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

But they cannot secure tourist or student visas to the US, often due to lower education or English proficiency.

From BBC

Breytenbach tried to return to South Africa with his wife in the 1960s, but she was denied a visa because she was a "non-white".

From BBC

South Africans now need visas to enter the country.

From BBC

The expected failure of the bill would mean an existing visa policy, which has been widely accused of exacerbating problems by funnelling most international students to a select few city-based universities, will remain in place.

From BBC

It involved a lot of inconsistencies in visa applications, photographs, financial documents, bank details and employment history.

From BBC

Related Words

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