Unit -1:

Guide
Description
Tour Guides offer company and information to individuals or groups of travelers. They are
knowledgeable and savvy about the places they show to tourists. On tours that include
sightseeing historical buildings, sites, and locations, Tour Guides must be able to provide
travelers with all the information they should know about the place they’re visiting. Most Tour
Guides work on a pre-established route and visit a selected list of locations. They are usually
employed by tour operators, hotels, resorts, and other establishments such as museums or
historical landmarks. However, some Tour Guides work independently or are self-employed.
Tour Guides are expected to provide tourists with information regarding the place they’re
visiting, answer questions they may have, and adhere to a pre-designed route to avoid getting
lost.
Some Tour Guides work with city sightseeing companies that take tourists around a city and
show them the main landmarks. A few of these tours are performed from a bus, while others are
on foot. Tour groups may vary in age, from teenagers to senior citizens, and country of origin.
Tour Guides can be limited to specific establishments such as museums, parks, or historical
places, while others take people on adventure trips in the wilderness, like in a safari; these are
known as Adventure Tour Guides and they must have some extra qualifications due to the
nature of their work field.

Primary Responsibilities
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of common tasks Tour Guides are required to complete.

• Attending briefing meetings with the Tour Manager about important information about
the tour group (e.g. age group, interests, and special needs).
• Greeting tourists before starting the tour:
o Learning their names;
o memorizing their faces; and
o checking the number of people in the group.
• Explaining emergency procedures to the group and making sure they understand them.
• Distributing promotional material about the trip to the tourists.
• Escorting individuals or groups on sightseeing trips:
o Providing information about the history and culture of the places they visit;
o describing points of interests; and
o answering questions tourists may have.
• Managing groups of up to thirty people:
o Being able to keep the group focused;
o making sure no one gets lost or left behind; and
o making sure the group is safe.
• Driving a motorized vehicle like a bus or a boat when necessary.
• Making sure that the group adheres and follows local laws, regulations, or rules of
specific destinations.
• Responding to emergency situations:
o Providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or first aid to tourists if needed;
o remaining calm during stressful situations; and
o handling a group of panicking people.
• Assisting tourists with special needs like senior citizens, people with disabilities, and
people with small babies.

Daily Tasks
• Pre-briefing about the group.
• Meeting the group.
• Going over emergency procedures with the group.
• Explaining points of interest during the trip.
• Answering questions about the tour.
• Distributing promotional material.
• Making sure the group stays together and is safe until the end of the tour.
Required Skills and Qualifications
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills:
o Communicating clearly with tourists in order to explain safety regulations and
procedures;
o explaining points of interest in a loud and clear manner;
o being empathetic and able to inspire trust; and
o having a friendly and engaging personality and being able to handle large groups of
people.
• Passion for customer service:
o Being able to tend to the needs of tourists and answer any questions or complaints they
may have.
• High organizational skills:
o Being able to adhere to a time schedule;
o being able to organize and watch over a large group of people; and
o being able to follow a pre-designed route.
• Safety conscious:
o Being able to go over security checklists, to identify possible security threats, and to
react accordingly; and
o remaining calm in emergency situations.
• High levels of initiative, resourcefulness, flexibility, patience, and compromise.
• Must be able to work with people from different cultures, ages, and walks of life .

Tour Guides can work in all sorts of locations. They are usually hired by tour operators, hotels,
resorts, wildlife parks, cities, museums, or historical sites. Their main task remains essentially the
same regardless of their work environment, to guide and show people around their designated
locations. Depending on where they work, Tour Guides, will be required to meet certain
qualifications. Most employers only require the minimum working age of the area they are in
and a high-school diploma. Some establishments such as museums or wildlife parks will prefer
to hire people with a university degree in an area related to the field of the tour. For example, an
arts museum would prefer to hire guides with a degree in Arts, whereas a wildlife park would
rather choose someone with a degree in Zoology or a Veterinarian.

While there are some schools and institutes that offer special courses and training for Tour
Guides, most employers offer their own in-house training for the people they hire. A large part
of the training involves learning the necessary information pertinent to the tour, such as the
history and background of the exhibits in a museum or the landmarks in a city sightseeing tour.
The other part of the training is focused mostly on group management. Trainees are taught to
handle large groups of people, engaging techniques, dealing with people of all ages and special
needs, and managing groups in emergency situations.
Tour Guides also frequently use microphones, megaphones, video cameras, maps, guide books,
or may display pictures or videos to the tourists. They are also often expected to memorize large
scripts regarding the tour and they may use annotations and other tools to help them
remember what they’re supposed to say.
Tourists may come from all over the word, therefore many tour operators and companies prefer
hiring Tour Guides that are proficient in at least two languages. The most demanded are English,
Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, and Arabic.
Depending on the type of tour and routes, some Tour Guides might be required to drive a
motorized vehicle or operate heavy machinery. In these cases it is preferred that applicants have
pre-existing experience with such machines, although training is often available to those who
don’t possess said experience.

THE HIMACHAL PRADESH

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
AND REGISTRATION ACT, 2002
Registration of the travel agent or guide.-
(1) No person shall carry on the business of a travel agent or a guide unless he is registered in
accordance with the provisions of this Act: Provided that no person shall be eligible to be
registered as a guide, unless he possesses such qualifications as may be prescribed: Provided
further that notwithstanding any prescribed qualification, the persons who are working as
guides, on the date of commencement of this Act, shall ipso-facto be registered as guides.
(2) Every person intending to act as a travel agent or a guide shall, before he commences to act
as such, apply for registration to the prescribed authority in the prescribed manner : Provided
that any person acting as travel agent or a guide on the date of commencement of this Act, shall
apply for registration within ninety days from the date of commencement of this Act.
(3) Every application made under this section shall be disposed of within a period of sixty days
from the date of receipt of application, failing which the application shall be deemed to have
been accepted for registration.

Communication
What is Communication ?

Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place, person or group to
another.
Every communication involves (at least) one sender, a message and a recipient. This may sound
simple, but communication is actually a very complex subject.
The transmission of the message from sender to recipient can be affected by a huge range of
things. These include our emotions, the cultural situation, the medium used to communicate,
and even our location. The complexity is why good communication skills are considered so
desirable by employers around the world: accurate, effective and unambiguous communication
is actually extremely hard.

Defining Communication
communication. The imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some
other medium. …The successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings. Oxford English
Dictionary

As this definition makes clear, communication is more than simply the transmission of
information. The term requires an element of success in transmitting or imparting a message,
whether information, ideas, or emotions.

A communication therefore has three parts: the sender, the message, and the recipient.

The sender ‘encodes’ the message, usually in a mixture of words and non-verbal
communication. It is transmitted in some way (for example, in speech or writing), and the
recipient ‘decodes’ it.
Of course, there may be more than one recipient, and the complexity of communication means
that each one may receive a slightly different message. Two people may read very different
things into the choice of words and/or body language. It is also possible that neither of them
will have quite the same understanding as the sender.

In face-to-face communication, the roles of the sender and recipient are not distinct. The two
roles will pass back and forwards between two people talking. Both parties communicate with
each other, even if in very subtle ways such as through eye-contact (or lack of) and general body
language. In written communication, however, the sender and recipient are more distinct.

Categories of Communication
There are a wide range of ways in which we communicate and more than one may be occurring
at any given time.

The different categories of communication include:

• Spoken or Verbal Communication, which includes face-to-face, telephone, radio or

television and other media.

• Non-Verbal Communication, covering body language, gestures, how we dress or act,

where we stand, and even our scent. There are many subtle ways that we communicate (perhaps
even unintentionally) with others. For example, the tone of voice can give clues to mood or
emotional state, whilst hand signals or gestures can add to a spoken message.

• Written Communication: which includes letters, e-mails, social media, books, magazines,
the Internet and other media. Until recent times, a relatively small number of writers and
publishers were very powerful when it came to communicating the written word. Today, we can
all write and publish our ideas online, which has led to an explosion of information and
communication possibilities.

• Visualizations: graphs and charts, maps, logos and other visualizations can all
communicate messages.

The desired outcome or goal of any communication process is mutual understanding.

The process of interpersonal communication cannot be regarded as a phenomenon which

simply 'happens'. Instead, it must be seen as a process that involves participants who negotiate
their roles with each other, whether consciously or unconsciously.
A message or communication is sent by the sender through a communication channel to one or
more recipients.

The sender must encode the message (the information being conveyed) into a form that is
appropriate to the communication channel, and the recipient then decodes the message to
understand its meaning and significance.

Misunderstanding can occur at any stage of the communication process.

Effective communication involves minimising potential misunderstanding and overcoming any

barriers to communication at each stage in the communication process.

An effective communicator understands their audience, chooses an appropriate communication

channel, hones their message for this particular channel and encodes the message effectively to
reduce misunderstanding by the recipient(s).

They will also seek out feedback from the recipient(s) to ensure that the message is understood
and attempt to correct any misunderstanding or confusion as soon as possible.

Receivers can use techniques such as Clarification and Reflection as effective ways to ensure that
the message sent has been understood correctly.

The Communication Process

A message or communication is sent by the sender through a communication channel to a
receiver, or to multiple receivers.

The sender must encode the message (the information being conveyed) into a form that is
appropriate to the communication channel, and the receiver(s) then decodes the message to
understand its meaning and significance.

Misunderstanding can occur at any stage of the communication process.

Effective communication involves minimising potential misunderstanding and overcoming any

barriers to communication at each stage in the communication process.

An effective communicator understands their audience, chooses an appropriate communication

channel, hones their message to this channel and encodes the message to reduce
misunderstanding by the receiver(s).

They will also seek out feedback from the receiver(s) as to how the message is understood and
attempt to correct any misunderstanding or confusion as soon as possible.
Receivers can use techniques such as Clarification and Reflection as effective ways to ensure that
the message sent has been understood correctly.

Communication Channels
Communication channels is the term given to the way in which we communicate. It is therefore
the method used to transmit our message to a recipient, or to receive a message from someone
else.

There are multiple communication channels available to us today. These include face-to-face
conversations, telephone calls, text messages, email, the Internet (including social media such as
Facebook and Twitter), radio and TV, written letters, brochures and reports.

Choosing an appropriate communication channel is vital for effective communication. Each

communication channel has different strengths and weaknesses.

For example, broadcasting news of an upcoming event via a written letter might convey the
message clearly to one or two individuals. It will not, however, be a time- or cost-effective way
to broadcast the message to a large number of people. On the other hand, conveying complex,
technical information is easier via a printed document than a spoken message. The recipients
are able to assimilate the information at their own pace and revisit anything that they do not
fully understand.

Written communication is also useful as a way of recording what has been said, for example by
taking minutes in a meeting.

Encoding Messages

All messages must be encoded into a form that can be conveyed by the communication channel
chosen for the message.

We all do this every day when transferring abstract thoughts into spoken words or a written
form. However, other communication channels require different forms of encoding, e.g. text
written for a report will not work well if broadcast via a radio programme, and the short,
abbreviated text used in text messages would be inappropriate in a letter or in speech.

Complex data may be best communicated using a graph, chart or other visualisation.

Effective communicators encode their messages so that they fit both the channel and the
intended audience. They use appropriate language, conveying the information simply and
clearly. They also anticipate and eliminate likely causes of confusion and misunderstanding. They
are generally aware of the recipients’ experience in decoding similar communications.

Successful encoding of messages for the audience and channel is a vital skill in effective
communication.

You may find our page The Importance of Plain English helpful.

Decoding Messages

Once received, the recipient needs to decode the message. Successful decoding is also a vital
communication skill.

People will decode and understand messages in different ways.

This will depend on their experience and understanding of the context of the message, how well
they know the sender, their psychological state and how they feel, and the time and place of
receipt. They may also be affected by any Barriers to Communication which might be present.

There are therefore a wide range of factors that will affect decoding and understanding.

Successful communicators understand how the message will be decoded, and anticipate and
remove as many as possible of the potential sources of misunderstanding.

Feedback

The final part of a communication is feedback: the recipient lets the sender know that they have
received and understood the message.

Recipients of messages are likely to provide feedback on how they have understood the
messages through both verbal and non-verbal reactions. Effective communicators pay close
attention to this feedback as it is the only way to assess whether the message has been
understood as intended, and it allows any confusion to be corrected.

Bear in mind that the extent and form of feedback will vary with the communication channel.
Feedback during a face-to-face or telephone conversation will be immediate and direct, whilst
feedback to messages conveyed via TV or radio will be indirect and may be delayed, or even
conveyed through other media such as the Internet.

