tourist visa synonyms

Related Words and Phrases

Bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250].

• Daily Crossword
• Word Puzzle
• Word Finder
• Word of the Day
• Synonym of the Day
• Word of the Year
• Language stories
• All featured
• Gender and sexuality
• All pop culture
• Grammar Coach ™
• Writing hub
• Grammar essentials
• Commonly confused
• All writing tips
• Pop culture
• Writing tips

Advertisement

noun as in confirmation

Strongest matches

• affirmation
• authorization
• corroboration
• endorsement
• green light
• recognition
• verification

Strong matches

• attestation
• authentication
• substantiation
• testimonial

Weak matches

• authenticating
• authorizing
• corroborating
• sanctioning
• stamp of approval

noun as in green card

noun as in paper/papers

• certificate
• certification
• credentials
• documentation
• identification papers

noun as in papers

noun as in pass

Strongest match

• identification
• safe-conduct

noun as in passage

• establishment
• legislation
• ratification
• legalization

noun as in passport

• travel permit

noun as in permit

noun as in validation

• demonstration

Discover More

Example sentences.

Several used loans to pay for additional visa processing and many customers turned to Stilt because other financial providers shut down or reduced their loan programs over concerns about repayment.

With Hernán Losada, United’s new coach, awaiting his work visa in Belgium, technical director Stewart Mairs and assistant coach Chad Ashton joined Kasper in overseeing the draft.

That’s partly why popular tourist destinations like Barbados and Costa Rica have created special “digital nomad” visas that waive the requirement to file taxes at all for a while.

The attack on immigration policies, everything from DACA to even temporary visas that were suspended or terminated, is a huge issue for San Diego.

The team was supposed to begin investigations in the first week of January, but China reportedly failed to approve their visas.

Undeterred by the snub in November, and denied a visa to Italy, Agca made plans for clandestine travel to Vatican City.

The language school did not focus on providing instruction but instead was a visa mill.

I eventually left the West Bank for Jordan with a visa I obtained from the French embassy.

His father went to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria and said his kid was dangerous, and that they should revoke his U.S. travel visa.

Australia earlier cancelled Blanc's visa over claims his tactics promote sexual assault.

Chopin had been advised by Mr. Beyer to have London instead of Paris put as a visa in his passport.

At the hamlet of Abeele there is a Belgian custom-house (visa of "triptyque" or motor-car permit).

You've a passport, I suppose; you won't need a visa for France, and from there you can find means to slip over.

Dane found he could not watch the visa plate now, Rip's hands about their task filled his whole range of sight.

Dane bit out a forceful word born of twinges of his own, and then snapped on the visa-plate.

Related Words

Words related to visa are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word visa . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in ratification, validation, proof

noun as in working card

noun as in legal document

noun as in document

noun as in authorization, permission

Viewing 5 / 10 related words

On this page you'll find 273 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to visa, such as: acceptance, admission, affirmation, approval, authorization, and consent.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

• ABBREVIATIONS
• BIOGRAPHIES
• CALCULATORS
• CONVERSIONS
• DEFINITIONS

  Vocabulary      

What is another word for tourist visa ?

Synonyms for tourist visa tourist visa, this thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word tourist visa ., did you actually mean turkish tobacco , we couldn't find direct synonyms for the term tourist visa ., maybe you were looking for one of these terms.

tourism-related , tourisme , tourist , tourist class , tourist court , tourist visa , tourist-related , touristed , touristic , touristique , touristry

... or search for tourist visa inside other dictionary definitions.

Search inside, are we missing a good synonym for tourist visa , image credit, the web's largest resource for, synonyms & antonyms, a member of the stands4 network, free, no signup required :, add to chrome, add to firefox, browse synonyms.com, are you a human thesaurus, which of the following terms is not a synonym of "shopsoiled".

Update April 12, 2024

Information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

• Travel Advisories |
• Contact Us |
• MyTravelGov |

Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates

Travel.state.gov, congressional liaison, special issuance agency, u.s. passports, international travel, intercountry adoption, international parental child abduction, records and authentications, popular links, travel advisories, mytravelgov, stay connected, legal resources, legal information, info for u.s. law enforcement, replace or certify documents, tourism & visit.

Study & Exchange

Other Visa Categories

U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country

Share this page:

Visitor Visa

Visa Waiver Program

Travel Without a Visa

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (visa category B-1), for tourism (visa category B-2), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2).

Here are some examples of activities permitted with a visitor visa:

Business (B-1)

• Consult with business associates
• Attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
• Settle an estate
• Negotiate a contract

Tourism (B-2)

• Vacation (holiday)
• Visit with friends or relatives
• Medical treatment
• Participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• Participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)

Travel Purposes Not Permitted On Visitor Visas

These are some examples of activities that require different categories of visas and cannot be done while on a visitor visa:

• Paid performances, or any professional performance before a paying audience
• Arrival as a crewmember on a ship or aircraft
• Work as foreign press, in radio, film, print journalism, or other information media
• Permanent residence in the United States

Visitor visas will also not be issued for birth tourism (travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States to obtain U.S. citizenship for their child).

How to Apply

There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary by U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please consult the instructions on the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate website .

Complete the Online Visa Application

• Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Learn more about completing the DS-160 . You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements .

Schedule an Interview

Interviews are generally required for visa applicants with certain limited exceptions below. Consular officers may require an interview of any visa applicant.

You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be more difficult to qualify for a visa outside of the country where you live. 

Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply: 

Appointment Wait Time

Check the estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Note: Please check the individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine if your case is eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview.

Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times.

Select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

Prepare for your interview.

• Fees - Pay the non-refundable visa application fee , if you are required to pay it before your interview. If your visa is approved, you may also need to pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality. Fee information is provided below:

Select your nationality to see Issuance Fee

• Review the instructions available on the website of the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  where you will apply to learn more about fee payment.

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:

• 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.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page.
• Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview.
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements .

Additional Documentation May Be Required

Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:

• The purpose of your trip,
• Your intent to depart the United States after your trip, and/or
• Your ability to pay all costs of the trip.   

