Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens are the requirements by other countries to obtain a visa before entry on an ordinary Pakistani Passport.
As of July 2024, Pakistani citizens had Visa free, visa-on-arrival and eVisa access to 33 countries and territories.
All of the updated links and visa-related requirements can be found listed in the chart below. Pakistani passport holders that hold multi-entry visas or permanent residency permits in certain European countries, Canada, USA, GCC states or Australia (for example) may grant the ability to apply for eVisas to certain nations, as well as Visa on Arrival access that they would not have without visas to these nations.
The Pakistani passport is currently ranked 106th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index in the Second Quarter of 2024.[1]
Visa requirements map
Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens holding ordinary passports
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Visa not required
Visa on arrival
eVisa
Visa available both on arrival or online
Visa required prior to arrival
Entry refused
Visa requirements
The chart below outlines the visa requirements for Pakistani Ordinary passport holders. eVisa or Online visa indicates that a visa may be granted online electronic visas universally to all applicants who are accepted, without needing to attend an interview or Embassy to collect the visa before travel.
The information is collected using the instructions on official Embassy / Consulate websites, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of these nations, as well as data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Timatic database containing documentation requirements for passengers traveling internationally via air, e.g. passport and visa requirements. It is important that all travelers double-check with the references, secondary sources and/or their airline before departing on a journey for additional requirements.
eVisa can be obtained at https://e-visa.al/. Passengers must have a printed eVisa confirmation.
Visa not required for passengers with a valid multiple entry Schengen visa, or residency permit with the condition that the visa must have been used previously in one of the countries of the Schengen area.
Visa not required for passengers with a valid 10-year UAE residence permit or holders of a multiple entry visa or residency permit for the United States or the United Kingdom.
Pakistan does not recognize Armenia. Visas are granted by invitation only by authorities, foreign diplomatic representations, international organizations or their representatives accredited in the Republic of Armenia.
Passengers must complete "Embarkation/Disembarkation Card (ED Card)" before departure at www.edcardaruba.aw . They will receive a "Travel Authorization" which must be presented before boarding.
Online visa available using the tourist stream under Visa class: Visitor-600 can be obtained online for 150.00 AUD at https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login
After applying some applicants, depending on the information that they input, MAY be asked to submit their biometrics as an additional requirement to the nearest embassy, consulate or authorized processing center [16] or be asked to submit further information before their visa is available for download.
Visa granted can be for a time of 3, 6 or 12 months.
Visa on arrival (Cost BD 5.000) for those in possession of a valid visit visa to UAE, UK, USA, KSA (excluding Hajj & Umrah visa), Schengen or USA Green Card
Visa on arrival (30 days) may be available to Pakistani Nationals who are residents of countries that do not have a Bangladesh diplomatic/consular mission.[22]
Visa not required if holding two or multiple entry short-stay visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen member or EU state for stays that are of no more than 90 days
Transit through Burkina Faso, for less than 24 hours, does not need a transit visa if they are continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft and they do not leave the airport.
The Burundi Embassy in USA announced that as of 2021, nationals of all countries receive visa on arrival at Burundi International Airport and all land borders.[44][45]
Yellow fever vaccine certificate required
Pakistani nationals can apply for a visa in advance at the Burundi consulate in Doha, Dubai or the nearest embassy.
Pakistani nationals who wish to travel to China as a tourist (Type L visa) are requested to join a tourist group (more than 5 people), which should be arranged through an authorized Chinese travel agency with an invitation letter.[57]
30 day Visa free access for Permanent residents or Multi entry visa holders to United States or Canada.[63]
30 day Visa free access for Permanent residents, Students or those in possession of a work visa from EU countries, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway or Iceland.
Visa not required if holding two or multiple entry short-stay visa issued by a Schengen member state for stays that of no more than 90 days.
Visas will NOT be granted to travelers with evidence of past travel (Visa stamps) to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or if their itineraries include illegal entries from ports and airports.[69]
Passengers and airline crew who have been in or transited through Equatorial Guinea on or after 8 February 2023 are not allowed to enter due to the Marburg virus[77]
All travelers who wish to enter must submit an E-Ticket at https://eticket.migracion.gob.do/ , when they enter/exit and present the QR code at immigration.
A Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required.