Effective communicators pay close attention to this feedback as it is the only way to assess
whether the message has been understood as intended, and it allows any confusion to be
corrected.
Unit -2:
Escorts
Definition and Nature of the Work

Tour escorts accompany groups of people on organized trips called "package tours." Most
people who take escorted tours want the security and convenience of having transportation,
accommodations, and sightseeing arranged for them. However, not all group tours are the
same. There are tours for every budget, taste, and age group. Religious tours, cultural tours,
reunion tours for veterans, and tours for professional and interest groups are just several
examples of outings that require the services of a tour escort.

Tour escorts usually work for tour companies, which are as varied as their clientele. Some
specialize in certain activities—archaeological digs or mountain climbing, for instance. Others
specialize in certain markets such as students or retirees. Tour companies may be long
established, internationally based, and highly structured; others may have a few operators at
their head office and twenty or thirty escorts out in the field.

Tour escorts need excellent communication skills, organizational ability, and financial
responsibility. They must be able to respond calmly to such crises as airline strikes and bus
breakdowns. Clients expect their escorts to be both leaders and friends.

Education and Training Requirements

Summer camp counseling is a valuable way to get early experience in this field. Some colleges
have started to offer degrees in tourism; however, most tour escorts learn their skills on the job.
Many larger tour companies have intensive training programs in which escorts learn how to deal
with potential problems. Trainees work alongside more experienced escorts until they are
familiar with both company procedure and destination. Fluency in a foreign language or degrees
in such subjects as art history or archaeology make it easier to find a job as a tour escort.

Getting the Job

Interested individuals can find out about the destinations and itineraries of tour operators by
looking at travel agency brochures, consulting the World Travel Directory (available at most
large libraries), or visiting tour company Web sites. Prospective tour escorts can also apply
directly to tour companies that hire escorts. Jobs in other parts of the travel industry—as a hotel
clerk or an airline booking agent, for example—may enable candidates to build up personal
contacts with tour operators.

Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook

Their first year on the job tour escorts typically guide groups to one place exclusively; the
second year, two places; the third, three. With seniority comes a better choice of itineraries and
an opportunity to train new escorts. Some tour escorts become tour supervisors who put
together all the elements of the trip—transportation, hotels, meals, and sightseeing.

Although the enormous growth in the travel industry guarantees a continuing demand for tour
escorts, in the future they may need more advanced training. All travel-related job opportunities
are tied to economic conditions that affect the amount of money people have to spend on
travel. Some tour escorts will enter the field as replacements for those who leave, but many will
find openings available as the industry expands.

Working Conditions

The work of a tour escort is extremely demanding. It may involve fifteen to twenty-five
consecutive weeks of work without a day off, and it requires lifting heavy luggage and making
arrangements to keep even the most persnickety traveler in the group happy. Tour escorts
apparently enjoy their jobs in spite of these factors, as there is a fairly low job turnover among
workers in this occupation.

Earnings and Benefits

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, tour escorts earn a median salary of $9.27 per
hour, but experienced escorts can make up to $150 a day, depending on the scope of the tour
and the size of the group. They may also receive tips. Fringe benefits include free travel and
hotel accommodations. There may be gaps between trips during which escorts do not receive a
regular income. Large tour operators have organized benefits and incentive plans for office and
field personnel.

Escort

Escort is something which is done for a particular group throughout their entire journey.

They not only provide information about the place, guide and lead the people but also manage
their timings; place of stay; and organize them to see places in that country.
Guide

Guide is a person who knows a particular area too well.

They serve the people by taking them on a tour to a particular place or to a tourist spot of the
region.

The objective of guiding is to provide better knowledge about the place, describe it, leading the
people and m ake sure they have good time. "Tour Guide and Escort"

Job Duties and Tasks for: "Tour Guide and Escort"

1) Conduct educational activities for school children.

2) Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest such
as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.

3) Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.

4) Monitor visitors' activities in order to ensure compliance with establishment or tour

regulations and safety practices.

5) Greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges and/or safety devices.

6) Distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment processes

and operations at tour sites.

7) Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.

8) Provide for physical safety of groups, performing such activities as providing first aid and
directing emergency evacuations.

9) Research environmental conditions and clients' skill and ability levels in order to plan
expeditions, instruction, and commentary that are appropriate.

10) Provide information about wildlife varieties and habitats, as well as any relevant regulations,
such as those pertaining to hunting and fishing.

11) Collect fees and tickets from group members.

12) Teach skills, such as proper climbing methods, and demonstrate and advise on the use of
equipment.

13) Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas.
14) Solicit tour patronage and sell souvenirs.

15) Speak foreign languages in order to communicate with foreign visitors.

16) Assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure.

17) Drive motor vehicles in order to transport visitors to establishments and tour site locations.

18) Perform clerical duties such as filing, typing, operating switchboards, and routing mail and
messages.

Job Activities for: "Tour Guide and Escort"

1) Performing for or Working Directly with the Public -- Performing for people or dealing
directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving
clients or guests.

2) Getting Information -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all
relevant sources.

3) Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships -- Developing constructive and

cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

4) Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others -- Translating or explaining what

information means and how it can be used.

5) Thinking Creatively -- Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas,

relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

6) Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates -- Providing information to

supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

7) Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating,

recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

8) Training and Teaching Others -- Identifying the educational needs of others, developing
formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

9) Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge -- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new
knowledge to your job.
10) Performing General Physical Activities -- Performing physical activities that require
considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting,
balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

11) Communicating with Persons Outside Organization -- Communicating with people outside
the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other
external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-
mail.

Skills Needed for: "Tour Guide and Escort"

1) Speaking -- Talking to others to convey information effectively.

2) Active Listening -- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to
understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at
inappropriate times.

3) Reading Comprehension -- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related

documents.

4) Social Perceptiveness -- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as
they do.

5) Active Learning -- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and
future problem-solving and decision-making.

6) Instructing -- Teaching others how to do something.

7) Learning Strategies -- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures

appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

8) Monitoring -- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or

organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

9) Critical Thinking -- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of
alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

10) Time Management -- Managing one's own time and the time of others.

11) Service Orientation -- Actively looking for ways to help people.

Abilities Needed for: "Tour Guide and Escort"

1) Oral Expression -- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will
understand.

2) Oral Comprehension -- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas
presented through spoken words and sentences.

3) Speech Clarity -- The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

4) Speech Recognition -- The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

5) Problem Sensitivity -- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It
does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Knowledge, Experience, Education Required for: "Tour Guide and Escort"

1) Customer and Personal Service -- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing
customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality
standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Role of tour Guide

Tour guides are referred as tourist guides in some country. A tour guide is a person who guides
the visitors in the language of their choice. He leads a group of people around the museum,
town, and important venue. Guides are representative of the cities for which they are qualified
and they interpret the culture and heritage of the area. Guide helps travelers to understand the
culture of the region and the way of life its inhabitants. On one hand their role is to promote the
cultural and natural heritage and on other hand making the visitors aware of its importance.
Guide provides full information about the features and history of the location. As the
importance of places is known by the guide, he will educate and narrates you all the local
stories, history and culture as and when the location comes. The importance is placed on the
guide's knowledge; he will try his best to explain you in language you know. While traveling to
next location guide entertain you, and gives you relevant information about the place where you
will land up next. On visiting any historical place, a guide with complete knowledge of that place
is required. So that he narrate the history of that place in detail. If you move without a guide you
will not come to know anything about the place and you will not understand what you are
seeing and what does it means. Guide answers all your questions and you can gain lot of
knowledge from him. Many times it happens that we ignore small things, but always a small
thing contains a big story, so only guide can educate us about the place. Before going for a trip
you can ask your friends and relatives about the place who have been there. But to get the
whole insight information it is better to appoint a guide. A guide helps you to know about the
climatic condition, culture, language, specialty of the place and also helps us to buy the famous
thing available there.

Difference between Guide and Escort are given below:

Escort

Escort is something which is done for a particular group throughout their entire journey.

They not only provide information about the place, guide and lead the people but also manage
their timings; place of stay; and organize them to see places in that country.

Guide

Guide is a person who knows a particular area too well.

They serve the people by taking them on a tour to a particular place or to a tourist spot of the
region.

The objective of guiding is to provide better knowledge about the place, describe it, leading the
people and make sure they have good time.

Tour guide: The tour guide is a qualified person who accompanies people visiting works of
art, museums, galleries, archaeological sites, amd who explain the historical, artistical,
monumental and natural attractions.

Tour escort: "The tour escort is a qualified person who accompanies people traveling
through different countries and abroad to assure the regular running of the planned trips. He
provids the necessary support services for its entire duration, giving significant information of
the site".

An entry-level Tour Guide with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total
compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of ₹250,000 based on 11 salaries. An
early career Tour Guide with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of
₹300,000 based on 15 salaries. A mid-career Tour Guide with 5-9 years of experience earns an
average total compensation of ₹200,000 based on 6 salaries.

Unit -3:
Adventure Tourism
Adventure tourism is defined as the movement of the people from one to another place outside
their comfort zone for exploration or travel to remote areas, exotic and possibly hostile areas.
Adventure tourism is a type of tourism in which tourist do some adventures activities like as
skydiving, hill climbing, scuba diving.

Adventure tourism is very popular among young age tourists. Adventure tourism gains much of
its excitement by allowing the tourists to step outside their comfort zone. This may be from
experiencing cultural shock or through the performance of acts, that required some degree of
risk (real or perceived) and physical danger.

Adventure travel is a leisure activity that takes place in an unusual, exotic, remote or wilderness
destination. It tends to be associated with high levels of activity by the participant, most of it
outdoors. Adventure travelers expect to experience various level of risk, excitement, and
tranquility and be personally tested. In particular, they are explorers of unspoiled, exotic parts of
the planet and also seek personal challenges.

The main factor distinguishing adventure tourism from all other forms of tourism is the planning
and preparation involved.

Definitions of Adventure Tourism

Adventure tourism is a new concept in the tourism industry. Tourism industry adopted
adventure tourism, but there is not any specific definition of adventure tourism. Most
commentators concur that adventure tourism is a niche sector of the tourism industry, but there
are many other niche sectors in tourism which have same characteristics that overlap with
adventure tourism such as ecotourism, activity tourism or adventure travel.

One of them can confuse. Adventure tourism is a complicated and ambiguous topic. Some
important definitions of adventure tourism are following as:

According to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, “adventure tourism is a tourist activity that
includes physical activity, cultural exchange, or activities in nature.”

According to Muller and Cleaver, “Adventure tourism is characterized by its ability to provide the
tourist with relatively high levels of sensory stimulation, usually achieved by including physically
challenging experiential components with the tourist experience.”

Canadian Tourism Commission in 1995 defines adventure tourism as, “an outdoor leisure activity
that takes place in an unusual, exotic, remote or wilderness destination, involves some form of
unconventional means of transportation, and tends to be associated with low or high levels of
activity.”

According to Sung et al, “adventure tourism is the sum of the phenomena and relationships
arising from the interactions of adventure touristic activities with the natural environment away
from the participant’s usual place of residence area and containing elements of risk in which the
outcome is influenced by the participation, setting, and the organizer of the tourist’s
experience.”

According to UNWTO, ” adventure tourism can be domestic or international, and like all travel, it
must include an overnight stay, but not last longer than one year.”

History of Adventure Tourism

Humans are traveling from ancient time for the searching for foods, and for many survival
reasons. Humans have been engaging in adventurous travel for hundreds of year via
exploration. People traveled in ancient time for exploration of sea roots, new destination, or
even a new country.

However, commercial adventure travel is a new phenomenon, in which travelers hire a

professional guide to provide a range of technical support and equipment, as well as cultural
and nature interpretation.

In the mid-1800s, adventurers began to push the limits of mountain climbing and river rafting,
with the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 and decent of the Colorado River in 1869. Shortly
thereafter, two key institutions were formed. The National Geographic Society and Explorers
Club. These institutions are supporting adventures tourism continuously.

In the mid- 1950s, many first ascents and descents attracted global attention and inspired many
people to attempt their own expeditions. Maurice Herzog’s ascent of Annapurna in 1950, Sir
Edmund Hillary and Tenzig Norgay’s ascent of Mount Everest, and other successes were hailed
in the media around the world. This was the takeoff of modern adventure tourism.

Today, adventure tourism is a vibrant, dynamic, and fast-changing sector with new variants
routinely added into the possible experience.

Types of Adventure Tourism

Adventure tourism has grown exponentially all over the world in recent years with tourist visiting
destinations previously undiscovered. This allows for a new destination to market themselves as
truly unique, appealing to those traveler looking for rare, incomparable experience.

Adventure tourism includes various activities like caving, hiking, sailing, trekking etc. Adventure
tourism categorized into two categories. These are following as:

1. Hard Adventure

2. Soft Adventure

Hard Adventure

Hard adventure refers to activities with high levels of risk, requiring intense commitment and
advanced skills. Hard tourism includes the activities like climbing mountains/rock/ice, trekking,
caving etc.