Evidence of your employment and/or your family ties may be sufficient to show the purpose of your trip and your intent to return to your home country. If you cannot cover all the costs for your trip, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your trip.

Note:  Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa.

Attend Your Visa Interview

A consular officer will interview you to determine whether you are qualified to receive a visitor visa. You must establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive a visa.   Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans are taken as part of the application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.

After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further  administrative processing .  The consular officer will inform you if this required.

After the visa is approved, you may need to pay a visa issuance fee (if applicable to your nationality), and make arrangements for the return of the passport and visa to you.  Review the  visa processing times  to learn more.

Entering the United States

A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. If you are allowed to enter the United States, the CBP official will provide an admission stamp or a paper Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Learn more about admissions and entry requirements, restrictions about bringing food, agricultural products, and other restricted/prohibited goods, and more by reviewing the CBP website .

Extending Your Stay

See  Extend Your Stay  on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to learn about requesting to extend your stay beyond the date indicated on your admission stamp or paper Form I-94. 

Failure to depart the United States on time will result in being  out of status . Under U.S. law, visas of individuals who are out of status are automatically voided ( Section 222(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ).  Any multiple entry visa that was voided due to being out of status will not be valid for future entries into the United States. 

Failure to depart the United States on time may also result in you being ineligible for visas in the future. Review  Visa Denials  and  Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws  to learn more.

Change of Status

If your plans change while in the United States (for example, you marry a U.S. citizen or receive an offer of employment), you may be able to request a change in your nonimmigrant status to another category through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). See  Change My Nonimmigrant Status  on the USCIS website to learn more.

While you are in the United States, receiving a change of status from USCIS does not require you to apply for a new visa.  However, once you depart the United States you must apply for a new visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the appropriate category for your travel.

Additional Information

• An individual on a visitor visa (B1/B2) is not permitted to accept employment or work in the United States.
• There is no guarantee you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
• A valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States. 

Travel for Medical Treatment

If you are seeking medical treatment in the United States, the consular officer may ask for further documents at your visa interview, which may include:

• Medical diagnosis from a local physician, explaining the nature of the ailment and the reason you need treatment in the United States.
• Letter from a physician or medical facility in the United States, stating they are willing to treat your specific ailment and detailing the projected length and cost of treatment (including doctors’ fees, hospitalization fees, and all medical-related expenses).
• Proof that your transportation, medical, and living expenses in the United States will be paid. This may be in the form of bank or other statements of income/savings or certified copies of income tax returns (either yours or the person or organization paying for your treatment).

Visitor Visas for Personal or Domestic Employees (B-1)

You may apply for a B-1 visitor visa to work in the United States as a personal or domestic employee for your employer in limited situations. You may work in the United States on a visitor visa if your employer is:

• A U.S. citizen who has a permanent home or is stationed in a foreign country, but is visiting or is assigned to the United States temporarily; or
• A foreign citizen who is in the United States on one of the following nonimmigrant visa categories:  B, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, or Q.

Learn more about your rights in the United States and protection available to you by reading the Legal Rights and Protections pamphlet.

Visa Renewal

Whether you are applying for the first time or renewing your visa, you will use the same application process (please review How to Apply , above). Some applicants seeking to renew their visas in certain visa classes may be eligible for the Interview Waiver (IW) which allows qualified individuals to apply for visa renewals without being interviewed in person by a U.S. consular officer. Review the instructions on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply to determine if the IW is available and if you qualify.

Do I need a visa if I have an ABTC?

Yes, you will still need a visa to travel to the United States, unless you qualify for the  Visa Waiver Program . Having an Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travelers Card (ABTC) does not change visa requirements, your visa status, or the visa process for travel to the United States.

How can I use my ABTC when I apply for my visa?

If you have an Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travelers Card (ABTC),  you might be able to schedule an expedited visa interview appointment. Review the instructions for scheduling expedited appointments on the website of the  embassy or consulate  where you will apply. 

Visa Annotations for Certain Maritime Industry Workers

Certain foreign maritime workers are eligible to apply for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) once in the U.S. If you, as a maritime industry worker, will perform services in secure port areas, your visa must be annotated “TWIC Letter Received.” Workers whose visas are not annotated will not be permitted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to apply for a TWIC.

In order for your visa to be annotated, you must obtain a letter from your employer explaining the need for a TWIC and that you are a potential TWIC applicant. See a template example of this letter. You must present this letter when you apply for the B-1 visa. You must meet all other eligibility requirements for a B-1 visa. 

Complete information about the TWIC program is available on TSA’s website at  https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic .

Visa Denial and Ineligibility

Review  Visa Denials  for detailed information about visa ineligibilities, denials and waivers.

I was refused a visa, under Section 214(b). May I reapply?

Yes, if you feel circumstances have changed regarding your application. Review  Visa Denials  to learn more.

Misrepresentation or Fraud

Attempting to obtain a visa by the willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States.

Review  Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws .

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require visas to enter the United States, for visit, tourism and temporary business travel purposes. For more information see  U.S. Embassy Ottawa website ,  U.S. Consulate Hamilton website  and  CBP website .

Additional resources for Canadian visitors to the United States can be found on the U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites in Canada.

Citizens of China

In accordance with the agreement signed between the United States and China to extend visa validity, beginning on November 29, 2016, Chinese citizens with 10-year B1, B2 or B1/B2 visas in Peoples’ Republic of China passports will be required to update their biographical and other information from their visa application via a website every two years, or upon getting a new passport or B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa, whichever occurs first.  This mechanism is called EVUS - Electronic Visa Update System.

