visa

[vee-zuh]

noun

plural

visas 

1. an endorsement issued by an authorized representative of a country and marked in a passport, permitting the passport holder to enter, travel through, or reside in that country for a specified amount of time, for the purpose of tourism, education, employment, etc.

verb (used with object)

visaed, visaing 

1. to give a visa to; approve a visa for.

2. to put a visa on (a passport).

visa

/ ˈviːzə /

noun

1. an endorsement in a passport or similar document, signifying that the document is in order and permitting its bearer to travel into or through the country of the government issuing it

2. any sign or signature of approval

verb

1. to enter a visa into (a passport)

2. to endorse or ratify

Word History and Origins

Origin of visa¹

1830–40; < French, short for Latin carta vīsa “the document (has been) seen”; vīsa, feminine past participle of vidēre “to see, look at”

Word History and Origins

Origin of visa¹

C19: via French from Latin vīsa things seen, from vīsus, past participle of vidēre to see

Example Sentences

He said this had led to an "80 per cent fall" in the number of overseas nurses the NHS was able to recruit and the shutdown of a visa route for care home staff.

Read more on BBC

Both countries suspended visa services and expelled each other's top diplomats.

Read more on BBC

Staying in France was intriguing to a young Kurata, but the struggles of visas and paperwork deterred her.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mali's foreign ministry said on Sunday the bond had been imposed unilaterally, and it had decided to "establish an identical visa programme" for US citizens.

Read more on BBC

Relations between the world's two largest democracies have plummeted in recent months over tariffs, ongoing negotiations for a trade deal and policy changes like an annual $100,000 fee for H-1B skilled worker visas.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• acceptance 
• admission 
• affirmation 
• approval 
• authorization 
• consent 
• corroboration 
• endorsement 
• evidence 
• green light 
• passage 
• recognition 
• testimony 
• verification