Visa requirements for United States citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states that are imposed on citizens of the United States.
The U.S. government forced all Afghan diplomatic missions in the U.S. to close in March 2022. Applicants must now obtain a visa from a mission in another country.[6][7][5]
Since 2024, the Taliban only accepts visas issued by approved diplomatic missions, though those who have already entered on a visa issued by another mission are allowed to stay.[8][9]
Application for a tourist visa to Algeria must be accompanied by a certificate of accommodation.[citation needed]
Persons may be denied entry if entering with a passport containing visas or stamps issued by Israel.[citation needed]
Visa can be obtained on arrival for certain cities in the southern region of the country if travel is booked through a local travel agency.[citation needed]
Visa exemption for stays of up to 30 days for those arriving by sea on government sponsored tours.[citation needed]
Travelers departing from New York can obtain a visa at the airport upon arrival in Baku, however no airline currently operates this route. Visa can be obtained on arrival in certain emergency situations.[29]
If staying in Azerbaijan for more than ten days, visitors must register at the State Migration Service within three days of arrival.[30][31]
Applicants of Armenian ancestry or with Armenian visas in their passport may be denied a visa.[32]
Visa on arrival is available at Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet international airports, pre arrival visa required if arriving by sea or by land border crossing.[citation needed]
No visa required for Bangladeshi Americans and their spouse and children with a copy of a former Bangladeshi passport, a Dual Nationality Certificate, NVR, a Bangladeshi NID, or a digital birth registration certificate.[41]
Residence permit (Titre de séjour/Verblijfstitel/Aufenthaltstitel) obtainable after arrival for stays longer than 90 days under certain conditions.[citation needed]
“Sustainable Development Fee” of USD 100 per day for almost all visitors to Bhutan.[56]
Tour guide required for all travelers except in city of Thimpu and Paro. Even in these cities, tourists are not permitted to enter any tourist attraction without a guide. They are only allowed to walk and shop around these cities without a guide.[citation needed]
Brazilian authorities have announced that United States citizens will require a visa beginning April 10, 2025. United States citizens will be able to obtain visas online.[69]
Anyone with a criminal record (including misdemeanors or alcohol-related driving offenses in the US) may not be able to enter Canada without first obtaining an approval for rehabilitation[91] or a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP).[92]
Passport Card, NEXUS card, or enhanced drivers license valid for land and sea travel.[93]
US citizens and permanent residents are exempt from obtaining Canada ETA.[93]
Registration mandatory within 24 hours of arrival, registration is done during hotel check by hotel staff in if staying at an approved hotel or hostel.[106]
All visitors between the ages of 14 and 70 are fingerprinted upon arrival and departure.[citation needed]
Tourist travel is prohibited under U.S. law for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and others subject to U.S. jurisdiction.[127] Under the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, all persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are not permitted to travel to Cuba unless licensed to engage in travel-related transactions. In addition to specific licenses granted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), there are 12 "general licenses" that people can choose to travel on without being required to notify OFAC,[note 1] and the broad and self-reported nature of these licenses means travel is in practice subject to few restrictions.[131][132]
Cuba requires travelers to purchase a tourist card prior to arrival, which can be obtained from the airline or a Cuban diplomatic mission. Tourist cards are valid for one entry and a 30-day stay, which can be extended once by 90 days at a hotel or immigration office in Cuba.[133][132]
Cuba requires travelers to have health insurance valid in Cuba, which can be purchased from the airline.[127]
U.S. citizens can enter Denmark for up to 90 days out of any 180 day period, regardless of time spent in other Schengen countries prior to entry into Denmark.[140]
A bilateral agreement pre-dating the Schengen area may allow 90 days of stay in France regardless of days spent in other Schengen countries.[175][176][177][178]
Visas for US citizens are either single entry or multiple entry and valid for 5 years. The fee for single entry 3 month validity is US$60 and the fee for the multiple entry visa is US$100.[citation needed]