The EVUS website is now open to the public for enrollments at www.EVUS.gov .  CBP will not collect a fee for EVUS enrollment at this time. CBP anticipates the eventual implementation of an EVUS enrollment fee, but does not have a time frame. Until the implementation of a fee, travelers can enroll in EVUS without charge.  The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will keep visa holders informed of new information throughout the year. For further information, please visit  www.cbp.gov/EVUS .‎

根据美中双方签署的延长签证有效期的协议，自2016年11月29日起，凡持有10 年 期B1，B2 或 B1/B2签证的中华人民共和国护照持有人需要每两年或在获取新护照或最长有效期的B1、B2或B1/B2签证时时（以先到者为准），通过网站更新他们签证申请上的个人资料及其它信息。这个机制我们称之为EVUS –签证更新电子系统。

EVUS的登记网站 www.EVUS.gov 现已开放接受登记。美国海关和边境保护局（CBP）目前不会收取登记费用。美国海关和边境保护局预期EVUS登记收费最终会实施，但目前尚未落实执行时间。在收费实施前，旅客可以免费完成EVUS登记。美国国土安全部海关和边境保护局将在今年及时向签证持有人公布最新的信息。获取更多的信息，请访问 www.cbp.gov/EVUS 。

Citizens of Mexico

Citizens and permanent residents of Mexico generally must have a nonimmigrant visa or Border Crossing Card (also known as a "Laser Visa"). For ease of travel, the B-1/B-2 and the Border Crossing Card have been combined into one document (DSP-150). Select  Border Crossing Card  to learn more about this card.

Please visit  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  websites for more information regarding applying for a visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulates in Mexico.

Further Questions

• Case-Specific Questions - Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling your visa application for status information. Select  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  for contact information.
• General Questions - review  Contact Us .

Visa Waiver Program  (VWP)

Tourist or business travelers who are citizens of participating countries may be eligible to visit the United States without a visa. Visits must be 90 days or less, and travelers must meet all requirements.

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda generally do not need visas for tourism and visits.

More Information

A-Z Index Legal Rights & Protections Lost/Stolen Travel Documents Denials Fraud Warning Visa Expiration Date Automatic Revalidation Nonimmigrants in the United States–Applying for Visas in Canada or Mexico Visa Applicants - State Sponsors of Terrorism Border Security/Safety Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate Customer Service Statement

External Link

You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

You are about to visit:

• 1.1 Etymology
• 1.2 Pronunciation
• 1.3.1 Derived terms
• 1.3.2 Related terms
• 1.3.3 Translations
• 1.5 Anagrams
• 3.1 Pronunciation
• 4.1 Pronunciation
• 5.1 Etymology
• 5.2 Pronunciation
• 5.3.1 Declension
• 5.3.2 Derived terms
• 5.4 Further reading
• 5.5 Anagrams
• 6.1.1 Pronunciation
• 6.2.1 Pronunciation
• 6.3 Further reading
• 6.4 Anagrams
• 7.1 Etymology
• 7.2 Pronunciation
• 7.3.1 Alternative forms
• 7.3.2 Derived terms
• 7.3.3 Related terms
• 7.4 Further reading
• 8.1.1 Pronunciation
• 8.2.1 Pronunciation
• 8.2.2 Participle
• 8.2.3 Participle
• 8.3 References
• 9.1 Adjective
• 9.2 Pronoun
• 10.1 Alternative forms
• 11.1.1 Alternative forms
• 11.1.2.1 Synonyms
• 11.1.2.2 Derived terms
• 11.2.1.1 Declension
• 11.3.1 Noun
• 11.4.1 Noun
• 11.5 References
• 12.1 Etymology
• 12.2 Pronunciation
• 12.3.1 Conjugation
• 12.3.2 Descendants
• 13.1 Alternative forms
• 13.2 Etymology
• 13.3.1 Declension
• 13.3.2 Descendants
• 13.4 References
• 15.1 Etymology
• 15.2 Pronunciation
• 15.3.1 Conjugation
• 15.3.2 Derived terms
• 15.3.3 Related terms
• 16.1 Pronunciation
• 16.2.1 Noun
• 16.3.1 Verb
• 16.4 Further reading
• 17.1 Pronunciation
• 18.1 Pronunciation
• 18.2.1 Adjective
• 18.3.1.1 Declension
• 18.3.1.2 Derived terms
• 18.4.1 Noun
• 18.5.1.1 Conjugation
• 18.5.1.2 Derived terms
• 18.5.1.3 Related terms
• 18.6 See also
• 18.7 References
• 18.8 Anagrams

English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ].

From 1831, "official signature or endorsement on a passport," from French visa , from Latin charta vīsa ( “ paper that has been seen ” ) from feminine perfect passive of Latin vidēre ( “ to see ” ) .

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• IPA ( key ) : /ˈviː.zə/ , /ˈviː.sə/
• Rhymes: -iːzə , -iːsə

Noun [ edit ]

visa ( plural visas )

• A permit to enter and leave a country, normally issued by the authorities of the country to be visited. I came on a six-month tourist visa .

Derived terms [ edit ]

• bridging visa
• golden visa
• prisoner visa
• student visa
• tourist visa
• transit visa
• visa-on-arrival
• working-holiday visa

Related terms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ], verb [ edit ].

visa ( third-person singular simple present visas , present participle visaing , simple past and past participle visaed )

• ( transitive , dated ) To endorse (a passport, etc.).

Anagrams [ edit ]

• Avis , IVAs , Siva , Vias , avis , vias

Catalan [ edit ]

• third-person singular present indicative
• second-person singular imperative

Danish [ edit ]

• IPA ( key ) : /viːsa/ , [ˈviːsa]

visa   n

• indefinite plural of visum

Dutch [ edit ]

• IPA ( key ) : /ˈvi.zaː/
• plural of visum

Finnish [ edit ]

From Proto-Finnic *visa ( “ hard? ” ) . Cognate with Estonian visa , Karelian visa and Livonian vizā . The original adjective "hard, difficult, demanding" is now exclusively found in dialects (and some derivations, like visakoivu ); the modern sense "quiz" is a backformation of visailla , itself derived from that adjective.

• IPA ( key ) : /ˈʋisɑ/ , [ˈʋis̠ɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -isɑ
• Syllabification ( key ) : vi‧sa
• Synonym of visakoivu
• quiz ( competition in the answering of questions )

Declension [ edit ]

Further reading [ edit ].

• “ visa ”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [ Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish ]‎ [1] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004– , retrieved 2023-07-04

French [ edit ]

Etymology 1 [ edit ].

From Latin visa , neuter plural of Latin visus ( “ having been seen ” ) .

