How to Understand the Tourist Visa Expiry Dates

Check the stamp and written date in your passport upon entry to find any specified entry dates.

There are two dates concerning expiration on a tourist visa. The first is the actual validity of the visa and the second the designated duration of stay while in the country. Some tourist visas are single-entry and some allow multiple entries. Single-entry visas expire after the first use, while multiple-entry visas are valid for unlimited entries for a certain period of time, usually five or 10 years. The duration of stay per visit is either listed on the visa itself or stamped next to it at a port of entry. These two expiration dates cannot be confused with each other.

Instructions

1. Locate the visa expiration date. Some visas will state "valid until date," while others will say "valid for 5 (or 10) years from the date of issuance." If there is no statement of length of validity, check whether the visa is valid for single or multiple entries. Those with a single entry are valid for only one visit after which another visa is required.

2. Locate the designated duration of stay listed on the visa. Some visas list the duration of stay on the visa. These lengths usually run either 30, 90, or 180 days and will likely be written both in English and in the language of the issuing nation.

3. Refer to the entry stamp in your passport next to your visa. Some countries do not list a designated duration of stay on the visa itself. In such cases, you will be given one upon entry into the country. In the United States, this is the I-94 stamp card placed in your passport at the port of entry by a customs officer. The date listed in the lower right-hand corner is the date upon which your stay expires and you must leave. The placement and type of stamp stating the duration of stay varies per country, but it will usually be located on the page opposite your visa.

Tips & Warnings

• Know where all the information on the visa is located before you travel, even if it is in a different language. This will give you greater ease while traveling, since many airline officials who check visa expiration information are not familiar with the layout or language of every country's visa.

• The majority of visas list the information in both the language of the issuing nation and in the location of application. However, if it is completely out of your comprehension, take it to the nearest U.S. Consulate General and ask for assistance in reading the information.

References

• U.S. Department of State