Travel currently almost impossible due to gang violence. Only open borders are the sea borders. Air borders are currently not open, nor is the border with the Dominican Republic.[204]
Foreign visitors are required to pay a US$10 Tourist visa fee.[205]
e-Visa holders must arrive via 31 designated airports[Note 3] or 5 designated seaports.[Note 4][213]
An Indian e-Tourist Visa may only be obtained twice within 1 calendar year.[citation needed]
Foreigners of Pakistani origin or who hold a Pakistani Passport are not eligible for an e-Visa. Foreigners who are not Pakistani nationals, but whose parents or grandparents (either paternal or maternal) were born in, or were permanent residents in Pakistan, are also not eligible for an e-Visa.[214]
American citizens are eligible for a ten-year, multiple-entry tourist visa (not an eVisa).[215]
American citizens of Pakistani heritage are not eligible for an eVisa nor are they eligible for a ten-year, multiple-entry tourist visa, and must apply for a regular visa.[citation needed]
Dual nationals of Israel and the United States who don't have an Israeli passport, including infants, may be required to obtain an Israeli passport in order to leave Israel.[229]
Entry prohibited for any person "who knowingly issues a public call for boycotting Israel".[230]
Starting January 1, 2025, an ETA just like a US ESTA or a Canada ETA will be required for travel to Israel. Applications opened on June 1 as a trial but are not required for US and German passport holders until January 1, 2025. On July 1, 2024, the application has been opened to all visa exempt country passport holders.[citation needed]
Persons who have been sentenced to 1 year or more of jail are not eligible for visa free travel to Japan. United States citizens are also eligible for a Japanese eVisa.[236]
U.S. passports holders must obtain a special passport validation from the U.S. federal government before travel. Such validations are only ever issued if travel is in the interests of US national security.[250]
United States citizens require a visa when traveling to North Korea, as there is no North Korean diplomatic mission in the United States, US citizens must obtain a visa from a diplomatic mission in a third country.[citation needed]
U.S. secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, authorized a ban on American travel to North Korea that went into effect in August 2017, following the death of Otto Warmbier, a US student who was detained in North Korea and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster.[citation needed]
All visitors are fingerprinted. From September 2021, travelers require the Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA). The validity period is 3 years from the date of approval.[253][254]
The government of the Republic of Korea announced that from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025, a K-ETA is not required for 27 countries citizens visiting Korea for 90 days or less for business or tourism.[255]
A bilateral agreement pre-dating the Schengen area allows an additional 90 days of stay in Latvia (to a total of 180) regardless of days spent in other Schengen countries.[citation needed]
Visa waiver granted if there is no Israeli visa or seal and traveler has a telephone number, an address in Lebanon, and a non refundable return or circle trip ticket.[citation needed]
Pagers and handheld radios prohibited from boarding flights in Lebanon to protect aviation safety.[citation needed]
Visitors must obtain a Multiple Immigration Form. There is no charge for a tourist FMM for stays of less than 7 days when entering by land. For visitors staying more than 7 days and entering by land, it will cost 687 Mexican pesos or around US$40. The FMM is required for all visitors entering via air, regardless of length of stay, and the cost is included in the traveler's airfare and remitted by the airline.[303]
Passport card or enhanced drivers license is valid for land and sea travel.[citation needed]
Exit stamp required if you entered using paper FMM (All land POEs)[citation needed]
You are in Mexico illegally if you did not get a FMM at the border (even if using the 7 day FMM fee exemption via land) or eFMM[citation needed]
Mandatory car disinfection at Mexico's southern borders (Guatemala and Belize)[citation needed]
Beginning April 1st, 2025, US citizens will have to obtain a visa for Namibia. US citizens will be issued with visas on arrival upon payment of a designated fee.[320]
Holders of an Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Resident Return Visa may be granted a New Zealand Resident Visa on arrival permitting indefinite stay (pursuant to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement).
Strict enforcement of food import laws, fines of NZD400 for not declaring food.
