Traveling with a criminal history
Photo: Ghostieguide, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
If you have been convicted of any crimes in the past, your opportunities for entering another country might be restricted. Many countries ban people who have served time in prison from entering, and while minor countries that do so often don't have the resources to find out about crimes that haven't made it to the international news, bigger countries may have them. For visas for long term visits (studying, work etc.) it's not uncommon that the destination country requires you to provide a translated statement from your country's criminal record system.
There is no single authoritative source to consult on travelling with a criminal history, nor will your experience in every country be the same, but most information can be found either on the destination country's immigration agency website, through its embassy in your homeland, or by searching legislation.
UnderstandDo you know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific? They say it has no memory. That's where I want to live the rest of my life; A warm place with no memory.
AfricaNo questions about criminal history in the visa form or arrival card.
AmericasThe Argentinian visa application includes a range of questions about crimes from prostitution to genocide and jail terms of more than three years.
AsiaVisitors from outside Southeast Asia will need a visa, though for almost everyone this is available on arrival. On the visa form there are no questions related to criminal history.
EuropeThe rules for the European Union, specifically the Schengen Area, regarding character concerns are relatively lax.
OceaniaThese countries are rather strict regarding character concerns but Australia specifically says "in the last 10 years" on entry literature since Commonwealth of Australia legislation specifically regards as "spent"…
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Traveling with a criminal history" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Ghostieguide, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons