When planning a trip to a new country, applying for a visa from the country of destination may be necessary. As the name suggests, a visa is an official document that allows an individual to enter a sovereign nation.
Each country’s visa application procedure is distinct. People with felony convictions cannot enter certain countries because they cannot acquire a visa.
If you’re traveling to a country that has a different definition of a crime, it’s important to know that. This may affect whether or not a visa is granted.
Travelers from countries like Australia may be denied a visa even if they’ve committed a minor crime in their home countries, but the Chinese authorities may still reject them entry.
Table of Contents
Preventing countries from admitting guests guilty of felonies.
- Argentina
- Australia
- Canada
- China
- Cuba
- India
- Iran
- Israel
- Japan
- Kenya
- Macau
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
- United States
Australia
The Australian government requires visas for visitors with criminal records before entering the country. The official evaluating the documentation has the last say on whether or not a visa will be a problem for someone convicted of certain charges.
A visa may still be issued if the infraction happened long ago and the individual has been in good standing subsequently. You may be denied entry to Australia if you have served a year or more in jail for a crime that resulted in a conviction.
Canada
Those with a criminal record might expect to be denied entry to Canada. People who have been convicted of crimes and sentenced to at least 10 years in jail are included in this group.
According to Canadian law, if a person has been legally pardoned or deemed rehabilitated, they may still be permitted to enter the nation.
People who want to permanently relocate to the United States are subject to further examination if they have been convicted of theft, assault, manslaughter, reckless driving, DIU, or certain drug-related offenses.
To become a permanent resident of Canada, a person must wait five years after their term is ended to show that they have changed their ways.
Japan
Visitors visiting Japan are not required to get a visa for stays up to 90 days. On the other hand, a visa is necessary for stays of more than 90 days, and visitors with criminal records (including those linked to drugs) may find it difficult to get one.
Similarly, Japan maintains a zero-tolerance policy for immigrants convicted of crimes linked to drugs.
New Zealand
Applicants for New Zealand immigration must not have been incarcerated for more than a year in their home country during the previous ten years.
There are no exceptions for those condemned to five or more years in jail, no matter how long ago they were given their punishments.
Russia
To enter Russia, one must fill out a visa application and disclose any criminal convictions. Visas may be denied to those with certain offenses, depending on the severity.
One may visit Japan without needing a visa for 90 days or less, but one needs a criminal background check to get a long-term visa. Japanese authorities may deny an individual’s visa application if they discover a new drug-related violation that results in jail time.
United Kingdom
Visitors entering the UK with an American passport are exempt from the need to get a visa. On the other hand, the government will undertake a background check on everyone having a passport from a nation requiring an advance visa to enter the UK.
If the authorities examine the application and suspect that the applicant plans to hurt herself or others while in the United Kingdom, the permission may be denied. Additionally, the immigration officer at the border has the power to deny entry.
United States
That doesn’t imply there aren’t any admission restrictions in the United States, even though it has the world’s biggest foreign-born population.
Acquiring a permanent residence in the United States may be difficult for those convicted of crimes that would be considered serious felonies under American law, which is broadly defined as any felony that would have resulted in one year or more of incarceration in the person’s native country.
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Countries that, if identified, will refuse entrance to criminals
People who have been convicted of a crime are prohibited from entering certain nations, although they are not actively screened for criminal history. A convicted felon may be permitted into these nations in good faith, but if and when their criminal record is revealed, they will be expelled.
- Brazil
- Cambodia
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Peru
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
| Country | Details |
|---|---|
| India | Deny up front |
| United States | Deny up front |
| Indonesia | Deny if discovered |
| Brazil | Deny if discovered |
| Mexico | Deny if discovered |
| Japan | Deny up front |
| Ethiopia | Deny if discovered |
| Philippines | Deny if discovered |
| Egypt | Deny if discovered |
| Iran | Deny up front |
| Turkey | Deny if discovered |
| United Kingdom | Deny up front |
| Tanzania | Deny if discovered |
| South Africa | Deny up front |
| Kenya | Deny up front |
| South Korea | Deny if discovered |
| Argentina | Deny up front |
| Ukraine | Deny if discovered |
| Canada | Deny up front |
| Morocco | Deny if discovered |
| Peru | Deny if discovered |
| Malaysia | Deny if discovered |
| Nepal | Deny if discovered |
| Australia | Deny up front |
| Taiwan | Deny up front |
| Chile | Deny up front |
| Cambodia | Deny if discovered |
| Tunisia | Deny if discovered |
| Cuba | Deny up front |
| Dominican Republic | Deny if discovered |
| United Arab Emirates | Deny if discovered |
| Israel | Deny up front |
| Hong Kong | Deny if discovered |
| Singapore | Deny if discovered |
| Ireland | Deny if discovered |
| New Zealand | Deny up front |
| Macau | Deny up front |