• IPA ( key ) : /vi.za/
• Rhymes: -za

visa   m ( plural visas )

• a mark or stamp attesting to the performance of an official action
• a travel visa

Etymology 2 [ edit ]

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

• third-person singular past historic of viser
• “ visa ”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [ Digitized Treasury of the French Language ] , 2012 .
• avis , vais

Indonesian [ edit ]

From Dutch visa , from French visa , from Latin visa , short form of charta visa ( “ paper that has been seen ” ) , plural of visum ( “ something seen ” ) .

• IPA ( key ) : /ˈvisa/
• Rhymes: -sa , -a
• Hyphenation: vi‧sa

visa ( plural visa - visa , first-person possessive visa ku , second-person possessive visa mu , third-person possessive visa nya )

• visa : A permit to enter and leave a country, normally issued by the authorities of the country to be visited.

Alternative forms [ edit ]

• visa diplomatik
• visa transit
• visa wisatawan
• “ visa ” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia , Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation — Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic Indonesia , 2016.

Latin [ edit ]

Inflected form of visum ( “ vision, mental image ” ) .

• ( Classical ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈu̯iː.sa/ , [ˈu̯iːs̠ä]
• ( modern Italianate Ecclesiastical ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈvi.sa/ , [ˈviːs̬ä]
• nominative / accusative / vocative plural of vīsum

Inflected form of vīsus ( “ seen, having been seen ” ) , perfect passive participle of videō ( “ see ” ) .

• vīsa : ( Classical ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈu̯iː.sa/ , [ˈu̯iːs̠ä]
• vīsa : ( modern Italianate Ecclesiastical ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈvi.sa/ , [ˈviːs̬ä]
• vīsā : ( Classical ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈu̯iː.saː/ , [ˈu̯iːs̠äː]
• vīsā : ( modern Italianate Ecclesiastical ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈvi.sa/ , [ˈviːs̬ä]

Participle [ edit ]

• nominative / vocative feminine singular
• nominative / accusative / vocative neuter plural
• ablative feminine singular of vīsus

References [ edit ]

• visa in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)

Latvian [ edit ]

Adjective [ edit ].

• genitive singular masculine
• nominative singular feminine

Pronoun [ edit ]

Norwegian bokmål [ edit ].

• ( of vise ) visen
• ( of visum ) visumer

visa   m or f

• definite feminine singular of vise

Norwegian Nynorsk [ edit ]

From Old Norse vísa , from Proto-Germanic *wīsōną .

• vise (e and split infinitives)

visa ( present tense viser , past tense viste , past participle vist , passive infinitive visast , present participle visande , imperative vis )

• ( transitive ) to show , point out
• ( transitive ) to send away
• ( transitive ) to demonstrate , to give proof of
• ( intransitive ) to be visible

Synonyms [ edit ]

• ( most senses ) : syna / syne
• vise tilbake på
• vise til rette

From Old Norse vísa .

visa   f ( definite singular visa , indefinite plural viser or visor , definite plural visene or visone )

• ( pre-2012 ) alternative form of vise
• definite singular of vise

Forms in italics are currently considered non-standard. Forms in [brackets] were official, but considered second-tier. Forms in (parentheses) were allowed under Midlandsnormalen . 1 Nouns were capitalised for most of the 19th century. Forms in italics are currently considered non-standard. Forms in [brackets] were considered second-tier. Forms in (parentheses) were allowed under Midlandsnormalen . 1 Aasen seems unsure of this form.

Etymology 3 [ edit ]

• definite plural of vis   n
• definite singular of vis   f

Etymology 4 [ edit ]

• ( non-standard since 2012 ) indefinite plural of visum
• ( non-standard since 2012 ) definite plural of visum
• “visa” in The Nynorsk Dictionary .

Old Swedish [ edit ]

• IPA ( key ) : /ˈviːˌsa/
• to let know

Conjugation [ edit ]

Descendants [ edit ], pali [ edit ].

• 𑀯𑀺𑀲 ( Brahmi script )
• विस ( Devanagari script )
• ৰিস ( Bengali script )
• විස ( Sinhalese script )
• ဝိသ ( Burmese script )
• วิส or วิสะ ( Thai script )
• ᩅᩥᩈ ( Tai Tham script )
• ວິສ or ວິສະ ( Lao script )
• វិស ( Khmer script )
• 𑅇𑄨𑄥 ( Chakma script )

Inherited from Sanskrit विष ( viṣa ) .

• → Thai: วิสา ( wí-sǎa )

Pali Text Society ( 1921–1925 ) “ visa ”, in Pali-English Dictionary‎ , London: Chipstead

Portuguese [ edit ]

Romanian [ edit ].

Either from vis +‎ -a , or from the rare but attested Late Latin vīsō, vīsāre , from Latin vīsum . Compare Sardinian bizare .

• IPA ( key ) : [viˈsa]

a visa ( third-person singular present visează , past participle visat )   1st conj.

Spanish [ edit ]

• IPA ( key ) : /ˈbisa/ [ˈbi.sa]
• Rhymes: -isa
• Syllabification: vi‧sa

Borrowed from French visa , from Latin visa .

visa   f ( plural visas )

• ( Latin America ) visa Synonym: visado
• “ visa ”, in Diccionario de la lengua española , Vigésima tercera edición , Real Academia Española, 2014

Swahili [ edit ]

• plural of kisa

Swedish [ edit ]

• definite singular

From Old Swedish vīsa , from Old Norse vísa ( “ strophe, stanza ” ) , from Proto-Germanic *wīsǭ .

visa   c

• a song , a tune , particularily one with a simple melody, where the primary focus is the lyrics
• ord och inga visor

From Old Swedish vīsa , from Old Norse vísa , from Proto-Germanic *wīsōną .

visa ( present visar , preterite visade , supine visat , imperative visa )

• ( sometimes with a particle like up or fram ) to show , to display Han visade dem sin samling He showed them his collection Han visade (upp) sin samling för dom He showed them his collection
• to show (provide with information) Visa någon vägen Show someone the way
• to show , to prove Visa att x > 5 Show that x > 5
• visa var skåpet ska stå

See also [ edit ]

• visa in Svensk ordbok ( SO )
• visa in Svenska Akademiens ordlista ( SAOL )
• visa in Svenska Akademiens ordbok ( SAOB )

