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Immigration & Visas vocabulary · Visa Types

Visa

Meaning in immigration & visas, with examples

/ˈviːzə/nounCore term

In immigration & visas, visa means: Official permission from a country that allows a foreign citizen to enter, stay in or pass through it for a particular purpose and period.

In Turkish: vize

How it is used

The most basic word in the field. You apply for a visa, and the authorities issue, grant or refuse it. A visa is often a sticker in your passport, but more and more countries issue digital ones. Types are named by purpose: tourist, student, work or transit visa.

Example sentences

  1. I need a visa to attend the conference in London next spring.

  2. Her visa was issued for six months, so she can stay until the end of the course.

  3. We applied for our visas three months before the trip.

Common collocations

  • apply for a visa
  • issue a visa
  • grant a visa
  • visa requirements
  • visa holder
  • passportAn official travel document issued by your own country that proves your identity and nationality and lets you cross international borders.
  • visa applicationA formal request for a visa, made up of a completed form, the required documents, the fee and often an appointment to give fingerprints.
  • tourist visaA short-stay visa for holidays, sightseeing or visiting friends and family, which does not allow you to work in the country.
  • visa-freeAllowing you to travel to a country without getting a visa first, usually for a short stay such as tourism or business meetings.
  • residence permitAn official document that allows a foreign citizen to live in a country for a set period, usually longer than a tourist visit.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Visa Types

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.