A visa or travel visa, comes from the Latin phrase "carta visa", which means "the document has been seen" and is a document which gives someone permission to travel into a specific country and stay there for a certain period of time. Visas may be stamped or glued directly into a passport for convenience, or they may be issued on a separate piece of paper. Some countries require everyone who enters to get a visa, while others have reciprocal agreements with certain countries which waive visa requirements. It is important to research visa requirements before traveling, as in some cases you must be in possession of a visa before entering the country. Visas take a number of forms, ranging from tourist visas to immigration visas, and each type of visa has its own application process.

Visas generally expire after a set period of time. In some cases, a visa may be extended by permission, while in other instances, people must leave the country and re-enter it to receive a new visa. Visas can also establish the number of times someone enters and leaves a country. In the case of a single entry visa, the visa is canceled as soon as the traveler leaves the country. In a multiple entry visa, someone may leave and return several times before the visa is canceled.

In some cases, a visa is issued by immigration officials on the stop when entering the country. In other instances, you must apply for a visa before traveling. During the application process, the applicant may be asked if he or she has enough money to survive in the country for the duration of the visa, and inquiries may be made about the applicant's health, character, and intentions for the planned visit. In some cases, visa applicants are also fingerprinted and photographed. Visas may be denied for any number of reasons, especially if you appear to lack financial resources to visit the country, your health is of question, or if you have a criminal record.