• English terms derived from French
• English terms derived from Latin
• English 2-syllable words
• English terms with IPA pronunciation
• English terms with audio links
• Rhymes:English/iːzə
• Rhymes:English/iːzə/2 syllables
• Rhymes:English/iːsə
• English lemmas
• English nouns
• English countable nouns
• English terms with usage examples
• English verbs
• English transitive verbs
• English dated terms
• en:Human migration
• Catalan non-lemma forms
• Catalan verb forms
• Danish terms with IPA pronunciation
• Danish non-lemma forms
• Danish noun forms
• Dutch terms with IPA pronunciation
• Dutch terms with audio links
• Dutch non-lemma forms
• Dutch noun forms
• Finnish terms inherited from Proto-Finnic
• Finnish terms derived from Proto-Finnic
• Finnish 2-syllable words
• Finnish terms with IPA pronunciation
• Rhymes:Finnish/isɑ
• Rhymes:Finnish/isɑ/2 syllables
• Finnish lemmas
• Finnish nouns
• Finnish kala-type nominals
• French terms derived from Latin
• French 2-syllable words
• French terms with IPA pronunciation
• French terms with audio links
• Rhymes:French/za
• Rhymes:French/za/2 syllables
• French lemmas
• French nouns
• French countable nouns
• French masculine nouns
• French non-lemma forms
• French verb forms
• fr:Human migration
• Indonesian terms borrowed from Dutch
• Indonesian terms derived from Dutch
• Indonesian terms derived from French
• Indonesian terms derived from Latin
• Indonesian 2-syllable words
• Indonesian terms with IPA pronunciation
• Rhymes:Indonesian/sa
• Rhymes:Indonesian/sa/2 syllables
• Rhymes:Indonesian/a
• Rhymes:Indonesian/a/2 syllables
• Indonesian lemmas
• Indonesian nouns
• Latin 2-syllable words
• Latin terms with IPA pronunciation
• Latin non-lemma forms
• Latin noun forms
• Latin participle forms
• Latvian non-lemma forms
• Latvian adjective forms
• Latvian pronoun forms
• Norwegian Bokmål non-lemma forms
• Norwegian Bokmål noun forms
• Norwegian Nynorsk terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
• Norwegian Nynorsk terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *weyd-
• Norwegian Nynorsk terms inherited from Old Norse
• Norwegian Nynorsk terms derived from Old Norse
• Norwegian Nynorsk terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
• Norwegian Nynorsk terms derived from Proto-Germanic
• Norwegian Nynorsk lemmas
• Norwegian Nynorsk verbs
• Norwegian Nynorsk weak verbs
• Norwegian Nynorsk transitive verbs
• Norwegian Nynorsk intransitive verbs
• Norwegian Nynorsk nouns
• Norwegian Nynorsk feminine nouns
• Norwegian Nynorsk weak feminine nouns ending in -a
• Norwegian Nynorsk non-lemma forms
• Norwegian Nynorsk noun forms
• Old Swedish terms inherited from Old Norse
• Old Swedish terms derived from Old Norse
• Old Swedish terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
• Old Swedish terms derived from Proto-Germanic
• Old Swedish terms with IPA pronunciation
• Old Swedish lemmas
• Old Swedish verbs
• Old Swedish weak verbs
• Pali terms inherited from Sanskrit
• Pali terms derived from Sanskrit
• Pali lemmas
• Pali nouns in Latin script
• Pali neuter nouns
• Portuguese non-lemma forms
• Portuguese verb forms
• Romanian terms suffixed with -a
• Romanian terms inherited from Late Latin
• Romanian terms derived from Late Latin
• Romanian terms inherited from Latin
• Romanian terms derived from Latin
• Romanian terms with IPA pronunciation
• Romanian terms with audio links
• Romanian lemmas
• Romanian verbs
• Romanian verbs in 1st conjugation
• Spanish 2-syllable words
• Spanish terms with IPA pronunciation
• Spanish terms with audio links
• Rhymes:Spanish/isa
• Rhymes:Spanish/isa/2 syllables
• Spanish terms borrowed from French
• Spanish terms derived from French
• Spanish terms derived from Latin
• Spanish lemmas
• Spanish nouns
• Spanish countable nouns
• Spanish feminine nouns
• Latin American Spanish
• Spanish non-lemma forms
• Spanish verb forms
• Swahili terms with audio links
• Swahili non-lemma forms
• Swahili noun plural forms
• Swedish terms with IPA pronunciation
• Swedish terms with audio links
• Swedish non-lemma forms
• Swedish adjective forms
• Swedish terms inherited from Old Swedish
• Swedish terms derived from Old Swedish
• Swedish terms inherited from Old Norse
• Swedish terms derived from Old Norse
• Swedish terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
• Swedish terms derived from Proto-Germanic
• Swedish lemmas
• Swedish nouns
• Swedish common-gender nouns
• Swedish noun forms
• Swedish verbs
• Swedish terms with usage examples
• Swedish weak verbs
• English entries with topic categories using raw markup
• Cantonese terms with redundant transliterations
• Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations
• Hausa links with redundant target parameters
• Requests for translations into Sindhi
• Urdu terms with non-redundant manual transliterations
• Indonesian terms with redundant script codes

Navigation menu

• Dictionaries home
• American English
• Collocations
• German-English
• Grammar home
• Practical English Usage
• Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
• Word Lists home
• My Word Lists
• Recent additions
• Resources home
• Text Checker

Definition of visa noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• to apply for a visa
• an entry/tourist/transit/exit visa
• package tour
• self-catering
• sightseeing
• Do Brazilians need a visa to go to France?
• Do you need a visa for Egypt?
• He was arrested for overstaying his visa.
• Her visa expired six months ago.
• I obtained a visa after hours of waiting at the embassy.
• She entered the country on a student visa.
• She was refused a visa because of her criminal record.
• a visa waiver program
• regulations
• requirements
• restrictions

Join our community to access the latest language learning and assessment tips from Oxford University Press!

Other results

Nearby words.

Synonyms of 'visa' in British English

Additional synonyms, video: pronunciation of visa.

