visa

[ vee-zuh ]

noun

, plural vi·sas.

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)

, vi·saed, vi·sa·ing.

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

Several used loans to pay for additional visa processing and many customers turned to Stilt because other financial providers shut down or reduced their loan programs over concerns about repayment.

From TechCrunch

With Hernán Losada, United’s new coach, awaiting his work visa in Belgium, technical director Stewart Mairs and assistant coach Chad Ashton joined Kasper in overseeing the draft.

From Washington Post

That’s partly why popular tourist destinations like Barbados and Costa Rica have created special “digital nomad” visas that waive the requirement to file taxes at all for a while.

From Ozy

The attack on immigration policies, everything from DACA to even temporary visas that were suspended or terminated, is a huge issue for San Diego.

From Voice of San Diego

The team was supposed to begin investigations in the first week of January, but China reportedly failed to approve their visas.

From Fortune

Undeterred by the snub in November, and denied a visa to Italy, Agca made plans for clandestine travel to Vatican City.

From The Daily Beast

The language school did not focus on providing instruction but instead was a visa mill.

From The Daily Beast

I eventually left the West Bank for Jordan with a visa I obtained from the French embassy.

From The Daily Beast

His father went to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria and said his kid was dangerous, and that they should revoke his U.S. travel visa.

From The Daily Beast

Australia earlier cancelled Blanc's visa over claims his tactics promote sexual assault.

From The Daily Beast

Chopin had been advised by Mr. Beyer to have London instead of Paris put as a visa in his passport.

From Project Gutenberg

At the hamlet of Abeele there is a Belgian custom-house (visa of "triptyque" or motor-car permit).

From Project Gutenberg

You've a passport, I suppose; you won't need a visa for France, and from there you can find means to slip over.

From Project Gutenberg

Dane found he could not watch the visa plate now, Rip's hands about their task filled his whole range of sight.

From Project Gutenberg

Dane bit out a forceful word born of twinges of his own, and then snapped on the visa-plate.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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