116]	165	34	131
Malaysia[117]	164	162	2
Maldives[118]	194+	0	All
Mali[119]	21	21
Marshall Islands[120]	88	33	55
Mauritania[121]	194+		194+
Mauritius[122]	177	111	66
Mexico[123]	65	65		3
Micronesia[124]	194+	194+
Moldova[125]	68	68
Mongolia[126]	23	23
Montenegro[127]	96	96
Morocco[128]	70	70
Mozambique[129]	194+	8	186+		Limited VOA locations.
Myanmar[130]	7	7		102
Namibia[131]	52	52
Nauru[132]	16	0	16
Nepal[133]	184+	1	183+		Limited VOA locations.
New Zealand[134]	61	61
Nicaragua[135]	167	93	74
Niger[136]	19	19
Nigeria[137]	19	18	1
Oman[138]	71	5	66
Pakistan[139]	6	6
Palau[140]	192+	34	158+
Panama[141]	118	118
Papua New Guinea[142]	70	0	70
Paraguay[143]	62	57	5
Peru[144]	97	97
Philippines[145]	157	157
Qatar[146]	44	6	38		Limited VOA locations.
Russia[147]	45	45
Rwanda[148]	65	4	61	194+
Saint Kitts and Nevis[149]	102	102
Saint Lucia[150]	149	95	54
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[151]	186+	0	All-8
Samoa[152]	194+	All
São Tomé and Príncipe[153]	45	45	0	149+
Saudi Arabia[154]	5	5
Schengen area[155][156]	94	62			32 EU/EEA/CH citizens.
Senegal[157]	125	125
Serbia[158]	74	74
Seychelles[159]	194+	34	160+
Sierra Leone[160]	15	15
Singapore[161]	160+	160+
Solomon Islands[162]	77	30	47
Somalia[163]	0
South Africa[164]	75	75
South Sudan[165]	5	0	5
Sri Lanka[166]	3	3	0	191+
Sudan[167]	9	4	5
Suriname[168]	78	28	50
Swaziland[169]	96	96
Syria[170]	0
Tajikistan[171]	88	9	79
Tanzania[172]	170+	6	All-24
Thailand[173]	76	57	19
Timor-Leste[174]	194+	30	All		Limited VOA locations.
Togo[175]	194+	14	164+
Tonga[176]	68	31	37
Trinidad and Tobago[177]	103	101	2
Tunisia[178]	96	96			+11 for organized groups.
Turkey[179]	78	78	0	43	e-Visas can also be obtained on arrival for a higher cost.
Turkmenistan[180]	0
Tuvalu[181]	194+	30	160+
Uganda[182]	194+	33	161+
Ukraine[183]	77	64	13
United Arab Emirates[184]	55	37	18
United Kingdom[185]	87	56		4	+31 EU/EEA/CH citizens.
United States[186]	42	42
Uruguay[187]	76	76
Uzbekistan[188]	9	9
Vanuatu[189]	120	120
Venezuela[190]	71	71
Vietnam[191]	23	23		40
Yemen[192]	12	0	12
Zambia[193]	138	43	95
Zimbabwe[194]	125	44	81

Visa exemption agreements

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 have reciprocal agreements such that a visa is not needed under certain conditions, e.g., when the visit is for tourism and for a relatively short period. Such reciprocal agreements may stem from common membership in international organizations or a shared heritage:

• All citizens of European Union and EFTA member countries can travel to and stay in all other EU and EFTA countries without a visa. See Four Freedoms (European Union) and Citizenship of the European Union. Also See Brexit.
• The United States Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of 38 countries to travel to the United States without a visa (although a pre-trip entry permission, ESTA, is needed).^[195]
• Any Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizen can enter and stay as long as required in any other GCC member state.
• All citizens of members of the Economic 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.^[196]
• Nationals of the East African Community member states do not need visas for entry into any of the member states.^{[197][198][199]}
• Some countries in the Commonwealth do not require tourist visas of citizens of other Commonwealth countries.
• Citizens of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations do not require tourist visas to visit another member state, with the exception of Myanmar. 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 and Singapore. Myanmar and Singapore had agreed on a visa exemption scheme set to be implemented on 1 December 2016.^[200] ASEAN citizens are entitled to use the Burmese visa on arrival facility.
• Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states mutually allow their citizens to enter visa-free, at least for short stays. There are exceptions between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
• Nepal and India 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 to Bhutan and are only required to obtain passes at the border checkpoints, whilst Bhutan nationals holding a valid Bhutanese passport are authorised to enter India without a visa.
• In the past, Qatar citizens did not require permission to enter the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations. However that has all changed.
• Sometimes, citizens who hold a valid visa for America or another country, can enter another country.