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

Wordle Helper

Scrabble Tools

Synonyms of tourist

• as in traveller
• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Thesaurus Definition of tourist

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excursionist
• rubbernecker
• vacationist

Thesaurus Entries Near tourist

touring cars

tourist court

Cite this Entry

“Tourist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tourist. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on tourist

Nglish: Translation of tourist for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of tourist for Arabic Speakers

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More commonly misspelled words, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, how to use accents and diacritical marks, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - apr. 26, 9 superb owl words, 'gaslighting,' 'woke,' 'democracy,' and other top lookups, 10 words for lesser-known games and sports, your favorite band is in the dictionary, games & quizzes.

Visa results beat estimates on resilient consumer spending

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Manya Saini and Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Thomson Reuters

Manya Saini reports on prominent publicly listed U.S. financial firms including Wall Street’s biggest banks, card companies, asset managers and fintechs. Also covers late-stage venture capital funding, initial public offerings on U.S. exchanges alongside news and regulatory developments in the cryptocurrency industry. Her work usually appears in the finance, markets, business and future of money sections of the website.

Business Chevron

The European Union criticised Russia on Saturday for putting subsidiaries of one Italian and one German company under the "temporary external management" of a Gazprom entity, saying the move underscored Moscow's disregard for international norms.

New Schengen Visa Rules for Indian Visitors: Key Questions Answered 

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

April 23rd, 2024 at 5:39 AM EDT

Destinations value Indian travelers, but lengthy visa processing times lasting months act as significant deterrents. The adoption of these new regulations by European authorities reflects a proactive effort to tackle these concerns, aiming to boost tourism flow.

Peden Doma Bhutia

The European Commission has introduced a new visa “cascade” regime for Indian nationals applying for Schengen visas in India. This regime looks to offer longer-term, multi-entry Schengen visas, based on the applicant’s travel history.

Indian travel agents had been complaining of Schengen visa delays as a major challenge to the summer travel rush from India.

• How does one qualify for the longer duration visas?

The European Commission can issue a two-year multiple-entry visa after a traveler “has obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years.” This demonstrates a positive travel history and compliance with previous visa regulations.

Subsequently, after granting the two-year visa, authorities may issue a five-year visa if the passport has has adequate validity remaining.

• What benefits do holders of these extended visas enjoy?

During the validity period of these visas, holders can enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals within the Schengen area, allowing for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

• Which countries are part of the Schengen area?

The Schengen area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 European Union member states: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden. Additionally, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are also part of the Schengen area.

• Are there any restrictions or conditions to these visas?

Schengen visas do not grant the right to work within the Schengen area and are for short stays only. Additionally, the visas are not purpose-bound, providing flexibility for travel within the specified period.

Industry Take

Skift also spoke to players in the Indian outbound travel industry to understand what has changed in the new Schengen visa rules.

• How is this different from the earlier visas that Schengen countries offered? Don’t they already offer multi-entry visas with longer duration to Indians?

Mahendra Vakharia, managing director of Pathfinders Holidays, said there was no standard policy of Schengen states for issuing these long-term visas earlier. Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Italy and Spain usually issued long-term visa, but it was all subjective. “With this new policy it should be a standard rule now,” Vakharia said.

• Travelers mainly complain of longer processing times, has that changed?

Here too, there is no standard processing time as it varies from country to country, according to Vakharia. “France and Spain have been processing visas within four days, and then there’s Croatia, which takes 60 days,” he said.

Processing time will not change as of now, it will take time for the visa rules to be enforced, said an industry source, while highlighting that the visa would be especially useful for corporate travelers.

What Promoted The Move?

Speaking on the possible motivations, Vakharia acknowledged various reasons, including administrative capacity constraints at embassies to cater to the huge inflow of applications.

“As there is an overwhelming demand from Indian travelers, the process of securing visa appointments has posed significant challenges , especially for travelers residing in cities lacking VFS Global centers,” he said.

The European Commission said in an statement that the decision reflects the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, aimed at fostering comprehensive cooperation on migration policy. Facilitating people-to-people contacts is a key aspect of this agenda, acknowledging India’s importance as an EU partner.

The decision also reflects a realization of the strong economic benefits derived through the spending power of Indian tourists. As Vakharia aptly puts it, “Why let go of the Golden Indian Goodie Bag?”

Skift India Report

The Skift India Report is your go-to newsletter for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: asia monthly , europe , european commission , European summer travel , european union , india , india outbound , schengen , visa , visas

Photo credit: Park Guell in Spain. Unlike many Schengen countries, Spain has been processing visas within four days for Indian travelers. Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz / Pexels

New Greek Resorts, Golden Visa Countries And More Travel News

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

5 New Greek Hotels For Summer

W ith summer fast approaching, there are recently opened hotels and resorts in Greece to consider. From popular escapes such as Mykonos and Santorini to the lesser-known islands across the Aegean chain, here are five new Greek hotels worth checking out —and into.

10 Incredible Cruise Ship Features

For many years, the trend in cruise ship design has been that “bigger is better”—with vessels such as Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas setting new passenger records. But many cruise lines are also competing by offering innovative features to the high seas. From kart racing on multi-level courses to multiscreen movie theaters, here are some of the most incredible activities on cruise ships right now.

Disney World Earns Its First Michelin Star

Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort—which has been a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star restaurant since 2018—added a new star to its constellation this month: It became the first Disney restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star . Located at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World, Victoria and Albert’s is known for its opulent Victorian era-inspired meals. A prix-fixe dinner is $295 per guest, with optional wine pairings starting at $155 per person. Unlike the rest of the theme park, a formal dress code is encouraged for all diners, who must be 10 years of age or older.

Golden visas—which grant residency and/or citizenship through an investment—may be disappearing from Europe, but many EU countries are now luring travelers with digital nomad visas, which grant travelers the legal right to work remotely for an extended period. Italy recently became the latest country to offer the visa and here are other EU countries with digital nomad visas .

America’s Best Airlines 2024

The personal-finance website WalletHub recently announced its annual ranking of the best U.S. airlines . The study evaluates the nine largest national airlines and one regional carrier across a range of criteria, including safety, on-time records and overall service. This year, Alaska Airlines was named the best airline in America, beating out Delta, which ranked first in 2022 and 2023. The survey also ranked U.S. carriers based on reliability and comfort.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

European Union adopts more favourable Schengen visa rules for Indians

Indian Nationals can now apply for a multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity

On 18 April 2024, the European Commission adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard rules of the Visa Code that applied to date. This new visa ‘cascade’ regime for Indian nationals residing in India who apply for Schengen (short-stay) visas in India will provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history, if the passport validity allows. 

According to the newly adopted visa “cascade” regime for India, Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals.

This decision comes in the context of strengthened relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India, with facilitation of people-to-people contacts being of key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU. 

Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work. The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

World Cup 2026: Concerns over fans’ U.S. visa wait times – ‘Your window might already be closed’

Concerns have been raised with the United States government, including an official meeting in the White House, over fears supporters may be deterred from the 2026 men’s World Cup owing to excessive wait times to process visa applications to visit the country.

The tournament begins in 777 days and it will be at least another 18 months before many countries will be assured of qualification, yet the wait times for U.S. visa interviews in two Mexican cities are already in excess of 800 days, while it is 685 days in the Colombian capital of Bogota.

Advertisement

In a statement to The Athletic , the U.S. Department of State (which oversees international relations) insisted it is determined to reduce wait times but also encouraged supporters in affected countries to start applying for visas now, over two years out from the tournament and with the line-up still unknown.

The 2026 edition of world football’s governing body FIFA ’s flagship tournament will include 48 nations for the first time and will be held in 16 cities in the U.S, Canada and Mexico.

It will also be the first World Cup without an overarching local organising committee, which means FIFA is tasked with pulling everything together, in conjunction with the many layers of stakeholders and bureaucracy across three nations and 16 host cities, each of which have differing levels of private and taxpayer support.

The three host countries also have differing entry criteria for visitors, which has the potential to create visa confusion for fans seeking to follow their team deep into the tournament across multiple borders.

Several host cities, including the location for the final — New York/New Jersey — are also concerned about the wait times for visas, and the potential impact on income from tourism during the tournament, but the cities are currently allowing FIFA and the travel industry to lead the conversations with the government. Some of those who have spoken to The Athletic wished to remain anonymous, owing either to sensitivity around discussions or to protect working relationships.

Travis Murphy is the founder of Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment and a former American diplomat who also once ran international government affairs for the NBA .

“My concern is this could be a disaster (in 2026),” he said. “The concerns are absolutely there on the city level. The cities are thinking, ‘They are FIFA, so they must have it under control.’ But when you realise how FIFA worked in the past with previous hosts in Qatar and Russia, it doesn’t necessarily work in the United States.

“We’re just a completely different animal in terms of how our government operates and how we communicate. And frankly, the emphasis that we place on soccer as a sport in our country.

“If this was the Super Bowl, the World Series or the NBA finals, we’d be having a different conversation. Soccer is not the biggest sport in our country. And I think that’s a fundamental lack of understanding by FIFA, perhaps just taking it for granted that it is the case everywhere in the world. But it’s not yet in the United States.”

In recent months, U.S. travel industry representatives and FIFA have raised concerns with the U.S. Department of State and the White House as the respective groups seek to organise how millions of tourists will enter the U.S. during the five-week tournament in June and July 2026. In January 2024, FIFA strengthened its staff in D.C. when it hired Alex Sopko, the former chief of staff for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House, to be its new Director of Government Relations.

In a statement to The Athletic , a FIFA spokesperson said the organisation is working closely with U.S. Government in the planning and preparation for the World Cup, including regular discussions on critical topics such as immigration and visas, and adding it recognises “the urgency of these matters.”

The visa delays ahead of the World Cup were raised in a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, April 17, with senior administration officials in conversation with the United States Travel Association (U.S. Travel).  

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of U.S. Travel, was present in the meeting. He describes visa wait times as a “massive issue” but added: “We came away confident that the White House recognises the significance of the 2026 World Cup and will take concrete steps to streamline aspects of the travel experience for the more than eight million anticipated visitors.”

Freely available data on the website of the Department of Consular affairs details the lengthy wait times currently impacting visitor visas from markets that may be highly relevant during the World Cup, which begins in 778 days.

Forty-one countries, including much of Europe, Japan, South Korea and Australia, are part of a visa waiver programme — ESTA — to enter the United States, which means citizens of these countries can travel without obtaining a visa, so as long as their trip for tourism or business does not exceed 90 days.

However, many people, estimated by U.S. Travel to represent 45 per cent of those who visit the States, do require visas for entry. These documents, called a B1/B2 visa, also require in-person appointments at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to take digital photographs and fingerprints, as well as an interview, in which the candidate must state their intention to return to their home countries and explain their reasons for visiting the United States.

Wait times for a visa interview at a U.S. consulate in the Mexican cities of Mexico City and Guadalajara are currently 878 days and 820 days respectively, so an application made today may not be approved before the World Cup begins. In the Colombian capital of Bogota, the current wait time is 685 days, while Panama City is 477 days and Quito in Ecuador is 420.

The 2026 World Cup is guaranteed to include the U.S, Mexico and Canada as hosts but five more nations may yet qualify from North and Central America, while up to seven may enter from the South American Football Confederation. Wait times are also dramatic in the Turkish city of Istanbul, where it takes 553 days for an appointment, as well as in Morocco, semi-finalists at the World Cup in 2022, where the wait time is 225 days.

In a statement to The Athletic, the state department said: “We encourage prospective FIFA World Cup visitors who will need U.S. visas to apply now – there is no requirement to have purchased event tickets, made hotel reservations, or reserved airline tickets to qualify for a visitor visa.”

Freeman attributes the current visa delays to the shutdown of consular offices during the coronavirus pandemic but also outlines long-standing issues.

“The U.S. is the world’s most desired nation to visit, but our market share is slipping and it’s in a large part due to long visa wait times,” he said. “If you are Colombian and want to come and bring your kids in 2026, your window might already be closed.”