Hard adventure activities are highly risked in nature. Professional guide, advance level skills are
required to perform these activities. Many tourists died during climbing mountains, caving every
day. There is an interesting fact that is for K2, world 2nd highest mountain, for every two people
who submit one dies.

Soft Adventure
Soft adventure refers to activities with a perceived risk but low levels of risk, requiring minimal
commitment and beginning skills; most of these activities are led by experienced guides. Soft
tourism includes the activities like backpacking, camping, hiking, kayaking etc.

Soft adventure activities are low risk in nature. These activities are led by professional guides.
Soft adventure is a popular category in adventure tourism. On average, 25% trips taken from
North America and Europe are soft adventure trips.

Adventure Tourism Activities

Adventure travelers are early adopters by nature, meaning they are generally more willing to try
new destinations, activities, and travel products. Popular activities change rapidly, and it seems
there is a new twist on an existing sport evert years.

Some activities have low risk and some have high. Adventure tourism activities are classified into
two types:

1. Hard Adventure Activities

2. Soft Adventure Activities

Hard Adventure Activities

Hard adventure activities are highly risky and dangerous in nature. These activities are following
as:

• Caving

• Mountain Climbing

• Rock Climbing

• Ice Climbing

• Trekking

• Sky Diving

Soft Adventure Activities

These activities are less dangerous and risk as compared to hard adventure activities. These
activities are always lead by professional guides. These activities are following as:

• Backpacking

• Birdwatching

• Camping

• Canoeing

• Eco-tourism

• Fishing

• Hiking

• Horseback riding

• Hunting

• Kayaking/sea/whitewater

• Orienteering

• Safaris

• Scuba Diving

• Snorkeling

• Skiing

• Snowboarding

• Surfing

Adventure tourism activities sit well with the environment because the natural world provides us
with the resources for many of the activities that provide risk, challenge, sensory stimulus,
novelty, discovery and so on.
Characteristics and Features of
Adventure Tourism
The threefold combination of activity, nature, and culture marks adventure travel as an all-round
challenge. Some unique characteristics and features of adventure tourism are following as:

• Physical activity, i.e. activities involving physical exertion or

psychomotor skills.

• Contact with nature, i.e. activities bringing contact with the natural
world in general, or with specific wildlife.

• Contact with different cultures, i.e. people, faith, lifestyles

• Journeys, i.e. vehicle-, animal-, or human-power.

• Uncertain outcomes

• Danger and risk

• Challenges

• Anticipated rewards

• Novelty

• Stimulation and excitement

• Exploration and discovery

• Contrasting emotions

Adventure Tourism Supplier

A tourism supply chain is the system of people, products, activities, and materials that get a
product or service from its raw state through production and distribution to the consumer.

As with any sector, volume discounts drive the mass price point, so major retailers primarily
market select trips that sell in high volume. The supply chain for these mass tourism products is
often very simple, comprising only transportation and accommodation elements.

The adventure tourism supply chain is more complex. Niche products often require specializes in
knowledge and operations. Adventure tourism’s supply chain linkages go very deep, and this is
one of the key reasons that adventure tourism delivers greater benefits at the local level.

Supply chains vary from destination to destination. The makeup of the most involved adventure
supply chain is typical as follows:

Without a proper supply chain, the tourism sector can not survive. Tourism suppliers are the
backbone of the tourism industry. Adventure tourism suppliers work at a different, different level
like as domestic as well international level.

Adventure Tourism Importance

and Benefits
Adventure tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism sector, attracting high-
value customers, supporting local economies, and encouraging sustainable practices.

The continued growth of this sector creates net positive impacts not only for tourism, but also
for destination economies, their people, and their environment.

Some importance and benefits of adventure tourism are following as:

Employment Generation

Adventure tourism generates the jobs. Adventure tourism generates directs jobs to
accommodation, transportation sector and for travel agencies or tour operators. Adventure
tourism also provides the indirect job to tourism suppliers.

Adventure tourism plays an important role in the generation of employment in the economy.

Foreign Exchange
Adventure tourism attracts the foreign tourists at a large scale, as a result, it helps in foreign
exchange generation.

When tourist travel to another country, they spend a large amount of money on
accommodation, transportation, and shopping. Adventure tourism generates foreign exchange
and supports the economy of the host country.

Economy Development

Adventure tourism helps in the development of the host country’s economy. Adventure tourism
activities directly support the economy in various forms. The more tourists, more economic
growth.

Support Local Communities

Adventure tourism helps in the development of infrastructure and support local communities.
Adventure tourism activities directly contributed to the local economy of the communities and
increase the living standards of local people.

Conservation of Natural Resources

Adventure tourism activities are nature-based activities. Leaders in the adventure tourism
industry are dedicated to making this tourism segment as sustainable as possible. They help in
conservation of natural resources as well as cultural.

Creating Business Opportunities

Adventure tourism activities create new business opportunities. There are companies that
specialize in helping emerging adventure tourism operators market their product. Each new
adventure tourism activity creates a new business opportunity.

Local and Foreign Investment

Adventure tourism creates business opportunities, as a result, it attracts the local as well as
international investors. Investors invest their money in the accommodation, transportation, and
into travel trade organization.

Adventure tourism plays an important role in the economy of the host

country.
Hiking vs Trekking vs Mountaineering: What’s the Difference?

Hiking, trekking, and mountaineering sound synonymous.

But, they have many differences.

The type of terrain, technical difficulty, and the equipment used in these adventures make them
different from each other.

The term ‘hiking’ means long hours of walking on trails. Hiking is quite easy and does not
require climbing skills and equipment.

Trekking, simply put, is just like hiking. It generally is of two days or more. So, trekking is usually
longer than hiking. Like hiking, trekking does not require technical skills and knowledge.

On the other hand, mountaineering refers to sports of mountain climbing. It requires high
technical skills and fitness level.

Hiking

Hiking comparatively is one of the easiest of adventure pursuits. Anyone can do it regardless of
age, sex or fitness level.

Hiking means walking on the trails for long hours. It is walking on some kind of terrains such as
hills or deserts.

People usually go hiking on a specified route for half a day or full. There are markings in the
hiking routes. So, it is like going from a start point to an end point. You may then return back to
your start point.

Hiking can also be of multiple-days. Those multiple-days hike are simply called backpacking.
You may have to be more-prepared for multi-day hiking as you will usually have to carry your
own food and other essential equipment to spend your time and spend nights in the wilderness.

You also do not need technical knowledge to go on a hike. If you have some general navigation
skills and a basic fitness level, you are good to go.

The best thing about hiking is that you do not need a lot of preparation. All you need is a
backpack with some food, water, waterproof and windproof jacket for any case of weather
change. But, hiking shoes that are light and breathable is a must for a hike.

On a day off, going on long hours of the walk may not sound fun. But, trust me, you will change
your mind after you find out the benefits of hiking. Here are a few:
• Going on regular hikes improves your cardiovascular fitness.

• On a hike, you can walk as long as you like. Since you walk on a marked trail, you can
cover the distance you feel like and come back. So, unlike other adventures, there is no pressure
of reaching somewhere on time.

• If you hike with your family, it also offers an opportunity to bond, help each other out
and grow strong as a family.

Hiking, though a great outdoor activity for everyone, it does have its risks. You will be out in the
wilderness. So, there are risks of injury.

To avoid any such risks, it is better if you first research about the trail you are going to walk on.
You should walk with proper clothing, shoes, and first-aid kits for the prevention of injuries.

Hiking is such an activity that allows you to get the best of wildlife with minimum risks. Not only
is hiking good for your physical health but it is also a great way to release stress.

Trekking

Trekking usually consists of many days and may be physically more demanding as the terrains
are usually tougher.

Trekking is usually challenging than the day-hikes. Trekkers usually walk through the well-built
infrastructure- well-made wide trails with lodges and snack stops on the way.

While trekking you walk through the varying terrains for many days. You even go higher in the
high altitude regions and on the lap of mountains during the trek.

Some of the features of trekking for many days in the wilderness are as follows:

• As you usually pass through settlements and stay at teahouses/lodges, you will have the
chance to make new friends along the way.

• You can learn about the lifestyle, culture, tradition, and uniqueness of the place by
interacting with locals.

• Since you spend multiple days trekking, it helps in your mental and physical health.

During trekking, you have options to take porters with you and hire a guide. You can hire a
porter to carry your belongings, hire a guide to walk with you throughout the trek. They help
you while arranging for food, accommodation, safety, and comfort throughout the trek.
Everest Base Camp Trek, Inca Trail, Annapurna Base Camp Trek are some of the popular treks
around the world.

Mountaineering

As the name says, mountaineering means climbing a mountain to reach its summit. This is for
the people who have a soul of an adventurer, high level of confidence, and ability to survive in
harsh conditions.

Mountaineering requires rope techniques, use of crampons and ice ax, pinpoint navigations and
so on. For the adventure in mountains, you need to have high technical skills and training.

Since mountaineering requires you to walk and climb on ice and rock terrains, survive in snow
storms, and more. It is best if you maintain your physical and mental health.

To keep you walking and healthy, you need to consume mountaineering food, pack proper
mountaineering gloves, pants, boots, sunglasses, gaiters, and so on.

Mountaineering is tough and it requires a high level of skillsets. If you want to get out of your
comfort zone and have enough trekking experience, your next step can be mountaineering.

Here are a few benefits of mountaineering:

• Mountaineering involves climbing, scrambling, hiking and more. So, it offers a range of
activities for you to do.

• Like hiking, mountaineering also helps in your cardiovascular fitness.

• It is a great way to build your confidence and team-working skills.

But, you also need to be careful about the risks involved in mountaineering. You need to have a
high level of fitness before you start your expedition.

Other than that, it is important that you undergo mountaineering training for some time. You
have to also learn how to use the equipment properly and with ease even in difficult conditions.

Since you will mount at high altitudes in mountains the chances of altitude sickness is very
frequent. So, you need to walk slowly, spend enough days on acclimatization and maintain
hydration.

Thus, mountaineering requires high preparation and effort for its completion. For
mountaineering, you need to partake in technical training months before your actual expedition.
This adventurous task is only for the experienced ones who have already involved in peak
climbing and challenging treks. So, unlike hiking, mountaineering is for the experienced trekkers.

Which One to Choose?

If you are a novice traveler or hiking enthusiast then hiking is the best option for you. You can
begin with a short day-hikes and then gradually go for multi-day hikes once your body becomes
accustomed to heights, long distance walks, and the varying landscapes.

While those who frequently go on a short or multi-day hike can opt for trekking in the off-the-
beaten-paths if you are looking for extra adventures. It demands your physical stamina but
offers the most surreal experiences. Unlike hiking, trekking could be challenging sometimes
because of the unexpected weather and altitude variations.

But, for a novice trekker, mountaineering is not a good idea. This adventure demands months-
long training sessions and endurance training. You need to be well accustomed to the varying
altitude, fluctuating and harsh mountain weather, along with several technical climbs.

For hiking and trekking, you do not have to use climbing gears. Whereas, mountaineering
demands the skill on fixing ropes, use of ice ax, crampons, and other gears. So, for the
experienced ones, mountaineering can be the best adventure.

Lastly,

If you are seeking for leisurely activity, go for hikes.

If you want to experience the adventures on the remote, country-sides, go for trekking.

If you want to behold the beauty of mountains and stand at its summit, go for mountaineering.

You can do any of these. But, for mountaineering, you need to obtain special training and pre-
climbing experiences.

With proper preparation and a fit body, any travel enthusiast can opt for any of these rejoicing
activities.
Unit -4:
Passport and Visa
What is the Difference Between a Passport and a Visa?

The main difference between a passport and a visa is that a passport is issued to a country’s
citizens for international travel and identification.

•A passport is used to verify one’s country of citizenship. If traveling outside your country, it is
used to regain entry into your country of citizenship.

•Passports include your photo, name, birth date, gender and physical characteristics.

•For U.S. citizens, some countries only require a passport for re-entry. Other countries may
require a visa before entry. You should confirm if a country-specific visa* is required before
traveling.

•Diplomats and government officials are granted different passports than what's given to
regular travelers.

What is a Passport?
A passport is a travel document, usually issued by a country's government to its citizens, that
certifies the identity and nationality of its holder primarily for the purpose of international travel.
Standard passports may contain information such as the holder's name, place and date of birth,
photograph, signature, and other relevant identifying information.