Visa not required if holding valid visa issued by an EU member state, Canada or the US for stays that of no more than 90 days.[78]
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION of Visas due to updating immigration law that was supposed to go into effect February 2023.[80] Consulate of Ecuador in Colombia has suspended consular services until April 1, 2023, while they complete internal system updates.[81]
Visa on arrival (30 days) for passengers with a valid and used visa issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom or a Schengen Member State.
A "Courtesy visa" on arrival may be available to wives of Egyptian nationals, however, this is subject to approval by the immigration authorities and is not guaranteed. It is highly recommended to obtain a visa or confirmation before embarking.
Travel medical insurance for the duration of the intended stay to cover aero-medical evacuation costs to a minimum value of 200,000 USD equivalent, is required to apply for a visitor permit.[93]
Must apply for a separate tourist visa at the Danish embassy specifically for Faroe Islands, even if you have a valid tourist visa or residency visa for EU.[95]
For those not eligible for visa exemption or eVisa, can submit visa application online at https://www.geoconsul.gov.ge/en/register/visit . and schedule your appointment with the nearest embassy or consulate to process your visa.[103]
Visa applications for Pakistanis are processed in the Ghana mission in Iran. Applications can be started online at https://tehran.ghanagovernmentmission.com/portal/ and passport is to be submitted to the visa processing center in Islamabad or Teiran.
Visa on arrival (90 days) may be available, however prior arrangements and an authorization letter from the Migration Office of Guinea Bissau is required.
Due to high political tensions, there are extra requirements, a limited amount of purposes that entry can be granted and scrutiny Pakistani/Pakistani origin applicants go through while applying. The Visa process for Pakistani/Pakistan origin nationals is a 100 percent prior reference process and prior clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs of India is mandatory.[120]
Pakistani nationals with dual nationality must ONLY apply on their Pakistani passport.
People of Pakistani origin, Spouses of Pakistanis or whose parents or grandparents have held a Pakistani passport in the past must submit a copy of a Pakistan Overseas Card (NICOP) or a Citizenship Renunciation Letter issued by the Ministry of Interior of Pakistan.
Indonesian citizens (Sponsor) or Cooperations can apply Online for a Visa Approval Letter to bring a foreign citizen to Indonesia at https://visa-online.imigrasi.go.id/index.xhtml. This must be completed by the sponsor.[123]
Visa application is submitted online at https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/. Applicants will be asked to attend the relevant Irish Embassy, Consulate, Visa Office, or Visa Application Centre to submit biometrics and collect their visa.
Pakistan does not recognize Israel. Under Pakistani national law, Pakistani passports are explicitly invalid for travel to Israel.[131] Pakistani Dual nationals who attempt to travel to Israel from Pakistan on a Foreign passport, without prior arrangement and permission will be stopped by the Civil Aviation Authority at the Airport.
Israel does not have diplomatic ties with Pakistan, under Israeli law nations that are considered "hostile" require special invitations by an official party or company that needs to be submitted at the Israeli Ministry of Interior.
eVisa is available at https://www.evisa.mofa.go.jp/personal/login for those who hold residence AND reside in Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom or United States.
Pakistani nationals seeking entry to Jordan for Tourism, require a sponsor for a "Visit visa"
Pakistani nationals without a sponsor can only obtain a "Tourism visa" through a Jordanian tourist agency officially registered and certified in the Ministry of Tourism.
All visa applications can be completed online at https://eservices.moi.gov.jo and receive an Electronic visa within 0-14 business days.
eVisa is available for Pakistani nationals that hold at least a 6-month residency permit for Canada, Australia, UK, South Korea, Japan, EU countries or GCC countries.
Visa not required if in possession of a long-stay visa or hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen member state,
Visa not required if holding a residence permit for Andorra or Monaco. All other tourist visa applications can be done online in certain cases after submitting the required documents. https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
Visa not required if in possession of a long-stay visa or hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen member state
Visa not required if holding a residence permit for Andorra or Monaco. All other tourist visa applications can be done online in certain cases after submitting the required documents. https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
For nationals coming from countries where there is no Mozambican consular representation without a Visa on arrival (Border visa) may be available.[187] Passengers with a printed confirmation from the Immigration Authority (SENAMI) Headquarters in Maputo that a visa has been approved before departure can obtain a visa on arrival. Passengers must travel for the Rovuma Basin Project.
