visa
VEE-zuh
Visa (noun) means an official permit allowing someone to enter, stay in, or leave a country. Example: “Visitors from some countries need a visa before they can board the plane.”
noun
1
An official permit allowing someone to enter, stay in, or leave a country.
"Visitors from some countries need a visa before they can board the plane."
"His student visa lets him stay and study here for two years."
"However, I couldn't continue by land to Georgia, as I would have liked: Russia still maintains its crazy, Sovietesque visa regulations, which makes getting a transit visa extremely difficult and extremely expensive."
— James S. Kessler, Echoes of Empire (2016)
"She had to apply for a work visa before she could start her job abroad."
"I came on a six-month tourist visa."
verb
1
To stamp or endorse a passport or document officially.
"The consulate visaed her passport so she could study abroad."
"Officials will visa your documents once the paperwork is complete."
"His passport was visaed at the embassy before he traveled."
How to use visa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOfficial permission (usually a stamp or document) to enter or leave a country.
Common pairings
apply for a visa
a tourist visa
a work visa
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Word forms
- Plural
- visas
- Third person singular
- visas
- Past tense
- visaed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Visitors from some countries need a _____ before they can board the plane.
Etymology
From French visa, from Latin charta visa, "paper that has been seen" — from videre, "to see." Related to vision and video.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for visa
See all rhymes for visa →Frequently asked questions
What does “visa” mean?
The word “visa” means an official permit allowing someone to enter, stay in, or leave a country. In plain terms, official permission (usually a stamp or document) to enter or leave a country.
How do you pronounce “visa”?
“Visa” is pronounced VEE-zuh (/ˈviːzə/ in IPA).
How do you use “visa” in a sentence?
Here is “visa” used in a sentence: “She had to apply for a work visa before she could start her job abroad.”
What part of speech is “visa”?
Depending on how it is used, “visa” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “visa” come from?
The word “visa” comes from Latin. From French visa, from Latin charta visa, "paper that has been seen" — from videre, "to see." Related to vision and video.
Is “visa” a common word?
“Visa” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “visa” have?
“Visa” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an official permit allowing someone to enter, stay in, or leave a country.
What is the difference between a visa and a passport?
A passport is an official document issued by your own country that proves your identity and nationality, while a visa is a permit — often stamped or endorsed inside that passport — that allows you to enter, stay in, or leave another country. You generally need a passport before a visa can be granted.
What is the difference between a visa and a green card?
A visa is an official permit allowing someone to enter, stay in, or leave a country, usually for a defined purpose and period. A green card grants the right to live in a country permanently, so it is far more lasting than most visas, which are typically temporary.
When is "visa" used as a verb?
As a verb, to visa a document means to stamp or officially endorse a passport or paper. This usage is formal and much rarer than the noun, which refers to the travel permit itself.
What is the difference between a visa and a residence permit?
A visa usually authorises entry into a country and a stay of limited duration, while a residence permit grants the longer-term right to live there. Some countries issue a visa for the initial entry and a separate residence permit for an extended stay.
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