Many countries have either begun issuing or plan to issue biometric passports that contains an
embedded microchip, making them machine-readable and difficult to counterfeit.As of January
2019, there are over 150 jurisdictions issuing these e-passports. Previously issued non-biometric
machine-readable passports usually remain valid until their respective expiration dates.
History

First Japanese passport, issued in 1866

Chinese passport from the Qing Dynasty, 24th Year of the Guangxu Reign, 1898
An Ottoman passport (passavant) issued to Russian subject dated July 24, 1900

One of the earliest known references to paperwork that served in a role similar to that of a
passport is found in the Hebrew Bible. Nehemiah 2:7–9, dating from approximately 450 BC,
states that Nehemiah, an official serving King Artaxerxes I of Persia, asked permission to travel
to Judea; the king granted leave and gave him a letter "to the governors beyond the river"
requesting safe passage for him as he traveled through their lands.

Arthashastra mentions the first passport and passbooks in world history. According to the text,
the superintendent of passports must issue sealed passes before one could enter or leave the
countryside.

Passports were an important part of the Chinese bureaucracy as early as the Western Han, if not
in the Qin Dynasty. They required such details as age, height, and bodily features. These
passports (zhuan) determined a person's ability to move throughout imperial counties and
through points of control. Even children needed passports, but those of one year or less who
were in their mother's care might not have needed them.

In the medieval Islamic Caliphate, a form of passport was the bara'a, a receipt for taxes paid.
Only people who paid their zakah (for Muslims) or jizya (for dhimmis) taxes were permitted to
travel to different regions of the Caliphate; thus, the bara'a receipt was a "basic passport."

Etymological sources show that the term "passport" is from a medieval document that was
required in order to pass through the gate (or "porte") of a city wall or to pass through a
territory. In medieval Europe, such documents were issued to foreign travellers by local
authorities (as opposed to local citizens, as is the modern practice) and generally contained a list
of towns and cities the document holder was permitted to enter or pass through. On the whole,
documents were not required for travel to sea ports, which were considered open trading
points, but documents were required to travel inland from sea ports.
King Henry V of England is credited with having invented what some consider the first passport
in the modern sense, as a means of helping his subjects prove who they were in foreign lands.
The earliest reference to these documents is found in a 1414 Act of Parliament. In 1540, granting
travel documents in England became a role of the Privy Council of England, and it was around
this time that the term "passport" was used. In 1794, issuing British passports became the job of
the Office of the Secretary of State. The 1548 Imperial Diet of Augsburg required the public to
hold imperial documents for travel, at the risk of permanent exile.

A rapid expansion of railway infrastructure and wealth in Europe beginning in the mid-

nineteenth century led to large increases in the volume of international travel and a consequent
unique dilution of the passport system for approximately thirty years prior to World War I. The
speed of trains, as well as the number of passengers that crossed multiple borders, made
enforcement of passport laws difficult. The general reaction was the relaxation of passport
requirements. In the later part of the nineteenth century and up to World War I, passports were
not required, on the whole, for travel within Europe, and crossing a border was a relatively
straightforward procedure. Consequently, comparatively few people held passports.

During World War I, European governments introduced border passport requirements for
security reasons, and to control the emigration of people with useful skills. These controls
remained in place after the war, becoming a standard, though controversial, procedure. British
tourists of the 1920s complained, especially about attached photographs and physical
descriptions, which they considered led to a "nasty dehumanization". The British Nationality and
Status of Aliens Act was passed in 1914, clearly defining the notions of citizenship and creating a
booklet form of the passport.

In 1920, the League of Nations held a conference on passports, the Paris Conference on

Passports & Customs Formalities and Through Tickets.Passport guidelines and a general booklet
design resulted from the conference, which was followed up by conferences in 1926 and 1927.

While the United Nations held a travel conference in 1963, no passport guidelines resulted from
it. Passport standardization came about in 1980, under the auspices of the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO standards include those for machine-readable
passports. Such passports have an area where some of the information otherwise written in
textual form is written as strings of alphanumeric characters, printed in a manner suitable
for optical character recognition. This enables border controllers and other law enforcement
agents to process these passports more quickly, without having to input the information
manually into a computer. ICAO publishes Doc 9303 Machine Readable Travel Documents, the
technical standard for machine-readable passports. A more recent standard is for biometric
passports. These contain biometrics to authenticate the identity of travellers. The passport's
critical information is stored on a tiny RFID computer chip, much like information stored
on smartcards. Like some smartcards, the passport booklet design calls for an embedded
contactless chip that is able to hold digital signature data to ensure the integrity of the passport
and the biometric data.

WW2 Spanish official passport issued in late 1944 and used during the last 6 months of the war
by an official being sent to Berlin

Issuance

Historically, legal authority to issue passports is founded on the exercise of each country's
executive discretion (or Crown prerogative). Certain legal tenets follow, namely: first, passports
are issued in the name of the state; second, no person has a legal right to be issued a passport;
third, each country's government, in exercising its executive discretion, has complete and
unfettered discretion to refuse to issue or to revoke a passport; and fourth, that the latter
discretion is not subject to judicial review. However, legal scholars including A.J. Arkelian have
argued that evolutions in both the constitutional law of democratic countries and the
international law applicable to all countries now render those historical tenets both obsolete and
unlawful.

Under some circumstances some countries allow people to hold more than one passport
document. This may apply, for example, to people who travel a lot on business, and may need to
have, say, a passport to travel on while another is awaiting a visa for another country. The UK for
example may issue a second passport if the applicant can show a need and supporting
documentation, such as a letter from an employer.

National conditions

Today, most countries issue individual passports to applying citizens, including children, with
only a few still issuing family passports (see below under "Types") or including children on a
parent's passport (most countries having switched to individual passports in the early to mid-
20th century). When passport holders apply for a new passport (commonly, due to expiration of
the previous passport, insufficient validity for entry to some countries or lack of blank pages),
they may be required to surrender the old passport for invalidation. In some circumstances an
expired passport is not required to be surrendered or invalidated (for example, if it contains an
unexpired visa).

Under the law of most countries, passports are government property, and may be limited or
revoked at any time, usually on specified grounds, and possibly subject to judicial review. In
many countries, surrender of one's passport is a condition of granting bail in lieu of
imprisonment for a pending criminal trial due to flight risk.

Each country sets its own conditions for the issue of passports. For example, Pakistan requires
applicants to be interviewed before a Pakistani passport will be granted. When applying for a
passport or a national ID card, all Pakistanis are required to sign an oath declaring Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad to be an impostor prophet and all Ahmadis to be non-Muslims.

Some countries limit the issuance of passports, where incoming and outgoing international
travels are highly regulated, such as North Korea, where ordinary passports are the privilege of a
very small number of people trusted by the government.citation needed Other countries put
requirements on some citizens in order to be granted passports, such as Finland, where male
citizens aged 18–30 years must prove that they have completed, or are exempt from, their
obligatory military service to be granted an unrestricted passport; otherwise a passport is issued
valid only until the end of their 28th year, to ensure that they return to carry out military
service. Other countries with obligatory military service, such as South Korea and Syria, have
similar requirements, e.g. South Korean passport and Syrian passport.

National status

Passports contain a statement of the nationality of the holder. In most countries, only one class
of nationality exists, and only one type of ordinary passport is issued. However, several types of
exceptions exist:

Multiple classes of nationality in a single country

The United Kingdom has a number of classes of United Kingdom nationality due to its colonial

history. As a result, the UK issues various passports which are similar in appearance but
representative of different nationality statuses which, in turn, has caused foreign governments to
subject holders of different UK passports to different entry requirements.

Multiple types of passports, one nationality

The People's Republic of China (PRC) authorizes its Special Administrative Regions of Hong

Kong and Macau to issue passports to their permanent residents with Chinese nationality under
the "one country, two systems" arrangement. Visa policies imposed by foreign authorities on
Hong Kong and Macau permanent residents holding such passports are different from those
holding ordinary passports of the People's Republic of China. A Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region passport (HKSAR passport) permits visa-free access to many more
countries than ordinary PRC passports.

The three constituent countries of the Danish Realm have a common nationality. Denmark

proper is a member of the European Union, but Greenland and Faroe Islands are not. Danish
citizens residing in Greenland or Faroe Islands can choose between holding a Danish EU
passport and a Greenlandic or Faroese non-EU Danish passport.

Special nationality class through investment

In rare instances a nationality is available through investment. Some investors have been
described in Tongan passports as 'a Tongan protected person', a status which does not
necessarily carry with it the right of abode in Tonga.

Passports without sovereign territory

Several entities without a sovereign territory issue documents described as passports, most
notably Iroquois League the Aboriginal Provisional Government in Australia and the Sovereign
Military Order of Malta. Such documents are not necessarily accepted for entry into a country.

Validity

Passports have a limited validity, usually between 5 and 10 years.

Maximum adult passport validity across the world

Many countries require a passport validity of a minimum of six months beyond the planned date
of departure, as well as having at least two to four blank pages.

Value

One method to measure the 'value' of a passport is to calculate its 'visa-free score' (VFS), which
is the number of countries that allow the holder of that passport entry for general tourism
without requiring a visa. As of 1 July 2019, the strongest and weakest passports are as follows:

Strongest passports   Weakest passports

Ran VF Ran VF
Country / countries Country / countries
k S k S

18
1 Japan, Singapore 100 41 Kosovo
9

18 Bangladesh, Eritrea, Iran, Lebano
2 Finland, Germany, South Korea 101 39
7 n, North Korea

18
3 Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg 102 38 Nepal
6

18
4 France, Spain, Sweden 103 37 Libya, Palestine, Sudan
5

18 Austria, Netherlands, Portugal, Swi
5 104 33 Yemen
4 tzerland

Belgium, Canada, Greece, Republic
18
6 of Ireland, Norway, United 105 31 Somalia
3
Kingdom, United States

18
7 Malta 106 30 Pakistan
2

18
8 Czech Republic 107 29 Syria
1

9 18 Australia, Iceland, Lithuania, New 108 27 Iraq

 0 Zealand

17
10 Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia 109 25 Afghanistan
9

Types

A rough standardization exists in types of passports throughout the world, although passport
types, number of pages, and definitions can vary by country.

Full passports

 
Left to right: diplomatic, official, and regular passport from India.
Each passport type has a different cover colour.

Passport (also called ordinary, regular, or tourist passport) – The most common form of
passport, issued to individual citizens and other nationals (most nations stopped issuing family
passports several decades ago due to logistical and security reasons).

Official passport (also called service passport) – Issued to government employees for work-
related travel, and their accompanying dependants.

Diplomatic passport – Issued to diplomats of a country and their accompanying dependents for
official international travel and residence. Accredited diplomats of certain grades may be
granted diplomatic immunity by a host country, but this is not automatically conferred by
holding a diplomatic passport. Any diplomatic privileges apply in the country to which the
diplomat is accredited; elsewhere diplomatic passport holders must adhere to the same
regulations and travel procedures as are required of other nationals of their country. Holding a
diplomatic passport in itself does not accord any specific privileges. At some airports, there are
separate passport checkpoints for diplomatic passport holders.

Emergency passport (also called temporary passport) – Issued to persons whose passports were
lost or stolen without time to obtain a replacement, e.g. someone abroad and needing to fly
home within a few days. These passports are intended for very short time durations, e.g. one
way travel back to home country, and will naturally have much shorter validity periods than
regular passports. Laissez-passer are also used for this purpose.

British Emergency Passport

Collective passport – Issued to defined groups for travel together to particular destinations, such
as a group of school children on a school trip.

Family passport – Issued to an entire family. There is one passport holder, who may travel alone
or with other family members included in the passport. A family member who is not the
passport holder cannot use the passport for travel without the passport holder. Few countries
now issue family passports; for example, all the  countries, Canada, the United States, and the
United Kingdom, among numerous other countries, require each child to have their own
passport.

Non-citizen passports

Latvia and Estonia

Non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia are individuals, primarily of Russian or Ukrainian ethnicity,

who are not citizens of Latvia or Estonia but whose families have resided in the area since the
Soviet era, and thus have the right to a non-citizen passport issued by the Latvian government
as well as other specific rights. Approximately two thirds of them are ethnic Russians, followed
by ethnic Belarusians, ethnic Ukrainians, ethnic Poles and ethnic Lithuanians.

Non-citizens in the two countries are issued special non-citizen passports as opposed to regular
passports issued by the Estonian and Latvian authorities to citizens.
American Samoa

Main article: United States nationality law § Nationals

Although all U.S. citizens are also U.S. nationals, the reverse is not true. As specified in 8
U.S.C. § 1408, a person whose only connection to the U.S. is through birth in an outlying
possession (which is defined in 8 U.S.C.§ 1101 as American Samoa and Swains Island, the latter
of which is administered as part of American Samoa), or through descent from a person so born,
acquires U.S. nationality but not U.S. citizenship. This was formerly the case in a few other
current or former U.S. overseas possessions, i.e. the Panama Canal Zone and Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands.