Business eVisas-on-arrival available for "Frequently Traveled Business Persons of International Reputes" or "Executives of Multi-national Companies", as well as for government officials[341]
3 months within a 6-month period, regardless of previous time spent in other Schengen countries, but including time spent in other Nordic countries.[346][347]
Visa exemption valid for 10 days, evisa for 30 days [350]
Holders of a visa or entrance stamp of the Emirate of Dubai that is valid for at least 21 days are visa exempt.[citation needed]
Holders of a visa for Qatar that is valid for travel to Oman and valid for at least one month are visa exempt when arriving directly from Qatar.[citation needed]
72-hour visa-free transit for international cruise ship/ferry passengers only if travelling with an organized tour and accompanied at all times by a tour operator.[citation needed]
American citizens may receive multiple-entry visas valid for three years.[380]
Residents of Alaska who are members of the indigenous population do not require a visa to visit Chukotka Autonomous Okrug if they have relatives (blood relatives, members of the same tribe, native people who have similar language and cultural heritage) in Chukotka. Individuals must be invited by a relative in Chukotka and must leave Chukotka within 90 days. Entry points are in Anadyr, Provideniya, Lavrentiya and Uelen.[381]
10-day visa on arrival if holding letter of invitation issued by a company registered in Turkmenistan with a prior approval from the Foreign Ministry.[citation needed]
Must apply online at least 2 business days prior to travel.[citation needed]
Airlines may deny passengers permission to board flights to Uganda without proof that they had successfully applied for an eVisa.[citation needed]
Ugandan immigration authorities may require additional documentation, including proof of a return plane ticket and detailed tour itinerary in Uganda.[citation needed]
U.S. citizens under the age of 16 or over the age of 55 traveling to Uzbekistan for tourism purposes are eligible for visa-free entry for a period of up to 90 days and 30 days, respectively.[483]
International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis required only travellers arriving from certain places as defined by Govertment. Please check the WHO 2020 Yellow Fever vaccination requirements document for exact list.
Territories or administrative subdivisions with different visa policies
Visa requirements for United States citizens for visits to various territories, disputed areas, partially recognized countries not mentioned in the list above, recognized administrative subdivisions that operate on different visa policies and restricted zones:
Crossing from Ukraine requires visit purpose to be explained to Ukrainian passport control on exit and those who entered from Russia are not allowed to proceed further into Ukraine.[548]
South Ossetia has no visa regime, however entry and exit can only be done by land border crossing with Russia, a multiple entry visa to Russia and three-day prior notification are required to enter.[556][557]
U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals citizens may live and work freely in Guam.
Passport / EDL is required for entry. Under certain circumstances, a government issued photo ID and proof of citizenship may be used in lieu a passport on a case-by-case basis.[566][567][540]
Holders of an invitation letter from the local company that was approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Passport card
The United States passport card can be used as an alternative to the passport booklet only when travelling to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Turks and Caico at maritime ports-of-entry or land border crossings.[596] The card is not valid for international air travel whatsoever; if traveling by air, the passport book is required.[597]
APEC Travel Business Card
The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is meant to facilitate travel for U.S. citizens engaged in verified business in the APEC region.[598]
The U.S. ABTC should enable access to a dedicated fast-track lane for expedited immigration processing at some participating foreign APEC member airports.[599]
U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holders may also use the Global Entry kiosks at participating airports upon their U.S. return.[600]
As the U.S. is a transitional member of the ABTC scheme, however, the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card cannot be used in lieu of a visa to enter an APEC member country.[601] The program was initially set to expire on September 30, 2018, but the November 2017 signing of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017 (S. 504) ensured it would permanently remain.[602]
Consular protection of U.S. citizens abroad
American diplomatic missions, including embassies (blue), interests sections, and other representations (light blue)
Many countries require a minimum number of blank pages to be available in the passport being presented, typically one or two pages.[603] Endorsement pages, which often appear after the visa pages, are not counted as being valid or available.