Visa not required if in possession of a long-stay visa or hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen member state,
Visa not required if holding a residence permit for Andorra or Monaco. All other tourist visa applications can be done online in certain cases after submitting the required documents. https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
Visa is valid for up to 9 months. Visa fee is NZD $211.
A High-quality scan of your passport, no physical copy is required. If the visa officer believes that there is an issue, they may ask for a physical passport if they think it is necessary for the application. This will be on a case-by-case basis.[199]
Health exam is required for stays over 6 months[200]
Visa not required if holding a multiple entry visa or permanent residence issued by an EU or Schengen member state. May stay no longer than 15 days at a time, and no more than 90 days total in every 180 days.[208]
Applications to enter Northern Cyprus can be processed at the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Islamabad consulate http://eportal.islamabad.mfa.gov.ct.tr
Online visa available for spouses or children of G1 nationals that hold 26B or 26M visa subtype (Must travel with them)
Online visa available for spouses or children of Brunei, New Zealand and South Korea holding (Must travel with them)
Only a marriage certificate, proof of relationship (birth certificate) and proof that the spouse has received a visa are required for the online visa application.
Visa can be submitted online at https://www.visa.gov.ph/Archived 25 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine and the applicant must contact the nearest Embassy to make arrangements for an appointment to submit their passport.
When arriving at Doha (Hamad International Airport), before proceeding to immigration the required documents will be verified at the Discover Qatar counter.
The name(s) on the hotel reservation MUST match the name(s) of the person(s) requesting the visa on arrival.
Visa on arrival is free of charge.
All foreign nationals can transit without a visa[230]
Visa not required if in possession of a long-stay visa or hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen member state,
Visa not required if in possession of a residence permit for Andorra or Monaco. All other tourist visa applications can be done online in certain cases after submitting the required documents. https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
Visa on arrival may be available for tour groups entering from the Russian-Abkhaz for a period of less than 24 hours.[233] Upon arrival to Abkhazia, you have to appear in the Consular Department within 3 working days for receiving a visa of the Republic of Abkhazia.
Georgia does not recognize Abkhazia. Under Georgian law, it is considered illegal to enter Abkhazia through the Russian border. Evidence of an Abkhazian visa, Abkhaz stamps or a stamp of Russian checkpoints on the border with Abkhazia in your passport, may result in you being fined, visa cancellation, deportation or being banned/rejected a visa from Georgia.
Visa application can be started online at https://eviza.mae.ro , then the applicant must attend the diplomatic mission/consular post of Romania to receive the visa.
Visa not required if in possession of a long-stay visa or hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen member state
Visa not required if holding a residence permit for Andorra or Monaco. All other tourist visa applications can be done online in certain cases after submitting the required documents. https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
Visa not required if in possession of a long-stay visa or hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen member state,
Visa not required if in possession of a residence permit for Andorra or Monaco. All other tourist visa applications can be done online in certain cases after submitting the required documents. https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
San Marino does not grant entry visas for periods of 30 days or less. However, San Marino has no international airport. A Schengen visa or permission from the Italian authorities to transit is required.[257]
Visa on arrival available for Pakistani nationals who have received a “visa préalable” letter before traveling to Senegal. Visa will be stamped on their passport upon arriving at Dakar Blaise Diagne airport.
Svalbard and Jan Mayen require no visa for anyone to take up residency, work or tourism.
The only flights or ferries to Svalbard transit through Norway. Norway requires a transit visa for most Pakistani nationals.[296] May transit without a visa if holding USA, Japan or Canadian permanent residence [297]
eVisa is available to those who wish to enter Taiwan for the purpose of conducting business at the recommendation of local offices of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)[299]
All types of Visas for UAE is issued online and not at the embassy.
Various types of Visas can be obtained online using "smart service"[323]
eVisa can be obtained (30 days) regardless of which Airline(s) you have booked with, as long as you have a return flight booked with entry and exit through the same city.[324]
eVisa can be obtained online if holding a booking from Emirates Airlines, Air Arabia or Fly Dubai tickets.
