# visa

/ˈvizə/ (US) · /vˈiːzɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/visa
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. travel permit

noun · CEFR A2

an official mark or document in your passport that lets you enter, stay in, or leave a country.

For teachers: an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country.

- She had to visit the embassy to apply for a tourist visa before her trip.
- The immigration officer carefully inspected the work visa to ensure the applicant had not exceeded the permitted duration of stay.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'apply for', 'grant', or 'issue'.

### 2. credit card

noun · CEFR A2

a type of credit card or the company that provides the payment system.

For teachers: a proprietary name for a global electronic payments network and the credit or debit cards issued under its brand.

- The shop accepts all major credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard.
- The merchant requested an alternative form of payment after the customer's Visa was declined by the processing system.

### 4. to endorse a document

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Archaic

to officially check and mark a passport or document.

For teachers: to endorse a passport or similar document with a formal permit. This transitive use is increasingly rare in modern administrative contexts.

- The official will visa your papers once the fee has been paid.
- In the early twentieth century, it was common for local consulates to visa travel documents manually before a long sea voyage.

## Examples

- You need a valid visa to visit this country.
- She spent three weeks gathering the necessary paperwork to apply for a student visa at the local embassy.
- While some nations offer visa-free entry for short-term tourism, most require a formal application process involving background checks and proof of financial stability for longer stays.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.