The U.S. passport issued to non-citizen nationals contains the endorsement code 9 which states:
"THE BEARER IS A UNITED STATES NATIONAL AND NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN." on the
annotations page.

Non-citizen U.S. nationals may reside and work in the United States without restrictions, and
may apply for citizenship under the same rules as resident aliens. Like resident aliens, they
are not presently allowed by any U.S. state to vote in federal or state elections, although, as with
resident aliens, there is no constitutional prohibition against their doing so.

United Kingdom

Main article: British nationality law § Classes of British nationality

Due to the complexity of British nationality law, the United Kingdom has six variants of British
nationality. Out of these variants, however, only the status known as British citizen grants the
right of abode in a particular country or territory (the United Kingdom) while others do not.
Hence, the UK issues British passports to those who are British nationals but not British citizens,
which include British Overseas Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British
subjects, British Nationals (Overseas) and British Protected Persons.

Andorra

Children born in Andorra to foreign residents who have not yet resided in the country for a
minimum of 10 years are provided a provisional passport. Once the child reaches 18 years old
he or she must confirm their nationality to the Government.

Other types of travel documents

Nansen passport for refugees (now defunct)

Laissez-passer – Issued by national governments or international organizations (such as

the U.N.) as emergency passports, travel on humanitarian grounds, or for official travel.

Interpol Travel Document – Issued by Interpol to police officers for official travel, allowing them
to bypass certain visa restrictions in certain member states when investigating transnational
crime.

Certificate of identity (also called alien's passport, or informally, a Travel Document) –

Issued under certain circumstances, such as statelessness, to non-citizen residents. An example
is the "Nansen passport" (pictured). Sometimes issued as an internal passport to non-residents.

Refugee travel document – Issued to a refugee by the state in which she or he currently
resides allowing them to travel outside that state and to return. Made necessary because
refugees are unlikely to be able to obtain passports from their state of nationality.

Permits. Many types of travel permit exist around the world. Some, like the U.S. Re-entry
Permit and Japan Re-entry Permit, allow residents of those countries who are unable to obtain a
permanent residence to travel outside the country and return. Others, like the Bangladesh
Special Passport, the Two-way permit, and the Taibaozheng (Taiwan Compatriot Entry Permit),
are used for travel to and from specific countries or locations, for example to travel
between mainland China and Macau, or between Taiwan and China.
Chinese Travel Document – Issued by the People's Republic of China to Chinese citizens in lieu
of a passport.

Hajj passport – a special passport used only for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage

to Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Intra-sovereign territory travel that requires passports

(Document In Lieu of Internal Travel Document, IMM.114) for social and business visits in the
form of a paper slip is given to West Malaysian citizens entering Sabah using MyKad. This slip
should be returned to the Immigration Officer upon departure from the state of Sabah

For some countries, passports are required for some types of travel between their sovereign
territories. Three examples of this are:

Hong Kong and Macau, both Chinese special administrative regions (SARs), have their own
immigration control systems different from each other and mainland China. Travelling between
the three is technically not international, so residents of the three locations do not use passports
to travel between the three places, instead using other documents, such as the Mainland Travel
Permit(for the people of Hong Kong and Macau). Foreign visitors are required to present their
passports with applicable visas at the immigration control points.

Malaysia, where an arrangement was agreed upon during the formation of the country, the East
Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak were allowed to retain their respective immigration
control systems. Therefore, a passport is required for foreign visitors when travelling
from Peninsular Malaysia to East Malaysia, as well as moving between Sabah and Sarawak. For
social/business visits not more than 3 months, Peninsular Malaysians are required to produce
a MyKad or, for children below 12 years a birth certificate, and obtain a special immigration
printout form to be kept until departure. However, one may present a Malaysian passport or a
Restricted Travel Document and get an entry stamp on the travel document to avoid the hassle
of keeping an extra sheet of paper. For other purposes, Peninsular Malaysians are required to
have a long-term residence permit along with a passport or a Restricted Travel Document.

Norfolk Island, one of Australia's external, self-governing territories, has its own immigration
controls. Until 2018, Australian and New Zealand citizens travelling to the territory were required
to carry a passport, or an Australian Document of Identity, while people of other nationalities
must also have a valid Australian visa and/or Permanent Resident of Norfolk Island visa.

Internal passports

Internal passports are issued by some countries as an identity document. An example is

the internal passport of Russia or certain other post-Soviet countries dating back to imperial
times. Some countries use internal passports for controlling migration within a country. In some
countries, the international passport or passport for travel abroad is a second passport, in
addition to the internal passport, required for a citizen to travel abroad within the country of
residence. Separate passports for travel abroad existed or exist in the following countries:

In the Soviet Union, there were several types of international passport: an ordinary one, a civil
service passport, a diplomatic passport, and a sailor's passport. See Passport system in the
Soviet Union.

Countries of the Eastern Bloc had a system of internal/international passports similar to that of

the Soviet Union.

Designs and format

International Civil Aviation Organization standards

Colours across the world for modern passport booklet covers

U.S. CBP Office of Field Operations agent checking the authenticity of a travel document at
an international airport using a stereo microscope

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) issues passport standards which are treated
as recommendations to national governments. The size of passport booklets normally complies
with the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-3 standard, which specifies a size of 125 × 88 mm (4.921 × 3.465 in).
This size is the B7 format. Passport cards are issued to the ID-1 (credit card sized) standard.

More than 5 million passports of the United Kingdom (also called the "red book") are printed
each year—one every 2.5 seconds—at this secret location in the North of England

A standard passport booklet format includes the cover, which contains the name of the issuing
country, a national symbol, a description of the document (e.g., passport, diplomatic passport),
and a biometric passport symbol, if applicable. Inside, there is a title page, also naming the
country. A data page follows, containing information about the bearer and the issuing authority.
There are blank pages for visas, and to stamp for entries and exit. Passports have numerical or
alphanumerical designators ("serial number") assigned by the issuing authority.

Machine-readable passport standards have been issued by the ICAO, with an area set aside
where most of the information written as text is also printed in a manner suitable for optical
character recognition.

Biometric passports (or e-passports) have an embedded contactless chip in order to conform to

ICAO standards. These chips contain data about the passport bearer, a photographic portrait in
digital format, and data about the passport itself. Many countries now issue biometric passports,
in order to speed up clearance through immigration and the prevention of identity fraud. These
reasons are disputed by privacy advocates.

Common designs

Main articles: Andean passport, CARICOM passport, Central America-4 passport, ECOWAS

passport, and Passports of the European Union

An Argentine passport with the name of Mercosur at the top

Passport booklets from almost all countries around the world display the national coat of
arms of the issuing country on the front cover. The United Nations keeps a record of national
coats of arms, but displaying a coat of arms is not an internationally recognized requirement for
a passport.

There are several groups of countries that have, by mutual agreement, adopted common
designs for their passports:

The European Union. The design and layout of passports of the member states of the European
Union are a result of consensus and recommendation, rather than of directive. Passports are
issued by member states and may consist of either the usual passport booklet or the newer
passport card format. The covers of ordinary passport booklets are burgundy-red (except for
Croatia which has a blue cover), with "European Union" written in the national language or
languages. Below that are the name of the country, the national coat of arms, the word or words
for "passport", and, at the bottom, the symbol for a biometric passport. The data page can be at
the front or at the back of a passport booklet and there are significant design differences
throughout to indicate which member state is the issuer. Member states that participate in
the Schengen Agreement have agreed that their e-passports should contain fingerprint
information in the chip.
In 2006, the members of the CA-4 Treaty (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua)
adopted a common-design passport, called the Central American passport, following a design
already in use by Nicaragua and El Salvador since the mid-1990s. It features a navy-blue cover
with the words "América Central" and a map of Central America, and with the territory of the
issuing country highlighted in gold (in place of the individual nations' coats of arms). At the
bottom of the cover are the name of the issuing country and the passport type.

The members of the Andean Community of Nations (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru)

began to issue commonly designed passports in 2005. Specifications for the common passport
format were outlined in an Andean Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in 2002. Previously-
issued national passports will be valid until their expiry dates. Andean passports are bordeaux
(burgundy-red), with words in gold. Centered above the national seal of the issuing country is
the name of the regional body in Spanish (Comunidad Andina). Below the seal is the official
name of the member country. At the bottom of the cover is the Spanish word "pasaporte" along
with the English "passport". Venezuela had issued Andean passports, but has subsequently left
the Andean Community, so they will no longer issue Andean passports.

The Union of South American Nations signaled an intention to establish a common passport

design, but it appears that implementation will take many years.

A Trinidad and Tobago passport with the CARICOM logo at the top

The member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) recently began issuing passports

with a common design. It features the CARICOM symbol along with the national coat of arms
and name of the member state, rendered in a CARICOM official language (English, French,
Dutch). The member states which use the common design are Antigua and
Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. There was a
movement by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to issue a common designed
passport, but the implementation of the CARICOM passport made that redundant, and it was
abandoned.

Passport message found inside the United States passport

Passports sometimes contain a message, usually near the front, requesting that the passport's
bearer be allowed to pass freely, and further requesting that, in the event of need, the bearer be
granted assistance. The message is sometimes made in the name of the government or the
head of state, and may be written in more than one language, depending on the language
policies of the issuing authority.

In 1920, an international conference on passports and through tickets held by the League of

Nations recommended that passports be issued in the French language, historically the
language of diplomacy, and one other language. Currently, the ICAO recommends that
passports be issued in English and French, or in the national language of the issuing country and
in either English or French. Many European countries use their national language, along with
English and French.

Some unusual language combinations are:

National passports of the European Union bear all of the official languages of the EU. Two or
three languages are printed at the relevant points, followed by reference numbers which point
to the passport page where translations into the remaining languages appear. In addition to the
official EU languages, British passports bear Welsh and Scottish Gaelic. Irish passports likewise
bear Irish.

Canadian passports are written in both English and French, though French is included in this
case due to its position as an official language of Canada.

The Barbadian passport and the United States passport are tri-lingual: English, French and

Spanish. United States passports were traditionally English and French, but began being printed
with a Spanish message and labels during the late 1990s, in recognition of Puerto Rico's
Spanish-speaking status. Only the message and labels are in multiple languages, the cover and
instructions pages are printed solely in English.

In Belgium, all three official languages (Dutch, French, German) appear on the cover, in addition
to English on the main page. The order of the official languages depends on the official
residence of the holder.

Passports of Bosnia and Herzegovina are in the three official languages of Bosnian, Serbian and
Croatian in addition to English.

Brazilian passports contain four languages: Portuguese, the official country language, Spanish,
because of bordering nations, English and French.

Cypriot passports are in Greek, Turkish and English.

The first page of a Libyan passport is in Arabic only. The last page (first page from a western
viewpoint) has an English equivalent of the information on the Arabic first page (western last
page). Similar arrangements are found in the passports of some other Arab countries.

Indian passports are in English and Hindi.

Iraqi passports are in Arabic, Kurdish and English.

Macau SAR passports are in three languages: Chinese, Portuguese and English.

New Zealand passports are in English and Māori.

Norwegian passports are in the two forms of the Norwegian language, Bokmål and Nynorsk,

and in English.

Pakistani passports are issued in English and Urdu.

Sri Lankan passports are in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Swiss passports are in five languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh and English.

Lebanese Passports are in three languages: Arabic, English, and French.

Syrian passports are in Arabic, English, and French.

Nepalese passports are in English, and Nepalese.

Immigration stamps
For immigration control, officials of many countries use entry and exit stamps. Depending on the
country, a stamp can serve different purposes. For example, in the United Kingdom, an
immigration stamp in a passport includes the formal leave to enter granted to a person subject
to entry control. In other countries, a stamp activates or acknowledges the continuing leave
conferred in the passport bearer's entry clearance.

Under the Schengen system, a foreign passport is stamped with a date stamp which does not
indicate any duration of stay. This means that the person is deemed to have permission to
remain either for three months or for the period shown on his visa if specified otherwise.

Visas often take the form of an inked stamp, although some countries use adhesive stickers that
incorporate security features to discourage forgery.

Member states of the European Union are not permitted to place a stamp in the passport of a
person who is not subject to immigration control. Stamping is prohibited because it is an
imposition of a control that the person is not subject to.

Countries usually have different styles of stamps for entries and exits, to make it easier to
identify the movements of people. Ink colour might be used to designate mode of
transportation (air, land or sea), such as in Hong Kong prior to 1997; while border styles did the
same thing in Macau. Other variations include changing the size of the stamp to indicate length
of stay, as in Singapore.