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):

• 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 of Schengen/EU countries, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United States (if valid for at least 3 months on date of arrival). The ultimate example of such reliance is Andorra 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 either France or Spain 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, see International travel without passports.)

As of 2016, the Visa Restrictions Index ranks the German passport as the one with the most visa exemptions by other nations, allowing holders of this passport to visit 177 countries without obtaining a visa in advance of arrival.

Common visas

Normally, visas are valid for entry only into the country which issued the visa. Countries that are members of regional 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:

• The Schengen Visa is a visa for the Schengen Area, which consists of the European 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. The visa is valid for tourism, family visits, and business.
• The Central American Single Visa (Visa Única Centroamericana) is a visa for Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It was implemented by the CA-4 agreement. It allows citizens of those 4 countries free access to other member countries. It also allows visitors of any member country to enter another member country without having to obtain another visa.

Possible common visa schemes

These are potentially new common visas:

• The ASEAN common visa scheme is considered when the labor union goes into effect in 2016 (being delayed a year); however, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar are opting in earlier. After talk about a CLMV common visa,^[201] with Thailand being left out, Thailand has initiated and begun implementation of a trial common visa with Cambodia, but cited security risks as the major hurdle; the trial run has been delayed.^[202] Thailand has implemented a single visa scheme with Cambodia beginning December 27, 2012 on a trial basis.^[203]
• A Gulf Cooperation Council single visa has been recommended as a study submitted to the council.^[204]
• The Pacific Alliance, that currently consists of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, 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.^[205]
• An East African Single Tourist Visa is under consideration by the relevant sectoral authorities under the East African Community (EAC) integration program. If approved the visa will be valid for all five partner states in the EAC (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi). 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 (or World Travel Market) in London.^[206] 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.^[207] This is considered also by COMESA.
• The SADC UNIVISA (or Univisa) has been in development since Southern 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. It was expected to become operational by the end of 2002.^[208] Its introduction was delayed and a new implementation date, the end of 2006, was announced.^[209] The univisa was originally intended to only be available, initially, to visitors from selected "source markets" including Australia, the Benelux countries, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.^[208] It is now expected that when the Univisa is implemented, it will apply to non SADC international (long-haul) tourists traveling to and within the region and that it will encourage multi - destination travel within the region. It is also anticipated that the univisa will enlargen tourist market for transfrontier parks by lowering the boundaries between neighboring 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).^[210] As of 2017, universal visa is implemented by Zambia and Zimbabwe. Nationals of 65 countries and territories are eligible for visa on arrival that is valid for both countries. This visa is branded KAZA Uni-visa programme after Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA). It is expected that other SADC countries will join the programme in the future.^[211]

Previous common visa schemes

These schemes no longer operate.

• The CARICOM Visa was introduced in late 2006 and allowed visitors to travel between 10 CARICOM member states (Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago). These ten member countries had agreed to form a "Single Domestic Space" in which travelers 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 which 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 the 2007 Cricket World Cup and was discontinued on May 15, 2007. However, discussions are ongoing into instituting a revised CARICOM visa on a permanent basis in the future.
• A predecessor of the Schengen common visa was the Benelux visa. Visas issued by Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg were valid for all the three countries.

Exit visas

Europe

During the Fascist period in Italy, an exit visa was required from 1922 to 1943. Nazi Germany required exit visas from 1933 to 1945.^[212] The Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies required exit visas both for emigration and for those who wanted to leave the USSR for a shorter period.

Some countries, including the Czech Republic,^[213] 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. 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 an exit visa. Not all foreign citizens are subject to that requirement. Citizens of Germany, for example, don't need this exit visa.

Asia

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have an exit visa requirement, particularly for foreign workers. This is part of the kafala system, also present in Lebanon, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, and Oman. 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.