Visa can also be obtained through a licensed agent, which often allows for faster processing time. For visa options that do not involve a flight booking (Land) and agent will be required to apply for a visa online.
Host invitation and proof of host residence is required if not staying at a hotel.
External territories, or Restricted territories
External territories, Restricted territories or destinations, and Autonomous zones may have separate entry protocols or require permits for Pakistani citizens to enter. These destinations are part of and governed by other nations and mostly require a visa for the nation that they are attributed to.
Some of these external territories have different laws or are geographically located far away from the nation that they are governed by so they may require more than 1 entry permit or they may have special visa waiver agreements. It is important that visitors check any possible restrictions with the relevant authorities before travel plan confirmation.
Pakistan is not part of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of certain nationalities to enter Guam without a US visa, as long as they enter directly from any nation except for the United States. Guam is a part of the United States, but they do have border controls and customs offices. Pakistani citizens will need to obtain a United States visa before they can enter Guam.
If transiting through the United States, a COVID-19 vaccine certificate is required.
Pakistani nationals in Pakistan are required to use Gerrys visa services to apply for Macau visa, as Chinese Embassy is no longer accepting applications directly.[347] The application can be accessed online https://www.visaforchina.cn/ISB2_EN/. Pakistanis abroad can refer to instructions from the nearest Chinese embassy on how to obtain a Macau visa.
Separate visa is required for those who wish to visit Mainland China.
Pakistan is not part of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of certain nationalities to enter Northern Mariana Islands without a US visa, as long as they enter directly from any nation except for the United States. Northern Mariana Islands is a part of the United States, but they do have border controls and customs offices. Pakistani citizens will need to obtain a United States visa before they can enter Northern Mariana Islands.
A COVID-19 double-dose vaccine certificate is required.
Many countries require a minimum number of blank pages to be available in the passport being presented, typically one or two pages.[351] 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.[354][355]
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[356][357] or even accept passports that have already expired (but not been cancelled).[358]
Some countries, such as Japan,[359] Ireland and the United Kingdom,[360] 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,[361] 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,[362] Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru,[363] Philippines,[364] 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.[365]
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[366] and South Africa.
Criminal record
Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States,[367] 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.[368]
Israeli stamps
Israeli border control Entry Permit (issued as a stand-alone document rather than a stamp affixed in a passport)
Kuwait,[369] Lebanon,[370] Libya,[371] and Yemen[372] 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 22 June 2017[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.[373]
Fingerprinting countries/regions include Afghanistan,[374][375] Argentina,[376] Brunei, Cambodia,[377] China,[378] Ethiopia,[379] Ghana, Guinea,[380] India, Japan,[381][382] Kenya (both fingerprints and a photo are taken),[383] Malaysia upon entry and departure,[384] Mongolia, Saudi Arabia,[385] Singapore, South Korea,[386] Taiwan, Thailand,[387] Uganda,[388] 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),[389][390][391] intends to implement facial recognition for passengers departing from international airports to identify people who overstay their visa.[392]
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[393] and the United Arab Emirates conducts iris scanning on visitors who need to apply for a visa.[394][395] The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to greatly increase the biometric data it collects at US borders.[396] In 2018, Singapore began trials of iris scanning at three land and maritime immigration checkpoints.[397][398]
^Baker, Vicky (20 June 2013). "Passport expiry dates and blank pages: what are the rules?". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 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 23 August 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). 2 September 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
^"Yellow Fever". Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). African Union. Retrieved 23 August 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 13 January 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 13 January 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 17 March 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 (24 April 2017). "Airline lobbying for a relaxation of draconian rules for London-Auckland travellers". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 7 July 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. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2018. Effective April 27, 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 6 May 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 7 July 2018.
^Brown, Theresa Cardinal (9 May 2016). "Biometric Entry-Exit Update: CBP Developing Land Border Process". Bipartisan Policy Center. Retrieved 25 April 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 (21 May 2013). "U.S. Quietly Monitors Foreigners' Departures at the Canadian Border". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 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 (15 December 2006). "Administration to Drop Effort to Track if Visitors Leave". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 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. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 7 July 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 (12 September 2016). "Homeland Security Plans to Expand Fingerprint and Eye Scanning at Borders". Fortune. Fortune Media IP Limited. Retrieved 24 April 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. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 24 April 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.
