visa

document

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

A visa is an official document, often a stamp or sticker in a passport, that grants a foreign national permission to enter and stay in a country for a specific purpose and duration. It signifies a government's approval for activities like tourism, study, or work. Visas differ from passports, which identify a person as a citizen of a country and entitle them to protection abroad.

There are various types of visas, including those for business, study, medical treatment, and tourism. Nonimmigrant visas allow temporary stays, while permanent or resident visas, like the U.S. "green card," permit long-term residency and employment. The H-1B visa, for example, is a temporary U.S. visa for individuals in specialized occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

passport
…their borders to obtain a visa—i.e., an endorsement made on a passport by the proper authorities denoting that it has been examined and that the bearer may proceed. The visa permits the traveler to remain in a country for a specified period of time. By the late 20th century the…
Read More
…their borders to obtain a visa—i.e., an endorsement made on a passport by the proper authorities denoting that it has been examined and that the bearer may proceed. The visa permits the traveler to remain in a country for a specified period of time. By the late 20th century the…
Read More

What Is a Visa, and How Does It Differ from a Passport?
A visa is a supplement to a passport, usually in the form of a stamp, sticker, or insert and sometimes as a separate document. It represents a national government’s official approval of a foreign individual’s presence and specified activity in the country (such as tourism, work,…
Read More
A visa is a supplement to a passport, usually in the form of a stamp, sticker, or insert and sometimes as a separate document. It represents a national government’s official approval of a foreign individual’s presence and specified activity in the country (such as tourism, work,…
Read More