Nepal requires citizens emigrating to the United States on an H-1B visa to present an exit permit issued by the Ministry of Labour. This document is called a work permit and needs to be presented to immigration to leave the country.^[214]

Uzbekistan is the last remaining former USSR state that still requires an exit visa, which is valid for a two-year period.^[215] There has been explicit UN complaint about this practice.^[216]

The DPRK (North Korea) requires that its citizens obtain an exit visa stating the traveller's destination country and time to be spent abroad before leaving Pyongyang. Additionally, DPRK authorities also require that their citizens obtain a re-entry visa from a DPRK embassy or mission abroad before being allowed back into the DPRK.

The government of the People's Republic of China requires its citizens to obtain a Two-way Permit issued by the PRC authorities prior to their visit to the Chinese dependencies of Hong Kong or Macau. The Two-way Permit is a de facto exit visa for Hong Kong- or Macau-bound trips for PRC citizens.

Singapore operates an Exit Permit scheme in order to enforce the national service obligations of its male citizens and permanent residents.^[217] Requirements vary according to age and status:^[218]

Status	Time overseas	Requirements
Pre-enlistment: 13 – 16.5 years of age	3+ months	Exit permit
	2+ years	Exit permit + bond
Pre-enlistment: 16.5 years of age and older	3+ months	Registration, exit permit + bond[219]
Full-time National Service	3+ months	Exit permit
Operationally-ready National Service	14+ days	Overseas notification
	6+ months	National service unit approval + exit permit
Regular servicemen	3+ months	Exit permit, where Minimum Term of Engagement is not complete
	6+ months	Exit permit

The Americas

The government of Cuba announced in October 2012 its plans to remove exit visa requirements to be effective January 14, 2013, albeit with some exceptions.^[220]

Guatemala requires any person who is a permanent resident to apply for a multiple 5-year exit visa.

United States of America

The United States of America does not require exit visas. However, the U.S. government has required all foreign and U.S. nationals departing the US by air to hold a valid passport (or certain specific passport replacing documents) since October 1, 2007. Even though travelers might not require a passport to enter a certain country, they will require a valid passport booklet (booklet only, U.S. Passport Card not accepted) to depart the U.S. in order to satisfy the U.S. immigration authorities.^[221] 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 traveling on official orders;
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Card;
• NEXUS Card;
• U.S. Travel Document:
  • Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571); or
  • Permit to Re-Enter (Form I-327)
• 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 or Credencial 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 the Internal Revenue Service proving that they are up to date on their US income tax obligations, before they may leave the country.^[222] While the requirement has been in effect since 1921, it has not been stringently enforced, but the House Ways and Means Committee has recently considered it as a way to increase tax revenues.^[223]

Visa restrictions

Henley & Partners

Henley & Partners annually compiles a Visa Restrictions Index, which ranks countries according to openness of their visa restrictions and visa requirements. The index is based on the International Air Transport Association database.^[224]

Visa Restrictions Index 2017
Rank	Ordinary Passport country or territory	Number of territories allowing entry without a visa or issuing a visa on arrival
1	Germany	176
2	Sweden	175
3	Denmark,  Finland,  Italy,  Spain,  United States	174
4	Austria,  Belgium,  France,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  Norway,  Singapore,  United Kingdom	173
5	Ireland,  Japan,  New Zealand	172
6	Canada,  Greece,  Portugal,   Switzerland	171
7	Australia,  South Korea	170
8	Iceland	169
9	Czech Republic	168
10	Hungary,  Malta	167
11	Lithuania	166
12	Latvia,  Liechtenstein,  Slovakia,  Slovenia	165
13	Estonia,  Malaysia	164
14	Poland	162
15	Monaco	160
16	Cyprus	158
17	Chile	157
18	Brazil	156
19	Andorra,  San Marino	155
20	Argentina,  Bulgaria	154
21	Croatia,  Romania	153
22	Hong Kong	152
23	Brunei	151
24	Israel	148
25	Barbados	143
26	Mexico	142
27	Bahamas	141
28	Uruguay	138
29	Seychelles	137
30	Antigua and Barbuda,  Saint Kitts and Nevis	136
31	Republic of China (Taiwan),  Costa Rica,   Vatican	134
32	Trinidad and Tobago	132
33	Mauritius	131
34	Venezuela	129
35	Paraguay	128
36	Macao,  Panama,  Saint Lucia,  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,	127
37	Grenada	124
38	Honduras  United Arab Emirates,	121
39	El Salvador	120
40	Dominica,  Guatemala	119
41	Peru	118
42	Solomon Islands	116
43	Serbia	115
44	Samoa	114
45	Vanuatu	113
46	Marshall Islands,  Nicaragua	112
47	Tonga	111
48	Macedonia,  Tuvalu	110
49	Kiribati	109
50	Colombia,  Montenegro	107
51	Micronesia,  Russia	106
52	Palau,  Turkey	105
53	Bosnia and Herzegovina	103
54	Moldova	102
55	Albania,  South Africa	98
56	Belize	95
57	Ecuador,  Timor-Leste	83
58	Ukraine	82
59	Guyana	81
60	Kuwait,  Maldives,  Nauru	80
61	Fiji	79
62	Jamaica,  Qatar	78
63	Papua New Guinea	76
64	Bolivia	75
65	Botswana,  Suriname	74
66	Bahrain	73
67	Kazakhstan,  Namibia,  Thailand	71
68	Georgia,  Kenya,  Oman	69
69	Saudi Arabia	68
70	Belarus,  Lesotho,  Malawi	67
71	Gambia,  Swaziland	66
72	Tanzania	65
73	Cape Verde,  Tunisia,  Zambia	63
74	Azerbaijan	62
75	Philippines,  Uganda	61
76	Cuba	60
77	Ghana,  Zimbabwe	59
78	Armenia,  Benin,  Kyrgyzstan,  Morocco	58
79	Indonesia	57
80	Burkina Faso,  Dominican Republic,  Mongolia	56
81	Mozambique,  Sao Tome and Principe,  Sierra Leone	55
82	Mauritania	54
83	Cote d'Ivoire,  Senegal,  Tajikistan,  Togo,  Uzbekistan	53
84	Niger	52
85	China,  Bhutan,  Chad,  Mali,  Rwanda	51
86	Gabon,  Haiti,  Madagascar	50
87	Guinea-Bissau,  India,  Turkmenistan	49
88	Algeria,  Cambodia,  Comoros,  Egypt,  Guinea,  Laos	48
89	Central African Republic,  Equatorial Guinea	46
90	Angola,  Cameroon,  Vietnam	45
91	Burundi,  Nigeria	44
92	Congo,  Jordan,  Liberia	43
93	Myanmar	41
94	Democratic Republic of Congo,  Djibouti,  North Korea	40
95	Bangladesh,  Iran,  Sri Lanka	38
96	Ethiopia,  Kosovo,  Lebanon,  South Sudan	37
97	Nepal,  Palestine,  Sudan	36
98	Eritrea,  Yemen	35
99	Libya	33
100	Somalia	30
101	Syria	29
102	Pakistan	28
103	Iraq	27
104	Afghanistan	24

