Visa run and border run

A visa run or border run is a brief trip out of the country and back in order to "restart the clock" on one's allowed period of stay, where it would otherwise have expired. This is a way to extend a holiday journey beyond that allowed on a tourist visa or on a visa-free stay. Many foreign citizens, who work or live in a country where it is difficult or not possible to extend a visa — will be familiar with such trips.

In some cases, a visa run is necessary to activate new visas or change the immigration status of a person. An example would be leaving a country and then returning immediately to activate a newly issued work visa before a person can legally work.

For example, a foreigner working in Maputo, Mozambique, can get a 1-month visa on entry to the country very easily, but extending this is not an option. So the trick for many is to take the short car journey into South Africa (where citizens of many countries can enter without a visa), do some shopping and then return, picking up a new Mozambique visa on the way.

In some communities (especially when most people can enter also on visa exemption) the terms border run or border bounce are used for hopping out briefly, while a visa run typically involves going to an embassy or consulate to process a new visa.