Immigration stamps are a useful reminder of travels. Some travellers "collect" immigration
stamps in passports, and will choose to enter or exit countries via different means (for example,
land, sea or air) in order to have different stamps in their passports. Some countries, such as
Liechtenstein, that do not stamp passports may provide a passport stamp on request for such
"memory" purposes. Monaco (at its tourist office) and Andorra (at its border) do this as well.
These are official stamps issued by government offices. However, some private enterprises may
for a price stamp passports at historic sites and these have no legal standing. It is possible that
such memorial stamps can preclude the passport bearer from travelling to certain countries. For
example, Finland consistently rejects what they call 'falsified passports', where passport bearers
have been refused visas or entry due to memorial stamps and are required to renew their
passports.

Limitations on use

A passport is merely an identity document that is widely recognised for international travel
purposes, and the possession of a passport does not in itself entitle a traveller to enter any
country other than the country that issued it, and sometimes not even then. Many countries
normally require visitors to obtain a visa. Each country has different requirements or conditions
for the grant of visas, such as for the visitor not being likely to become a public charge for
financial, health, family, or other reasons, and the holder not having been convicted of a crime
or considered likely to commit one.

Where a country does not recognise another, or is in dispute with it, entry may be prohibited to
holders of passports of the other party to the dispute, and sometimes to others who have, for
example, visited the other country; examples are listed below. A country that issues a passport
may also restrict its validity or use in specified circumstances, such as use for travel to certain
countries for political, security, or health reasons.

Asia

Main articles: Bangladeshi passport, Chinese passport, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

passport, Israeli passport, Macau Special Administrative Region passport, Philippine
passport, Republic of Korea passport, and Taiwan passport

Bangladesh – a Bangladeshi passport is valid for travel to all countries except Israel.

Mainland China and Taiwan – Nationals of Taiwan (ROC) use a special travel permit (Mainland
Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents) issued by China's (PRC) Ministry of Public Security to enter
mainland China. Nationals of Mainland China entering Taiwan must also use a special travel
permit (Exit & Entry Permit) issued by the ROC's immigration department. Depending on where
they're coming from, they also need either a Chinese passport when departing from outside
Mainland China, or a passport-like travel document, known as Taiwan Travel Permit for Mainland
Residents, when departing from Mainland China (along with a special visa-like exit endorsement
issued by PRC immigration authorities affixed to the permit). Chinese nationals who are Hong
Kong and Macau permanent residents can apply for the ROC Exit and Entry Permit online or on
arrival and must travel with their HKSAR passport, MSAR passport, or BN(O) passport.

Hong Kong and Macau – A 'Home Return Permit' is required for Chinese citizens domiciled in
Hong Kong and Macau to enter and exit mainland China. The Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region passport and the Macau Special Administrative Region passport cannot be used for
travel to mainland China. Also, British National (Overseas) passports cannot be used by Chinese
citizens who reside in Hong Kong as the PRC does not recognize dual nationality. Mainland
China residents visiting Hong Kong or Macau are required to hold an Exit-entry Permit for
Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau (往来港澳通行证 or 双程证) issued by Mainland
authorities, along with an endorsement (签注), on the Exit-entry Permit which needs to be
applied each time (similar to a visa) when visiting the SARs (except residents
with hukou in Shenzhen can apply for a multi-entry endorsement). Non-permanent residents of
Macau who are not eligible for a passport may travel to Hong Kong on the Visit Permit to Hong
Kong (澳門居民往來香港特別行政區旅行證) valid for 7 years, which allows holders to travel only
to Hong Kong SAR during its validity.

Israel – 

Legend:

  Israel

  Countries that reject passports from Israel

  Countries that reject passports from Israel and any other passports which contain Israeli stamps
or visas

Until 1952, Israeli passports were normally not valid for travel to the then-West Germany, as in
the aftermath of the Holocaust it was considered improper for Israelis to visit West Germany on
any business but official state affairs. Some Muslim and African countries do not permit entry to
anyone using an Israeli passport. In addition, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi
Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen do not allow entry to people with evidence of travel to Israel, or
whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa. For this reason, Israel no longer
stamps visa stamps directly on passports, but on a slip of paper that serves as a substitute for a
stamp on a travel document. Some countries do not permit their passports to be used for travel
to Israel.

Lebanon – a Lebanese Passport is valid to travel to all countries except Israel.

Malaysia – a Malaysian passport is valid to travel to all countries except Israel.

Brunei – a Bruneian passport is valid to travel to all countries except Israel.

Pakistan – a Pakistani passport is valid for travel to all countries except Israel.

Philippines – between 2004 and mid-2011, Philippine passports could not be used for travel to
Iraq due to the security threats in that country.

South Korea – the South Korean government has banned travel

to Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen for safety reasons.South Korea does not consider
travel within the Korean peninsula (between South Korean and North Korean administrations) to
be international travel, as South Korea's constitution regards the entire Korean peninsula as its
territory. South Koreans going to the Kaesong Industrial Region in North Korea pass through
the Gyeongui Highway Transit Office at Dorasan, Munsan, where they present a plastic Visit
Certificate (방문증명서) card issued by the South Korean Ministry of Unification, and an
immigration-stamped Passage Certificate (개성공업지구 출입증) issued by
the Kaesong Industrial District Management Committee (개성공업지구 관리위원회). Until 2008,
South Koreans moving to tourist areas in the North such as Mount Kumgang needed to carry a
South Korean ID card for security reasons.

Europe

As a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh War between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijan refuses

entry to holders of Armenian passports, as well as passport-holders of any other country if they
are of Armenian descent. It also strictly refuses entry to foreigners in general whose passport
shows evidence of entry into the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, immediately
declaring them permanent personae non gratae. Conversely, Armenia does allow visa-free entry
for holders of Azerbaijani passports.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) issues passports, but only Turkey recognises its
statehood. TRNC passports are not accepted for entry into the Republic of Cyprus via airports or
sea ports, but are accepted at the designated green line crossing points. However, all Turkish
Cypriots are entitled by law to the issue of a Republic of Cyprus EU passport, and since the
opening of the border between the two sides, Cypriot and EU citizens can travel freely between
them. The United Kingdom, United States, France, Australia, Pakistan, and Syria currently
officially accept TRNC passports with the relevant visas.

Spain does not accept United Kingdom passports issued in Gibraltar, alleging that
the Government of Gibraltar is not a competent authority for issuing UK passports. The word
"Gibraltar" now appears beneath the words "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland" on the covers of British passports issued in Gibraltar.

British passports may be issued to people holding any of the various forms of British nationality,
with holders identified as of 2014 as: British citizens (GBR), British Overseas Territories
Citizens (GBD), British Overseas citizens (GBO), British subjects (GBS), British protected
persons (GBP), and British Nationals (Overseas) (GBN or BN(O)). Holders other than British
citizens may not have the right to enter or reside in the United Kingdom, and other countries
may apply restrictions that do not apply to GBR holders.
Oceania

Some countries do not accept Tongan Protected Person passports, though they accept Tongan
citizen passports. Tongan Protected Person passports are sold by the Government of Tonga to
anyone who is not a Tongan national. A holder of a Tongan Protected Person passport is
forbidden to enter or settle in Tonga. Generally, those holders are refugees or stateless persons
for some other reason.

South America

For countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Brazil, such as Kosovo, Taiwan,
and Western Sahara, diplomatic, official, and work passports are not accepted, and visas are only
granted to tourist or business visitors. In addition, except for Kosovo and Taiwan, these visas
must be issued on a Brazilian "laissez-passer", not on the country's passport.

International travel without passports

International travel is possible without passports in some circumstances Nonetheless, a

document stating citizenship, such as a national identity card or an Enhanced Drivers License, is
usually required.

Africa

Members of the East African Community (composed

of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi) may issue an East African passport. East
African passports are recognised by only the five members, and are only used for travel between
or among those countries. The requirements for eligibility are less rigorous than are the
requirements for national passports used for other international travel.

The member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) do not

require passports for their citizens when moving within the community. National ID cards are
sufficient. The member states are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape
Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory
Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Asia

Passports are not needed by citizens of India and Nepal to travel to each other's country, but
some identification is required for border crossings.
Citizens of Lebanon and Jordan do not require passports when travelling in either country if they
are carrying ID cards.

Travel between Russia and some former Soviet republics, designated by membership in
the Commonwealth of Independent States, may be accomplished with a national identity
document (e.g. an internal passport) or passport. However, according to a statement made by
President Putin in December 2012, Russia has plans to restrict travel without a passport only to
citizens of the member states of the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia by 2015.
After that date, citizens of other CIS states will need passports (although not visas) to visit
Russia.

Citizens of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf countries need only national
ID cards (also referred to as civil ID cards) to cross the borders of council countries. This also
applies to anyone that has a residence permit in any of the GCC countries. As of 2017 though,
Qatar has been removed from the list.

The 20 countries of the APEC issue the APEC Business Travel Card, which allows visa-free entry
into all participating countries.

Europe

Travel with minimal travel documents is possible between the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man,
the Channel Islands, and the Republic of Ireland, which together form the Common Travel Area.

The countries that apply the Schengen Agreement (Schengen Area, a subset of the EEA) do not
implement passport controls between each other, unless exceptional circumstances occur. It is,
however, mandatory to carry a passport, compliant national identity card, alien's resident permit
or some other photo ID.

A citizen of one of the 27 member states of the European Union or of Liechtenstein, Andorra,
Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Iceland and Switzerland may travel in and between these
countries using a standard compliant National Identity Card rather than a passport. Not all
EU/EEA member states issue standard compliant national identity cards, notably Denmark,
Norway, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland (though the Irish passport card is accepted), and the
United Kingdom.

The Nordic Passport Union allows Nordic citizens—citizens from Denmark (including the Faroe
Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to visit any of these countries without being in
possession of identity documents (Greenland and Svalbard are excluded). This is an extension of
the principle that Nordic citizens need no identity document in their own country. A means to
prove identity when requested is recommended (e.g. using a driver's license, which does not
state citizenship), even in one's own country. Joining the Schengen Area in 1997 has not
changed these rules.

Albania accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA, Bosnia &
Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino and
Singapore.

Bosnia and Herzegovina accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from citizens of the EU,
EFTA, Montenegro, Monaco, San Marino and Serbia.

North Macedonia accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU,
EFTA, Albania, Montenegro,Bosnia & Hercegovina, Kosovo and Serbia.

Montenegro accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA,
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Monaco, North Macedonia, San Marino and Serbia.

Serbia accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA (except
Liechtenstein), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

Citizens of Belgium, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta,

the Netherlands, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and
Ukraine are allowed to enter Turkey with a valid national ID card.

EU and Turkish citizens are allowed to enter the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with a valid
ID card.

EU and Turkish citizens are allowed to enter Georgia with a valid ID card.

North America

The United States Passport Card

A NEXUS Card

CARICOM countries issue a CARICOM passport to their citizens, and as of June 2009, eligible
nationals in participating countries will be permitted to use the CARICOM travel card which
provides for intra-community travel without a passport.

There are several cards available to certain North American residents which allow passport free
travel; generally only for land and sea border crossings:

The U.S. Passport card is an alternative to an ordinary U.S. passport booklet for land and sea
travel within North America (Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda). Like the passport
book, the passport card is issued only to U.S. citizens and non-citizen nationals.

The NEXUS card allows border crossing between the U.S. and Canada for U.S. nationals and
Canadian citizens. It can also be used for air travel as the only means of identification for U.S.
nationals and Canadian citizens. The card can also be used for entering the U.S. from Mexico but
not vice versa.

The SENTRI card allows passport-free entry into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada (but not vice
versa) for U.S. citizens and nationals as well as Canadian citizens.

The FAST card can be used for crossing between U.S. and Canada, as well as entering U.S. from
Mexico for U.S. and Canadian citizens.

U.S. nationals may further enter the U.S. and Canada using an enhanced driver license issued by
the States of Vermont, Washington, Michigan and New York (which qualify as WHTI compliant).
Other documents that can be used to enter the U.S. include: enhanced tribal cards; U.S. military
ID cards plus military travel orders; U.S. merchant mariner ID cards, when travelling on maritime
business; Native American tribal ID cards; Form I-872 American Indian card.

Canadian citizens may enter the U.S. and Canada via land or sea using an enhanced WHTI-
compliant driver's license. These are currently issued by British Columbia, Manitoba,
and Ontario. If Canadians wish to enter the U.S. via air, they must use a passport book or a
NEXUS card. Canadian citizens may return to Canada using any proof of citizenship and identity,
however those without an acceptable document will be questioned by a Border Services officer
until their identity is established.

For travel to the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon directly from Canada, Canadians
and foreign nationals holding Canadian identification documents are exempted from passport
and visa requirements for stays of maximum duration of 3 months within a period of 6 months.
Accepted documents include a driver's licence, citizenship card, permanent resident card and
others. Those without Canadian identifications are not exempt and must carry a passport.