2017 - 2006 Visa Restrictions Index by country or territory
Country or Territory	Number of territories allowing entry without a visa or issuing a visa on arrival
	2017[225]	2016[226]	2015[227]	2014[228]	2013[229]	2012[230]	2011	2010[231]	2009	2008[232]	2007	2006[233]
Germany	176	177	173	174	172	168	172	161		155		129
Sweden	175	176	172	174	173	168	173	163		155		129
Denmark	174	174	171	173	172	169	173	164		157		130
Finland	174	175	172	174	173	168	173	162		156		130
Italy	174	175	171	172	171	166	171	161		154		128
Spain	174	175	170	172	170	165		160		154		127
United States	174	174	172	174	172	166	169	159		155		130
Austria	173	173	169	171	168	163		158		153		125
Belgium	173	174	170	172	171	167	171	160		155		127
France	173	175	171	172	170	167	171	161		152		128
Luxembourg	173	172	171	172	172	166	171	162		154		125
Netherlands	173	174	171	172	171	167	171	161		154		126
Norway	173	172	171	171	170	165		159		153		127
Singapore	173	173	169	170	167	161		155		150		122
United Kingdom	173	175	173	174	173	167	171	166		152		128
Ireland	172	172	169	171	170	165	169	159		156		129
Japan	172	173	171	172	170	165		160		154		128
New Zealand	172	171	170	170	168	165	166	157		150		125
Canada	171	172	170	173	170	163		157		154		125
Greece	171	171	167	169	167	162		153		149		120
Portugal	171	172	170	172	170	165		158		156		123
Switzerland	171	172	169	170	168	162	167	156		149		127
Australia	170	169	168	168	167	163	166	157		151		120
South Korea	170	172	171	172	166	160		151		144		115
Iceland	169	167	164	165	165	159		151		146		120
Czech Republic	168	167	164	162	155	152		142		131		98
Hungary	167	167	163	162	157	153		142		131		101
Malta	167	168	167	166	163	156		146		139		115
Lithuania	166	162	159	157	151	149		140		125		94
Latvia	165	163	160	158	152	149		139		127		91
Liechtenstein	165	164	161	161	159	155		147		140		116
Slovakia	165	165	162	161	155	154		144		130		97
Slovenia	165	164	161	160	155	151		144		139		105
Estonia	164	162	159	157	152	149		140		127		91
Malaysia	164	164	163	166	163	153		151		145		120
Poland	162	161	158	157	153	150		145		132		106
Monaco	160	160	151	150	148	147		138		131		108
Cyprus	158	159	158	157	151	146		142		139		113
Chile	157	155	150	149	141	137		131		127		109
Brazil	156	153	148	146	146	141		130		122		99
Andorra	155	152	150	148	147	140		131		127		99
San Marino	155	156	153	151	149	143		135		134		109
Argentina	154	152	150	150	147	140		132		127		101
Bulgaria	154	153	150	149	141	137		133		116		83
Croatia	153	149	142	138	129	119		116		108		84
Romania	153	153	150	148	141	138		136		115		73
Hong Kong	152	154	152	156	152	147		140		123		110
Brunei	151	151	150	150	146	139		134		129		101
Israel	148	147	145	147	146	141		133		118		104
Barbados	143	141	138	138	137	135		127		89		71
Mexico	142	139	133	133	132	127		120		114		98
Bahamas	141	140	139	138	137	133		124		86		71
Uruguay	138	137	134	133	132	125		118		118		99
Seychelles	137	133	129	129	126	122		113		71		52
Antigua and Barbuda	136	134	133	132	130	126		119		82		63
Saint Kitts and Nevis	136	132	131	132	131	128		121		84		62
Republic of China (Taiwan)	134	137	129	132	130	120		60		59		42
Costa Rica	134	131	127	125	122	117		114		108		95
Vatican	134	134	128	131	130	124		112		N/A		87
Trinidad and Tobago	132	130	126	103	100	98		92		83		66
Mauritius	131	128	124	125	123	120		111		67		52
Venezuela	129	132	129	131	128	123		115		111		92
Paraguay	128	125	123	123	124	119		112		104		82
Macao	127	120	120	122	118	107		99		87		71
Panama	127	127	125	124	121	113		106		100		82
Saint Lucia	127	125	121	98	94	93		89		84		63
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	127	125	119	94	92	92		88		86		64
Grenada	124	121	117	91	88	87		83		79		60
Honduras	121	119	116	116	114	110		105		100		80
United Arab Emirates	121	122	114	77	72	70		64		52		35
El Salvador	120	115	112	112	113	111		105		98		81
Dominica	119	119	113	91	87	85		80		71		52
Guatemala	119	116	113	114	114	109		105		100		82
Peru	118	86	82	83	80	76		71		62		41
Solomon Islands	116	86	85	87	84	81		78		73		54
Serbia	115	115	110	107	104	99		88		50 1		32 1
Samoa	114	112	109	85	81	79		77		69		49
Vanuatu	113	110	106	82	79	77		74		68		47
Marshall Islands	112	79	77	79	77	72		63		57		36
Nicaragua	112	110	108	110	109	105		101		93		75
Tonga	111	110	80	83	80	75		72		64		46
Macedonia	110	111	107	106	103	97		89		49		31
Tuvalu	110	82	83	85	81	77		75		70		50
Kiribati	109	79	80	82	78	75		73		67		49
Colombia	107	103	66	66	63	59		54		48		32
Montenegro	107	107	104	99	98	94		86		50 1		32 1
Micronesia	106	75	73	75	73	68		60		N/A		33