A World Cup is further complicated because many supporters may wait until their nations have secured qualification to organise their trip. For the Americas, this will largely be in winter 2025 — the play-offs may be as late as March 2026 — while nations will only know the cities in which their teams will be competing following the draw, which is usually held eight months out from the tournament.

During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, visitors were able to expedite their entry into the country by applying for a Hayya card, effectively a fan pass for World Cup ticket holders that acted as a visa for the tournament. A repeat pass is not expected to be approved by the U.S, particularly at a time of global tensions both in the Middle East and following Russia ’s invasion of and continued war against Ukraine .

Freeman warned: “The U.S. is not going to change its visa policies in the short term to frankly cater to FIFA. I think where you may see the U.S. adjust some of its approach is in cooperation with Mexico and Canada . So once teams have qualified within the tournament, how do we streamline their ability to cross borders and attend games in other markets later in the tournament? I believe that’s where there will be greater cooperation and some of those discussions are already taking place.”

The answer may simply be additional staff and investment, such as deploying more consular officers at embassies, a method which has helped significantly reduce wait times from Brazil and India over the past year. Congress set aside $50million for the U.S. State Department to “reduce passport backlogs and reduce visa wait times” in a bill signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden in March but it was not specified how and where the money will be invested.

There is a precedent for visa issues causing delays at major international sporting events in the United States. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, who set the African 100metres record of 9.77 seconds in 2021, only received his visa documentation the day before the men’s 100 metres heats began at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon in 2022.

After securing his visa in Kenya, he took a five-hour flight to Qatar, endured a six-hour layover, then a 14-hour flight to Seattle, another three-hour layover and last of all, a one-hour flight to Oregon. He landed at 4.15 pm and immediately went to the track, where the heats commenced at 6.50pm.

The sprinter said: “If you are hosting a championship, you need to waive (visa requirements) for athletes. It’s a lesson for the host country in the future, and the U.S. is hosting the Olympics in 2028 (in Los Angeles), so they need to learn from this and do better next time.”

Murphy added: “There were hundreds of athletes who were unable to travel. The World Athletics Championships was was a relatively small event compared to the magnitude of what we’re talking about with the 48-team World Cup and the millions and millions of people involved, in terms of what needs to happen.”

Playing rosters are usually only approved in the final months before a tournament, but the U.S. is expected to expedite processing to ensure players and support staff from federations are able to arrive in time for the World Cup.

The U.S. Department of State attributes the issues at World Athletics to the pressures felt by consular officers coming out of the pandemic and told The Athletic that wait times for “P-visas”, generally used by members of professional sports teams coming to participate in athletic competitions, are “low worldwide”.

Murphy said the National Security Council has established a working committee on the matter for the White House but caveated his optimism with a reminder that more instant priorities are Israel, Gaza and Ukraine. He said: “This is not a priority beyond the host cities, FIFA itself and the members of Congress who represent those host cities. But in terms of there being a broad approach that is all-encompassing and has a wide swath of support in Congress, there’s just nothing there. There’s no bills or initiatives in Congress that are focused on this.”

He added: “The conversations that needed to have started a year plus ago are not at a point where they need to be. And when you’re talking about the U.S. Government, it is essentially at a state of standstill in terms of any major movement that needs to happen from now until November of this year (when there is a Presidential election).”

The Department of State insisted it is “committed to facilitating legitimate travel to the United States while maintaining high national security standards.”

Its statement continued: “We are pleased to be an active participant in a working group with FIFA and other stakeholders on plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Bureau of Consular Affairs recognizes the importance of international inbound tourism, including for mega sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, and is working tirelessly to facilitate secure travel to the United States. We have significantly reduced visa wait times over the past two years.”

One of the peculiarities of the U.S. political system is that there is no sports ministry to facilitate such discussions. In its absence, Murphy calls for a special envoy to be appointed, with the World Cup likely to be followed by the women’s edition in 2027 before the Olympics in LA in 2028.

He said: “There has to be somebody centralised to organise those conversations. That’s relatively easy to do. If it’s somebody that has the respect and attention of the cabinet agencies, they can have a conversation with Capitol Hill and that’s going to go a long way to getting things done.”

(Top photo: Patrick Smith/FIFA via Getty Images)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Adam Crafton covers football for The Athletic. He previously wrote for the Daily Mail. In 2018, he was named the Young Sports Writer of the Year by the Sports' Journalist Association. His debut book,"From Guernica to Guardiola", charting the influence of Spaniards in English football, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2018. He is based in London.

Welcome to Finextra. We use cookies to help us to deliver our services. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you may change your preferences at our Cookie Centre . Please read our Privacy Policy .

/ retail banking

See headlines ».

News in your inbox

For Finextra's free daily newsletter, breaking news and flashes and weekly job board.

Related Companies

Lead channel.

Visa launches open banking with Tink in the US

Visa has launched open banking in the US, using technology from recently acquired Swedish vendor Tink.

Sponsored: [Upcoming Webinar] Instant Payments and their impact on the fraud landscape

Comments: (1)

When Visa abandoned its plan to acquire PLAID, the reason given by pundits was potential antitrust objections. Won't the same antitrust objections be raised about its TINK-powered offering?

Or was antitrust just a smokescreen to avoid paying $5.3B for PLAID when it could get Tink for a substantially lower price ($2B)?

On a side note, by making an explicit pitch for Open Banking technology in its video, Visa has completely undermined the popular misconception that customers don't care about technology.

Report abuse

Write a blog post about this story (membership required)

Central banks embark on tokenisation project

22 Apr 0 4 3

Revolut to grow headcount by 40%

24 Apr 0 2 7

25 Apr 1 2 8

/regulation

Apple offer to open up nfc payments access set for eu approval - reuters.

22 Apr 0 1 6

Related News

Adyen partners Tink for open banking payments

05 October 2022 0 4 9

Revolut partners Tink for European payments

07 June 2022 0 4 3

Visa to acquire Tink for €1.8 billion

24 Jun 2021

Temenos appoints CEO; says sales hit by Hindenburg report

See all reports ».

The Future of UK Fintech - 2015-2035

62 downloads

Definitive Differentiators - Forging a future-proof payments model

443 downloads

APP Fraud Liability: A Guide for Banks

489 downloads