Some other countries require vaccination only if the passenger is coming from an infected area or has visited one recently or has transited for 12 hours in those countries: Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.[606][607]
Passport validity length
Very few countries, such as Paraguay, just require a valid passport on arrival.
However many countries and groupings now require only an identity card – especially from their neighbours. Other countries may have special bilateral arrangements that depart from the generality of their passport validity length policies to shorten the period of passport validity required for each other's citizens[608][609] or even accept passports that have already expired (but not been cancelled).[610]
Some countries, such as Japan,[611] Ireland and the United Kingdom,[612] require a passport valid throughout the period of the intended stay.
In the absence of specific bilateral agreements, countries requiring passports to be valid for at least 6 more months on arrival include Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Bahrain,[613] Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel,[614] Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru,[615] Philippines,[616] 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.[617]
Countries requiring passports valid for at least 4 months on arrival include Micronesia and Zambia.
Countries requiring passports with a validity of at least 3 months beyond the date of intended departure include Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Honduras, Montenegro, Nauru, Moldova and New Zealand. Similarly, the EEA countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, all European Union countries (except Ireland) together with Switzerland also require 3 months validity beyond the date of the bearer's intended departure unless the bearer is an EEA or Swiss national.
Countries requiring passports valid for at least 3 months on arrival include Albania, North Macedonia, Panama, and Senegal.
Bermuda requires passports to be valid for at least 45 days upon entry.
Countries that require a passport validity of at least one month beyond the date of intended departure include Eritrea, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, the Maldives[618] and South Africa.
Maximum passport age
Countries of the Schengen area require non-EU passports to be less than 10 years old upon entry.[619] A number of holders of British passports, which until September 2018 could be issued with a validity period of up to 10 years and nine months if the previous passport was not expired, were unable to travel to the EU subsequent to Brexit due to this restriction.[620]
Criminal record
Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States,[621] routinely deny entry to non-citizens who have a criminal record, while others impose restrictions depending on the type of conviction and the length of the sentence.
Persona non grata
The government of a country can declare a diplomat persona non grata, banning them from entering the country or expelling them if they have already entered. In non-diplomatic use, the authorities of a country may also declare a foreigner persona non grata permanently or temporarily, usually because of unlawful activity.[622]
Israeli stamps
Kuwait,[623] Lebanon,[624] Libya,[625] and Yemen[626] 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 (unless the entry is for some work-related purposes). Since 15 January 2013, Israel no longer stamps foreign passports at Ben Gurion Airport. Passports are still (as of 22June2017[update]) stamped at Erez when passing into and out of Gaza.[citation needed]
Iran refuses admission to holders of passports containing an Israeli visa or stamp that is less than 12 months old.
Several countries mandate that all travellers, or all foreign travellers, 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 change planes rather than go landside.[627]
Fingerprinting countries/regions include Afghanistan,[628][629] Argentina,[630] Brunei, Cambodia,[631] China,[632] Ethiopia,[633] Ghana, Guinea,[634] India, Japan,[635][636] Kenya (both fingerprints and a photo are taken),[637] Malaysia upon entry and departure,[638] Mongolia, Saudi Arabia,[639] Singapore, South Korea,[640] Taiwan, Thailand,[641] Uganda,[642] the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Many countries also require a photo be taken of people entering the country. The United States, which does not fully implement exit control formalities at its land frontiers (although long mandated by its own legislation),[643][644][645] intends to implement facial recognition for passengers departing from international airports to identify people who overstay their visa.[646]
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[647] and the United Arab Emirates conducts iris scanning on visitors who need to apply for a visa.[648][649] The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to greatly increase the biometric data it collects at US borders.[650] In 2018, Singapore began trials of iris scanning at three land and maritime immigration checkpoints.[651][652]
Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations
Journalistic activity
Professional research and professional meetings
Educational activities
Religious activities
Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions
Support for the Cuban people
Humanitarian projects
Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes
Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials
Certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing Department of Commerce regulations and guidelines with respect to Cuba or engaged in by U.S.-owned or -controlled foreign firms
To use a general license, travelers are required only to attest to one on a form provided by the airline, and only when traveling on a flight directly from the U.S. They are expected to maintain a full-time schedule consistent with the terms of the general license, and to only make transactions related to this purpose. Airlines and travelers are required to maintain records of all Cuba-related transactions for at least five years.[129][130]
↑ "Visa entry requirements (countries)". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. November 15, 2023.