Russia	106	105	102	100	95	94		83		60	55	35
Palau	105	104	72	74	72	67		59		52		32
Turkey	105	102	102	100	94	95		89		75		52
Bosnia and Herzegovina	103	101	98	95	91	87		53		40		25
Moldova	102	101	95	89	59	58		57		46		29
Albania	98	98	94	91	88	84		49		36		17
South Africa	98	97	95	97	94	93		88		88		65
Belize	95	94	91	93	87	86		82		75		58
Ecuador	83	81	78	78	74	70		65		58		41
Timor-Leste	83	82	49	51	48	44		42		37		21
Ukraine	82	81	79	79	77	76		64		50		32
Guyana	81	82	80	81	78	76		72		69		53
Kuwait	80	82	78	78	77	72		71		56		39
Maldives	80	80	81	84	80	78		73		64		46
Nauru	80	80	79	81	78	75		73		64		44
Fiji	79	81	80	81	78	77		72		66		47
Jamaica	78	78	76	79	77	77		73		67		57
Qatar	78	79	74	75	71	67		66		53		37
Papua New Guinea	76	77	76	78	75	72		70		59		41
Bolivia	75	72	71	74	73	69		62		65		83
Botswana	74	72	72	73	70	70		69		59		48
Suriname	74	74	70	72	72	70		63		57		40
Bahrain	73	73	70	69	69	66		67		53		38
Kazakhstan	71	67	65	66	61	61		54		47		28
Namibia	71	70	70	71	68	67		67		58		41
Thailand	71	71	68	69	68	64		60		52		29
Georgia	69	67	61	62	60	60		56		46		28
Kenya	69	68	70	71	68	67		65		58		46
Oman	69	71	68	66	63	61		61		49		36
Saudi Arabia	68	69	66	65	64	59		57		42		31
Belarus	67	67	62	63	61	59		56		49		32
Lesotho	67	69	69	72	68	67		65		62		51
Malawi	67	67	66	69	67	66		65		60		48
Gambia	66	67	66	70	68	71		68		62		53
Swaziland	66	67	67	70	66	66		64		59		46
Tanzania	65	65	65	66	65	66		61		54		41
Cape Verde	63	61	56	57	57	57		54		47		36
Tunisia	63	65	63	64	63	62		62		55		38
Zambia	63	63	65	67	66	66		64		57		45
Azerbaijan	62	62	58	58	56	57		51		44		28
Philippines	61	61	60	62	58	59		54		50		33
Uganda	61	60	61	64	63	62		59		53		39
Cuba	60	59	59	61	61	56		49		42		27
Ghana	59	64	61	63	61	62		62		55		45
Zimbabwe	59	59	58	61	60	58		59		52		41
Armenia	58	57	52	55	55	52		51		46		27
Benin	58	59	56	58	55	55		54		47		36
Kyrgyzstan	58	58	56	58	56	56		53		44		28
Morocco	58	59	56	55	52	51		51		42		30
Indonesia	57	58	55	56	53	52		46		43		29
Burkina Faso	56	56	52	54	53	54		51		44		35
Dominican Republic	56	54	51	53	52	50		50		43		25
Mongolia	56	56	52	51	51	49		45		39		24
Mozambique	55	51	49	51	49	49		45		37		22
São Tomé and Príncipe	55	54	50	54	50	48		44		37		22
Sierra Leone	55	51	49	65	63	63		65		60		47
Mauritania	54	55	53	55	55	54		52		49		39
Côte d'Ivoire	53	56	54	56	55	54		N/A		47		37
Senegal	53	55	53	57	55	54		51		48		37
Tajikistan	53	53	51	53	50	50		50		44		27
Togo	53	55	51	54	53	53		51		43		35
Uzbekistan	53	52	52	54	52	51		47		41		24
Niger	52	55	51	54	53	52		51		47		37
China	51	50	45	45	44	41	40	38		33		18
Bhutan	51	51	48	51	49	46		44		36		19
Chad	51	49	47	47	46	43		43		37		27
Mali	51	52	50	54	53	54		52		47		38
Rwanda	51	48	47	46	44	43		39		34		23
Gabon	50	49	47	47	47	45		42		35		24
Haiti	50	48	45	49	46	43		42		36		22
Madagascar	50	48	46	49	49	47		44		39		25
Guinea-Bissau	49	51	46	49	48	50		48		42		33
India	49	52	51	52	52	51	53	50		37		25
Turkmenistan	49	49	47	49	46	46		41		38		19
Algeria	48	48	45	46	47	45		48		36		23
Cambodia	48	50	47	50	47	42		39		29		17
Comoros	48	47	44	45	43	41		37		31		20
Egypt	48	49	47	48	47	44		43		34		24
Guinea	48	46	43	54	53	54		52		46		37
Laos	48	47	45	48	46	44		42		33		20
Central African Republic	46	48	44	48	49	47		46		37		28
Equatorial Guinea	46	45	42	43	42	40		37		30		20
Angola	45	45	40	42	40	37		34		31		19
Cameroon	45	45	44	46	44	39		42		37		26
Vietnam	45	47	45	47	45	44		43		33		18
Burundi	44	42	41	42	41	40		37		30		18
Nigeria	44	45	44	49	48	46		51		45		35
Congo	43	44	41	44	44	42		42		36		27
Jordan	43	47	44	45	44	43		39		30		21
Liberia	43	43	37	48	46	46		45		40		31
Myanmar	41	42	40	42	40	37		34		27		15
Democratic Republic of Congo	40	39	37	40	39	38		36		N/A		16
Djibouti	40	44	41	42	40	37		35		28		19
North Korea	40	42	39	42	41	39		36		29		18
Bangladesh	38	39	40	42	41	40		42		39		28
Iran	38	37	37	40	40	37	36	34		25		14
Sri Lanka	38	39	38	39	38	37		43		33		22
Ethiopia	37	37	35	39	41	37		34		29		18
Kosovo	37	38	36	40	38	37		37		N/A		N/A
Lebanon	37	39	37	39	38	35	33	32		27		17
South Sudan	37	38	35	39	39	38	N/A 2	N/A 2	N/A 2	N/A 2	N/A 2	N/A 2
Nepal	36	37	34	37	37	35		38		32		20
Palestine	36	37	34	35	36	32		N/A		N/A		N/A
Sudan	36	37	35	38	38	36		30		26		17
Eritrea	35	37	34	38	36	34		33		29		20
Yemen	35	38	39	43	43	41		38		30		18
Libya	33	36	37	38	39	39		39		32		19
Somalia	30	31	30	32	32	28		31		25		15
Syria	29	32	33	38	39	37		39		30		16
Pakistan	28	29	31	32	32	32		36		25		17
Iraq	27	30	29	31	31	30		27		23		15
Afghanistan	24	25	25	28	28	26	24	26		22		12

