Legal definition of Exit visa

An exit visa is an official document issued by the government authorizing an individual to leave a country. For local authorities, it allows them to verify whether a person has paid all taxes owed on income earned before leaving the country. This document is usually valid for only a few days from its date of issuance, just enough time for the individual to prepare their affairs.

In general, the exit visa is issued to workers at the end of their contract who no longer wish to stay in the country. In this case, the process is the responsibility of the employer. The government may also issue this document to foreign children born in a country where they do not hold citizenship, to foreigners with an expired visa, or to foreigners who have lost or damaged their passport.

As the requirement for an exit visa is not universal, some states may mandate it while others do not. It is also possible for the host country to issue a similar document to facilitate a person’s departure from its territory. In Asia, an exit visa is mandatory in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. In China, the government requires citizens to obtain a bi-directional permit for travel to Hong Kong or Macau. In the United States, there is no need for an exit visa. However, the U.S. government mandates that all individuals (citizens or non-citizens) traveling by air possess a valid passport before leaving the country.

Etymology of Exit visa

Etymologically, the term “exit visa” finds its roots in the Latin word “exitus,” meaning “exit” or “departure,” and “visum,” suggesting the idea of authorization or approval. More concretely, this expression refers to an exit permit. In immigration terms, it indicates an official document issued or approved by a country’s authorities allowing its citizens or foreigners to leave its territory.