↑ "eGate". customs.govt.nz. New Zealand Customs Service. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
↑ "Paying the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy". immigration.govt.nz. Immigration New Zealand. Retrieved February 1, 2021. Many tourists, people on working holidays, and some students and workers coming to New Zealand must pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZD $35.
↑ "U.S. Visas / Tourism & Visas". Travel.State.Gov. the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Pub. L. No. 96-8, Section 4(b)(1), provides that '[w]henever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan.' 22 U.S.C. § 3303(b)(1). Accordingly, all references to 'country' or 'countries' in the Visa Waiver Program authorizing legislation, Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1187, are read to include Taiwan. This is consistent with the one-China policy of the United States, under which the United States has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan since 1979.
↑ Baker, Vicky (June 20, 2013). "Passport expiry dates and blank pages: what are the rules?". The Guardian. Retrieved January 13, 2024. The number of remaining blank pages a passport should have is also an issue. Some travellers have reported arriving with one or less than one full page left and waiting for hours at immigration, until an official reluctantly grants them entry. The FCO lists no hard and fast rules because, in many cases, there aren't any.
↑ "Yellow Fever". Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). African Union. Retrieved August 23, 2021. African countries that requires (sic) Yellow Fever vaccination certificate: Countries that require vaccination for all travellers older that 9 months or 1 year: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameron, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'lvoire, DRC, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Niger, Togo.
↑ "Fièvre jaune" (in French). September 2, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
↑ "Yellow Fever". Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). African Union. Retrieved August 23, 2021. African countries that requires Yellow Fever vaccination certificate: Countries that requires (sic) vaccination for travellers from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission or transit for 12 hours in those countries: Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
↑ "Visitor Visa". travel.state.gov. US Department of State. Retrieved January 13, 2024. Passport valid for travel to the United States – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). Each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate application, including any family members listed in your passport.
↑ "Countries whose citizens are allowed to enter Turkey with their expired passports". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Republic of Turkey. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2018. Countries whose citizens are allowed to enter Turkey with their expired passports: 1. Germany – Passports expired within the last year / ID's expired within the last year, 2. Belgium - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 3. France - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 4. Spain - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 5. Switzerland - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 6. Luxemburg - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 7. Portugal - Passports expired within the last 5 years, 8. Bulgaria – Valid ordinary passport
↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Embassy of Japan in Malaysia. Retrieved January 13, 2024. Q: Do I need at least 6 months passport validity in order to enter Japan? A: Japan does not have any regulations relating to passport validity, so long as your passport will be valid until after you leave Japan.
↑ "Entering the UK". Gov.UK. Retrieved March 17, 2021. You're not from an EEA country: you must have a valid passport to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.
↑ Calder, Simon (April 24, 2017). "Airline lobbying for a relaxation of draconian rules for London-Auckland travellers". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2018. Travellers heading west from the UK to New Zealand may soon be able to avoid the onerous requirement to clear US border control during the refuelling stop at Los Angeles airport (LAX). Unlike almost every other country in the world, the US insists on a full immigration check even for passengers who simply intend to re-board their plane to continue onwards to a foreign destination. Air New Zealand, which flies daily from Heathrow via Los Angeles to Auckland, says there are currently "strict requirements for travellers" in transit at LAX. Through passengers to Auckland on flight NZ1 or Heathrow on NZ2 must apply in advance for an ESTA (online visa) even though they have no intention of staying in the US. They also have to undergo screening by the Transportation Security Administration.