Oceania

The Torres Strait separating Australia and Papua New Guinea

Residents of nine coastal villages in Papua New Guinea are permitted to enter the 'Protected
Zone' of the Torres Strait (part of Queensland, Australia) for traditional purposes. This exemption
from passport control is part of a treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea negotiated
when PNG became independent from Australia in 1975. Vessels from other parts of Papua New
Guinea and other countries attempting to cross into Australia or Australian waters are stopped
by Australian Customs or the Royal Australian Navy.

South America

Many Central American and South American nationals can travel within their respective regional
economic zones, such as Mercosur and the Andean Community of Nations, or on a bilateral
basis (e.g., between Chile and Peru, between Brazil and Chile), without passports, presenting
instead their national ID cards, or, for short stays, their voter-registration cards. In some cases
this travel must be done overland rather than by air.

Mercosur  citizens can travel visa-free and only with their ID cards between the member and
associated countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and
Argentina). 
Passport control at an airport

A passport holder is normally entitled to enter the country that issued the passport, though some
people entitled to a passport may not be full citizens with right of abode (e.g. American nationals or
British nationals). A passport does not of itself create any rights in the country being visited or obligate
the issuing country in any way, such as providing consular assistance. Some passports attest to the
bearer having a status as a diplomat or other official, entitled to rights and privileges such as immunity
from arrest or prosecution.[1]

Many countries normally allow entry to holders of passports of other countries, sometimes requiring a
visa also to be obtained, but this is not an automatic right. Many other additional conditions, such as not
being likely to become a public charge for financial or other reasons, and the holder not having been
convicted of a crime, may apply.[3] Where a country does not recognise another, or is in dispute with it,
it may prohibit the use of their passport for travel to that other country, or may prohibit entry to holders
of that other country's passports, and sometimes to others who have, for example, visited the other
country. Some individuals are subject to sanctions which deny them entry into particular countries.

Some countries and international organisations issue travel documents which are not standard
passports, but enable the holder to travel internationally to countries that recognise the documents. For
example, stateless persons are not normally issued a national passport, but may be able to obtain a
refugee travel document or the earlier "Nansen passport" which enables them to travel to countries
which recognise the document, and sometimes to return to the issuing country.

Passports may be requested in other circumstances to confirm identification such as checking into a
hotel or when changing money to a local currency.
Visa
What is a Visa?

The main difference between a visa and a passport is that a visa is an endorsement placed within
a passport that grants the holder official permission to enter, leave or stay in a country for a
specified time period.

•The most common visa types are tourist, student, work and transit visas.

•Depending on where you are traveling, a visa can be valid for single or multiple visits.

•Some visas require an application to be filed prior to entering the country and other visas are
granted upon entering the country.

•Certain countries require an interview or medical screening prior to applying for a visa

A visa (from the Latin charta visa, meaning "paper that has been seen") is a conditional
authorization granted by a territory to a foreigner, allowing them to enter, remain within, or to
leave that territory. Visas typically may 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 an individual's right to 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 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 most commonly takes the form of a sticker endorsed in the
applicant's passport or other travel document.

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
a stamp 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 a consular office, by post, or over
the internet. The modern visa may be a sticker or a stamp in the passport, or may take the form
of a separate document or an electronic record of the authorization, which the applicant can
print before leaving home and produce on entry to the visited territory. 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 countries require that their citizens, as well as foreign travellers,
obtain an "exit visa" to be allowed to leave the country.

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 requiring a visa
before travelling was at its lowest level ever in 2015.

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 travelling by train would have caused bottlenecks if regular passport
controls had been used. Passports and visas became usually necessary as travel documents only
after 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 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 visits; these may delineate different formal categories of visas, with different issue
conditions.
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 and Uzbekistan. In
Uzbekistan, however, the HIV test requirement is sometimes not strictly enforced. 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 travellers' 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.

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

Tourist entry visa to the People's Republic of China.

Transit visa, issued by Japanese Consul Chiune Sugihara in Lithuania to Susan Bluman in World
War II.

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 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, as for example in Saudi Arabia or Iran, and to take part in particular religious
ceremonies. Such visas can usually be obtained relatively quickly and at low cost; those using
them are usually permitted to travel only as a group, however. The best example is Hajj visas for
Saudi Arabia.

Digital nomad visa, for digital 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. Estonia has also announced plans for a digital nomad visa,
after the launch of its e-Residency program.

Long-stay visas

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 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 travelling for
their respective news organizations. Countries that insist on this
include Cuba, China, Iran, Japan, 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 settle permanently in 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.

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 (including adopted ones), often restricted to those who haven't reached the age 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;

Often also extended to helpless siblings.

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 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.

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
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.

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

  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)

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,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 travellers.

Under section 212(d)(4) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 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 air
crew.

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.

Universal Electronic visa Limited ports of

Country eligibility alternative entry Ref.

 Armenia X ✓ X

 Azerbaijan X ✓ ✓

 Bahrain X ✓ X

 Bangladesh ✓ X ✓

 Bolivia X X X

 Brunei X X X

 Burkina Faso X X X
 Universal Electronic visa Limited ports of
Country eligibility alternative entry Ref.

 Cambodia X ✓ X

 Cape Verde ✓ X X

 Chad X X X

 Comoros ✓ X X

 Congo X X X

 DR Congo X X X

 Djibouti ✓ ✓ X

 Egypt X ✓ ✓

 Eritrea X X X

 Ethiopia X ✓ ✓

 Gabon X ✓ ✓

 Gambia X X X

 Ghana X X X

 Grenada X X X

 Guinea-Bissau ✓ ✓ X

 India X ✓ ✓

 Indonesia X X ✓ [15]

 Iran X ✓ ✓
 Universal Electronic visa Limited ports of
Country eligibility alternative entry Ref.

 Iraq X X ✓

 Jamaica X X X

 Jordan X X X

 Kenya X ✓ X

 Kuwait X ✓ X

 Kyrgyzstan X X ✓

 Laos X ✓ ✓

 Lebanon X X X

 Macau X X X

 Madagascar ✓ ✓ X

 Malawi X X X

 Maldives ✓ X X

 Marshall Islands X X X

 Mauritania ✓ X ✓

 Mauritius X X X

 Mongolia X X ✓

 Mozambique ✓ X X

 Namibia X X ✓
 Universal Electronic visa Limited ports of
Country eligibility alternative entry Ref.

 Nauru X X X

   Nepal ✓ X X

 Nicaragua ✓ X X

 Nigeria X X X

 Oman X ✓ X

 Palau ✓ X X

 Papua New Guinea X ✓ ✓

 Paraguay X X ✓

 Rwanda ✓ ✓ X

 Saint Lucia X X X

 São Tomé and

✓ ✓ X
Príncipe

 Saudi Arabia X ✓ X

 Seychelles ✓ X X

 Sierra Leone X X X

 Somalia X X X

 Sri Lanka X ✓ X

 Sudan X X X

 Taiwan X ✓ ✓
 Universal Electronic visa Limited ports of
Country eligibility alternative entry Ref.

 Tanzania X ✓ X

 Thailand X X ✓

 East Timor ✓ X ✓

 Togo ✓ X X

 Tonga X X X

 Trinidad and Tobago X X X

 Tuvalu ✓ X X

 Uganda ✓ ✓ X

 Ukraine X ✓ ✓

 United Arab Emirates X X X

 Yemen X X X

 Zambia X ✓ X

 Zimbabwe X ✓ X

Electronic visas[edit]
Electronic visas

  Countries granting electronic visas universally

  Countries granting electronic visas to select nationalities

  Countries requiring electronic registration from most visa exempt visitors (excluding Australian
eVisitor)

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.

Universal
Country Mode eligibility VoA alternative Ref.

 Angola Pre-approval X X [16]

 Antigua and Barbuda eVisa ✓ X [17]

 Armenia eVisa X ✓ [18]

 Ascension Island eVisa ✓ X [19]

 Australia ETA X X [20]

 Universal
Country Mode eligibility VoA alternative Ref.

 Azerbaijan eVisa X partial [21]

 Bahrain eVisa X partial [22]

 Benin eVisa ✓ X [23]

 Cambodia eVisa X ✓ [24]

 Djibouti eVisa ✓ ✓ [25]

 Egypt eVisa X partial [26]

 Ethiopia eVisa ✓ partial [27]

 Gabon eVisa ✓ partial [28]

 Georgia eVisa X X [29]

 Guinea eVisa ✓ X [30]

 Guinea-Bissau Pre-approval ✓ ✓ [31]

 Hong Kong ETA X X [32]

 India eVisa X partial [33]

 Ivory Coast eVisa ✓ X [34]

 Kenya eVisa X ✓ [35]

 Kuwait eVisa X ✓ [36]

 Kyrgyzstan eVisa ✓ partial [37]

 Laos eVisa X ✓ [38]

 Lesotho eVisa ✓ X [39]

 Universal
Country Mode eligibility VoA alternative Ref.

 Madagascar eVisa ✓ ✓ [40]

 Malawi eVisa ✓ ✓ [41]

 Malaysia eVisa X X [42]

 Mexico ETA X X [43]

 Montserrat eVisa ✓ X [44]

 Morocco ETA X X [45]

 Myanmar eVisa X partial [46]

 Oman eVisa X ✓ [47]

 Pakistan ETA X X [48]

 Papua New Guinea eVisa X ✓ [49]

 Qatar eVisa ✓ ✓ [50]

 Rwanda eVisa ✓ ✓ [51]

 Saint Helena eVisa ✓ X [52]

 Saint Kitts and Nevis eVisa ✓ X [53]

 São Tomé and Príncipe eVisa ✓ X [54]

 Saudi Arabia eVisa X ✓ [55]

 Singapore eVisa X X [56]

 Sri Lanka ETA X ✓ [57]

 Suriname eVisa ✓ X [58]
 Universal
Country Mode eligibility VoA alternative Ref.

 Taiwan eVisa X partial [59]

 Tajikistan eVisa X X [60]

 Tanzania eVisa ✓ ✓ [61]

 Thailand Pre-approval X ✓ [62]

 Uganda eVisa X ✓ [63]

 United Kingdom EVW X X [64]

 Uzbekistan eVisa X X [65]

 Vietnam eVisa X X [66]

 Zambia eVisa ✓ partial [67]

 Zimbabwe eVisa ✓ partial [68]

Russia maintains an eVisa program for visitors from certain countries arriving to Russian Far East,
Saint Petersburg, Leningrad Region and Kaliningrad Region.

Authorities of Belarus, Chad  Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liberia, South Africa, and Tunisia have
announced plans to introduce electronic visas in the future.

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.

In some countries that exempt visitors of certain nationalities from visa requirements, it is still
necessary to receive prior authorization before arriving by air. These travel authorizations
typically last for several years, and can be used multiple times. Airlines are required to verify that
all passengers without a visa have obtained authorization before departure, or risk fines and the
cost of a returning a passenger to their country of origin.
Australia requires visitors from certain countries to obtain an eVisitor or Electronic Travel
Authority (ETA) before travel, and offers electronic visas to all others.

Canada requires all international visitors arriving by air who do not require a visa, except for
United States nationals, to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (or eTA) before arrival.

New Zealand requires all international visitors from Visa waiver countries to apply for
an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) and International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy
(IVL) before arrival.

The 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.

The European Union is planning to adopt a system known as the European Travel Information

and Authorization System (ETIAS) for all non-EU citizens who are currently visa-exempt prior to
their travel, to be implemented in 2020.

Entry and duration period

Visas can also be single-entry, which means the visa is cancelled 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 on January 1 and to expire on 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 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 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 liable for deportation—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 that 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, 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.

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

Visa run example

Some foreign visitors sometimes engage in what is known as a visa run: leaving a country—
usually to a neighbouring 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 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 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 limit for visitors of 90 days in any 180-day
period. Some countries do not "reset the clock" when a visitor comes back after visiting a
neighbouring 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 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.

Visa refusal

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 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

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

has a communicable disease, such as tuberculosis or ebola, or a sexually transmitted disease

has a passport that expires too soon

Even if a traveller does not need a visa, the aforementioned criteria can also be used by border
control officials to refuse the traveller 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 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. 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".

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 that impose
visa requirements against its own citizens. The opposite is rarely true: a country rarely lifts visa
requirements against citizens of all the countries that 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—hence, 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.

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

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 (EU) 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.

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).

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.

Nationals of the East African Community member states do not need visas for entry into any of
the member states.

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.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 authorized to enter India without a visa.

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 2019, the Henley & 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. However,
as of 6 June 2019, the Passport Index ranks the United Arab Emirates passport as the one with
the most visa exemptions by other nations, allowing holders of this passport to visit 173
countries without obtaining a visa in advance of arrival.