Notes

1. ^ As Serbia and Montenegro.
2. ^ As part of Sudan.

World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organization in its Visa Openness Report concluded that the 30 countries whose citizens were least affected by visa restrictions in 2015 were (based on the data compiled by the UNWTO, based on information from national official institutions):^[234]

Least restricted citizens

Rank	Country	Mobility index (out of 215 with no visa weighted by 1, visa on arrival weighted by 0.7, eVisa by 0.5 and traditional visa weighted by 0)
1	Denmark,  Finland,  Germany,  Italy,  Luxembourg,  Singapore,  United Kingdom	160
8	France,  Japan  Netherlands,  South Korea,  Sweden,  United States	159
14	Belgium,  Canada,  Ireland,  Norway,  Portugal,  Spain,   Switzerland,  Hong Kong	158
21	Austria,  Greece,  Malta	157
24	Czech Republic,  New Zealand	156
26	Hungary,  Iceland,  Malaysia	155
29	Australia,  Slovakia	154

The world average score in 2015 was 89, among advanced economies the average score was 154 and among emerging economies, 73 (Brazil scored 144, Russia 93, India 50 and China 46).

See also

• Visa fraud
• Electronic Travel Authority (Australia)
• Electronic System for Travel Authorization (US)
• Entry certificate
• List of nationalities forbidden at border
• Non-visa travel restrictions

References

Further reading

• United States Department of State, "Report of the Visa Office", Visa Office, Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting Division
• United States Department of State, Nonimmigrant Visa Statistics

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Visas.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Visa.

• Travel visa at DMOZ