↑ "China to Start Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors". Air Canada. January 31, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2018. Effective 27 April 2018, border control authorities at all of China's ports of entry, including its airports, will start collecting the fingerprints of all foreign visitors aged between 14 and 70. Diplomatic passport holders and beneficiaries of reciprocal agreements are exempted..
↑ "Immigration & Visas FAQs". Kenya Airports Authority. Retrieved May 6, 2019. Will visitors still have their digital photo and fingerprints taken at the immigration desk on arrival? Yes, the need to have photos and fingerprints taken upon arrival is to authenticate that the person who applied for the Visa is the same person at the port of entry
↑ "Malaysia". CountryReports. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
↑ Brown, Theresa Cardinal (May 9, 2016). "Biometric Entry-Exit Update: CBP Developing Land Border Process". Bipartisan Policy Center. Retrieved April 25, 2019. While a requirement for a biometric entry-exit system has been in law for over a decade, it is not yet a reality. Many reasons for the long gestating development have been documented in BPC's 2014 report Entry-Exit System: Progress, Challenges, and Outlook, including the technological, operational, and cost challenges of creating exit systems and infrastructure where none exist today. However, many critics, especially in Congress, simply accused the Department of Homeland security of dragging its feet... the major operational, logistical, and technical challenge in implementing exit capability at our ports has been the land borders. Unlike airports and seaports, the land border environment is not physically controlled, there is no means to get advance information on who is arriving, and the sheer volume of travel—both vehicular and pedestrian—creates challenges in any system to not further exacerbate delays. While biometric exit for land vehicular traffic is still in the "what if" stage, CBP is moving ahead and piloting systems and technology to use with the large population of pedestrian crossers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
↑ Lipton, Eric (May 21, 2013). "U.S. Quietly Monitors Foreigners' Departures at the Canadian Border". The New York Times. Retrieved April 25, 2019. Long demanded by lawmakers in Congress, it is considered a critical step to developing a coherent program to curb illegal immigration, as historically about 30 percent to 40 percent of illegal immigrants in the United States arrived on tourist visas or other legal means and then never left, according to estimates by Homeland Security officials.
↑ Lipton, Eric (December 15, 2006). "Administration to Drop Effort to Track if Visitors Leave". The New York Times. Retrieved April 25, 2019. Efforts to determine whether visitors actually leave have faltered. Departure monitoring would help officials hunt for foreigners who have not left, if necessary. Domestic security officials say, however, it would be too expensive to conduct fingerprint or facial recognition scans for land departures.
↑ "Iris Scanner Could Replace Emirates ID In UAE". SimplyDXB. June 11, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2018. The breach of privacy is probably the biggest threat to the biometric technique of iris recognition. Secondly, a device error can false reject or false accept the identity which can also have some heinous consequences. Lastly, the method isn't the most cost-effective one. It is complex and therefore expensive. Furthermore, the maintenance of devices and data can also be relatively burdensome. However, thanks to the oil money and spending ability of Dubai, they are economically equipped to effectively embrace this system.
↑ Roberts, Jeff John (September 12, 2016). "Homeland Security Plans to Expand Fingerprint and Eye Scanning at Borders". Fortune. Fortune Media IP Limited. Retrieved April 24, 2019. Unlike with documents, it's very hard for a traveler to present a forged copy of a fingerprint or iris. That's why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to vastly expand the amount of biometric data it collects at the borders. According to Passcode, a new program will ramp up a process to scan fingers and eyes in order to stop people entering and exiting the country on someone else's passport.
↑ "Singapore tests eye scans at immigration checkpoints". Reuters. August 6, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2019. Singapore has started scanning travellers' eyes at some of its border checkpoints, its immigration authority said on Monday, in a trial of expensive technology that could one day replace fingerprint verification.
1British Overseas Territories. 2 These countries span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia. 3 Partially recognized. 4Unincorporated territory of the United States. 5 Part of the Kingdom of Denmark. 6Egypt spans the boundary between Africa and Asia.
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