Common visas

Normally, visas are valid for entry only into the country that 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 most 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 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.

Possible common visa schemes

Potentially, there are new common visa schemes:

An ASEAN 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,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, but Thailand implemented a single visa scheme with Cambodia beginning on
December 27, 2012, on a trial basis.

A Gulf Cooperation Council single visa has been recommended as a study submitted to the
council.

The Pacific Alliance, which 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.

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. 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. 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.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, the Benelux countries, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 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). 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.[107]

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 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 the 2007 Cricket World Cup and was discontinued on May 15, 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 the Benelux visa. Visas issued by Belgium,
Netherlands, and Luxembourg were valid for all the three countries.

Exit visas

Asia

Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates all have an exit visa

requirement for alien foreign workers. This is part of their kafala 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.

Nepal requires its citizens emigrating to the United States on an H-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.

Uzbekistan was the last remaining countries of the former USSR that required an exit visa, which
was valid for a two-year period. The practice was abolished in 2019. There had been
explicit United Nations complaint about this practice.

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. Additionally, North Korean
authorities also require North Korean citizens obtain a re-entry visa from a North Korean
embassy or North Korean mission abroad before being allowed back into North Korea.

The government of the People's Republic of China requires its citizens to obtain a two-way

permit, issued by the People's Republic of China's authorities, prior to visiting to Hong
Kong or Macau. The two-way permit is a de facto exit visa for Hong Kong- or Macau-bound
trips for citizens of the People's Republic of China.

Singapore operates an Exit Permit scheme in order to enforce the national service obligations of

its male citizens and permanent residents. Requirements vary according to age and status:
 Time
Status Requirements
overseas

3+ months Exit permit

Pre-enlistment: 13 – 16.5 years
of age
2+ years Exit permit + bond

Pre-enlistment: 16.5 years of

3+ months Registration, exit permit + bond
age and older

Full-time National Service 3+ months Exit permit

14+ days Overseas notification

Operationally-ready National
Service
6+ months National service unit approval + exit permit

Exit permit, where Minimum Term of

3+ months
Engagement is not complete
Regular servicemen

6+ months Exit permit

Taiwan and South Korea, two regions currently enforcing conscription, require draftees to
register with local immigration office before short-term international travels and studies.

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.]

The Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies required exit visas both for emigration and for those
who wanted to leave the Soviet Union for a shorter period.

Some countries, including the Czech Republic, 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, do not
require this exit visa.

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.

Guatemala requires any foreigner 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. Since October 1, 2007, however, the
U.S. government requires all foreign and U.S. nationals departing 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, they will 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. 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;

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 with their US income tax obligations before they may
leave the country. While the requirement has been in effect since 1921, it has not been
stringently enforced, but in 2014 the House Ways and Means Committee has considered to
begin enforcing the requirement as a way to increase tax revenues.

Visa restrictions

World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organization in its Visa Openness Report concluded that the countries
whose citizens were least affected by visa restrictions in 2020 were (based on the data compiled
by the UNWTO, based on information from national official institutions):

Least restricted citizens

Ran Country Mobility

k index
(out of
215 with
no visa
weighted
by 1, visa
on arrival
weighted
by 0.7,
eVisa by
0.5 and
traditiona
l visa
weighted
 by 0)

1  United Arab Emirates 178

2  Finland,   Germany,   Luxembourg,   Spain 171

 Austria,   Denmark,
3  Ireland,   Netherlands,   Portuga,   South Kore,    170
Switzerland,   United States

 Belgium,   France,   Greece,

4  Italy,   Japan,   Malta,   Norway,   Singapore,   Swede 169
n

 Canada,   Czech Republic,

5  Hungary,   Lithuania,   New Zealand,   Poland,    168
Slovakia,   United Kingdom

Non-visa restrictions

This section is transcluded from Non-visa travel restrictions. 

Blank passport pages

Many countries require a minimum number of blank pages to be available in the passport being
presented, typically one or two pages. Endorsement pages, which often appear after the visa
pages, are not counted as being available.

Vaccination
An International Certificate of Vaccination required to prove that someone has been vaccinated
against yellow fever

Many African countries, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African

Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte
d'Ivoire, EquatorialGuinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwan
da, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia, require all incoming
passengers to have a current International Certificate of Vaccination, as does the South
American territory of French Guiana.

Some other countries require vaccination only if the passenger is coming from an infected area
or has visited one recently.

Passport validity length

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, 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, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan,
Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia,
Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
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.

Countries requiring passports valid for at least 4 months on arrival include Micronesia and
Zambia.

Countries requiring passports valid for at least 3 months on arrival include Albania, Honduras,
North Macedonia, Panama, and Senegal.

Countries requiring passports with a validity of at least 3 months beyond the date of intended
departure include Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Nauru, Moldova, and New
Zealand. Similarly, the EEA countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, all European
Union countries (except the Republic of Ireland) together with Switzerland and the United
Kingdom also require 3 months validity beyond the date of the bearer's intended departure
unless the bearer is an EEA or Swiss national.

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, and South Africa.

Other countries require either a passport valid on arrival or a passport valid throughout the
period of the intended stay. Some countries have bilateral agreements with other countries to
shorten the period of passport validity required for each other's citizens or even accept
passports that have already expired (but not been cancelled).

Criminal record

Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States, routinely
deny entry to non-citizens who have a criminal record.

Persona non grata

The government of a country can declare a diplomat persona non grata, banning their entry into
that country. In non-diplomatic use, the authorities of a country may also declare a
foreigner persona non grata permanently or temporarily, usually because of unlawful activity.

Israeli stamps
Israeli border control Entry Permit (issued as a stand-alone document rather than a stamp
affixed in a passport)

Kuwait, Lebanon,Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen do not allow entry to people with passport

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 this Arab 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. Since
15 January 2013, Israel no longer stamps foreign passports at Ben Gurion Airport. Passports are
still (as of 22 June 2017) stamped at Erez when travelling into and out of Gaza. Also, passports
are still stamped (as of 22 June 2017) at the Jordan Valley/Sheikh Hussein and Yitzhak
Rabin/Arava land borders with Jordan.

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage claims that having an Israeli stamp
does not disqualify someone from visiting Saudi Arabia.

Iran refuses admission to holders of passports containing an Israeli visa or stamp that is less
than 12 months old.

Armenian ethnicity

Due to a state of war existing between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the government of Azerbaijan

not only bars entry of Armenian citizens, but also all citizens and nationals of any other country
who are of Armenian descent, into the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan also strictly bans any visit by foreign citizens to the separatist region of Nagorno-
Karabakh (the de facto independent Republic of Artsakh), its surrounding territories, and the
Azerbaijani exclaves of Karki, Yuxarı Əskipara, Barxudarlı, and Sofulu which are de jure part of
Azerbaijan but under the control of Armenia, without the prior consent of the government of
Azerbaijan. Foreign citizens who enter these territories will be permanently banned from
entering the Republic of Azerbaijan and will be included in their "list of personae non gratae". As
of 2 September 2019, the list mentioned 852 people.

Upon request, the authorities of the largely unrecognised Republic of Artsakh may attach their
visa and/or stamps to a separate piece of paper in order to avoid detection of travel to their
territory.

Biometrics

A fingerprint scanner at Dulles International Airportcollects biometric data on visitors, which can
be used for confirming identities.

Several countries mandate that all travellers, or all foreign travellers, be fingerprinted 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 quickly
change planes rather than go landside.

Fingerprinting countries include Afghanistan, ArgentinaBrunei,

Cambodia China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Japan, Kenya (fingerprints and photo), Malaysia
upon entry and departure, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South KoreaTaiwan,
Thailand, Uganda and the United States.

Many countries also require a photo be taken of people entering the country. The United States,
which does not fully implement exit control formalities at its land frontiers (although long
mandated by its legislature), intends to implement facial recognition for passengers departing
from international airports to identify people who overstay their visa.

Together with fingerprint and face recognition, iris scanning is one of three biometric
identification technologies internationally standardised since 2006 by the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) for use in e-passports and the United Arab Emirates conducts iris
scanning on visitors who need to apply for a visa. The United States Department of Homeland
Security has announced plans to greatly increase the biometric data it collects at US borders. In
2018, Singapore began trials of iris scanning at three land and maritime immigration
checkpoints.

Types of travel insurance coverage in India

Travel insurance is an insurance product for covering unforeseen losses incurred while travelling,

either internationally or domestically. Basic policies generally only cover
emergency medical expenses while overseas, while comprehensive policies typically include
coverage for trip cancellation, lost luggage, flight delays, public liability, and other expenses.

Travel insurance, are risk-based, and take into account a range of factors to determine whether a
traveller can purchase a policy and what the premium will be. This generally includes destination
countries or regions, the duration of the trip, the age of the travellers, and any optional benefits
that they require coverage for such as pre-existing medical conditions, adventure sports, rental
vehicle excess, cruising, or high-value electronics. Some policies will also take into account the
traveller's estimated value of their trip to determine price. A policy may be a single trip, covering
the exact duration of the upcoming trip, or a "multi-trip" policy can cover an unlimited number
of trips of limited duration within a year.

Journey departure and return conditions

Most travel insurance policies must be purchased prior to departure from home, or from the
first departure point (e.g. an airport), depending on the product. A smaller number of brands
offer travel insurance for travellers who are already overseas and have forgotten to purchase
travel insurance or have a policy which has expired. Most policies require you to start and finish
your journey in your country of residence, however some policies offer coverage for one-way
travel for people who are permanently relocating to another country.

Complimentary travel insurance

Some credit card issuers offer automatic travel insurance if travel arrangements are paid for
using their credit cards, but these policies are generic and do not take into account personal
requirements and circumstances.

Common benefits

Medical

In the event of minor injury or illness overseas, medical benefits offer coverage for visits to
general practitioners, medicine, ambulance fees, and limited dentistry benefits. In the event of
hospitalisation, most travel insurance policies include emergency assistance services, which can
offer guarantees of payment to hospitals for treatment, liaise treating doctors, and organise
transfers between hospitals or medical evacuations back to the insured person's country of
origin. More comprehensive policies include a emergency companion cover, so that a family
member can remain with the insured person while in hospital.

In the event of death overseas, medical benefit sections typically include cover for repatriation of
remains to insured person's the country of origin, or a funeral overseas.

Cancellation

Comprehensive travel insurance policies include cover for any cancellation fees or lost deposits
relating to cancellation of the insured's person's trip for a range of unforeseen and unexpected
circumstances. These include illness or injury, natural disasters and bad weather, strikes
and riots, hijacking, and family emergencies. Depending on the policy, it may also include
cancellation due to jury service, being made redundant from full-time employment, having your
annual leave revoked if you are in the armed forces or emergency services, and prohibition of or
advisory against travel by a government to a particular destination.

Alternative transport and travel expenses

Many policies include benefits for alternative transport, accommodation, and meal expenses if
your transport provider is delayed by a certain period, provided any layover times met the
criteria in the policy. Policies may also include a benefit to purchase essential items like clothing
and toiletries in the event baggage is delayed by an airline.

Luggage
Luggage benefits cover for loss, damage or theft of personal effects during your journey,
including passports and other travel documents. It may also include limited benefits for theft of
cash.

Public liability

This covers legal liability as a result of a claim made against you for bodily injuries or damage to
property of other persons .

Optional benefits

In addition to their base policies, many providers offer coverage for declared pre-existing
conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, cancer, higher risk sports and activities (e.g. skiing, trekking at
high altitudes, scuba diving), rental car damage, and cruising.

Common exclusions

Insurance companies issuing will often exclude coverage for ongoing known events to new
policies, and may announce long-term exclusions for specific events, such as volcanic activity
from a currently active volcano. As travel insurance is a risk-based product, many policies will
exclude events which may be of a far-reaching and poorly quantified risk, such as pandemics
and endemics, acts of war, and terrorism. Some policies exclude travel to certain countries, or
parts of countries, where a greater risk is expected. These determinations are often made based
on official government travel advice from organisations such as the US State Department or the
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.

Other common exclusions in travel insurance policies include undeclared pre-existing medical

conditions, unlicensed operation of a motorcycle, travelling for the purpose of receiving medical
treatment, elective surgery or treatment, or injury or illness caused by alcohol, drug use, or
reckless behaviour.

Compulsory travel insurance

Certain countries will require that you have proof of sufficient travel insurance as a condition of
entry or of granting a visa. This includes travellers requiring a Schengen area or UAE visa, and
visitors to Cuba, Turkey and Belarus. Thailand and Egypt have announced plans to introduce
similar requirements. Tour companies and cruise providers may also have minimum travel
insurance requirements before a traveller can commence their journey.