What Is an Exit Visa? Everything You Need to Know

When you travel often, you will encounter many immigration rules – from rules around entry visas, permits, passport regulations, and sometimes, even exit visas.

Many of us are familiar with the visas needed to enter a country, however, other special-purpose visas, like exit visas, aren’t that popular.

What exactly is it, who needs it, what do you need to know about it, and why is it required in certain places? We’ll share all of that here.

What is an Exit Visa?

You remember how you need a student visa to enter a foreign country for academic purposes, right?

This is the opposite. An exit visa is the type of visa that permits you to leave a country legally.

Just like how you need a visa to enter some countries, there are also countries where you need to get approval from the authorities before you can leave.

This approval is what’s known as an exit visa. This visa is not something everyone in the world has to worry about, the reason is that most countries don’t use exit visas at all.

But in countries where you need an exit visa, you must get it approved before you can leave, or you will be blocked at the airport or border.

In essence, an exit visa serves as the government’s final approval for a person to leave its borders.

If you fail to get this visa where it is required, you will be detained and prevented from leaving the country.

Why are exit visas necessary?

Considering that not every country uses this visa, opinions about its necessity differ.

Countries use it for reasons like:

• Security and control: To monitor who is leaving and why.
• Labour regulations: To prevent abuse or illegal job switching, as you often see among foreign workers in many countries.
• Legal issues: If someone is under investigation, in debt, or involved in a legal case, the exit visa will help ensure they don’t flee the country before the issue is resolved.
• Immigration control: To track the status of workers, especially in Gulf countries where labour migration is common.

For me I think most countries use this visa just so they can have total control of anyone entering the country.

I mean, without getting the visa, you can’t leave, therefore, the issuing country isn’t just in charge of your entrance, they control when you will leave and if you will leave.

Countries that require an Exit Visa

While many countries have abolished exit visa systems, some countries, like you have below still enforce them either fully or partially.

1. Saudi Arabia

• • Who needs it? Foreign workers under the Kafala (sponsorship) system.
  • How it works: You must get your employer’s approval to leave.

Imagine you’re a Kenyan working for a cleaning company in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

After 2 years, you decide you want to return home. Before you can book a flight, you realise your Iqama (residence permit) has expired, and you don’t yet have an exit visa.

You tell your employer, they give their approval, and they begin the application. Without their approval, you cannot legally leave the country.

In some unfortunate cases, if the employer refuses to give permission, workers will be stuck or need to go through a labour dispute process.

• • Recent update: Although Saudi Arabia has changed some Kafala rules, exit visas are still mandatory for many categories.

2. Qatar

• • Who needs it? Most foreign workers, but an employer’s permission is not mandatory.
  • How it works: Domestic workers and some other job categories still need employer consent.

3. Russia

• • Who needs it? This is for Citizens who are travelling for long-term work or study abroad, they need internal clearance.
  • Notes: You don’t need a traditional exit visa, but you need state approval in specific contexts.

4. Uzbekistan (formerly)

• • Status: Abolished in 2019, but they formerly used it.

5. North Korea

• • Who needs it? All citizens and foreign residents.
  • How it works: Very strict control – citizens cannot leave the country without valid state permission.

6. China (in rare cases)

• • Who needs it? If you are a foreigner and you are under criminal investigation or debt-related lawsuits, you need an exit visa to leave China.

7. Iran

• • Who needs it? Iranian citizens, particularly students or military-aged men, need government clearance.

Exit Visa vs. Entry Visa: What’s the difference?

Types of Exit Visas

You will see the exit visa in different forms, like:

• Final Exit Visa – You will use this type when you are leaving the country for good.
• Re-Entry Exit Visa – You will get this type if you plan to return later.
• Temporary Exit Visa – You need this type if you are going for a short visit outside the country, like for emergencies or vacations.

How to get an Exit Visa

From experiences with visas, you already know that the process of applying for any visa depends on the country issuing the visa.

This is not different, however, the general steps are:

• You will get approval from your employer/institution: If it is required, get formal consent from your sponsor, employer, or school by telling them that you want to leave.
• Submit an exit application: Log into a government immigration portal (like Saudi Arabia’s Absher platform) and submit an exit visa application, or go physically to the authorities and submit your application for an exit visa.
• Pay your application fees: In some cases, you will be asked to pay a token as administrative charges or processing fees.
• Clear your dues and fines: If you have any fines or obligations, like traffic fines, taxes, or legal fees, settle them.
• Receive an exit permit: The authorities will go through your application. If you are clear and aren’t under investigation or any form of ban/issues, you will receive a digital or physical exit document.

What happens if you leave without an Exit Visa?

If you try to leave a country (where an exit visa is required) without getting the exit visa:

• You will be stopped at the airport or border.
• You will face legal action, like fines or a travel ban.
• Your sponsor will take legal action against you.
• You will be considered an illegal immigrant in that country and receive punishment.

Who does not need an Exit Visa?

You don’t need an exit visa if you are in most countries in Europe, North America, and Africa.

For example, if you’re a South African living in the U.S., UK, or Canada, you can leave anytime you want without anybody asking you for an exit visa.

You just need your valid passport and visa from your destination country.

However, if you’re travelling or working in Gulf nations, parts of Asia, or former Soviet countries, you will be asked to get an exit visa before you leave.

Are Exit Visas legal under international law?

Exit visas are legal under international law. While exit visas are discouraged by many countries and organisations, especially human rights organisations, like the United Nations Human Rights Council, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Amnesty International, they are not prohibited by any international law.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 13) states:

“Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”

However, many countries that issue exit visas say that it’s part of their sovereign right as a nation, and yes, they are right.

They also argue that they only use it to regulate immigration and labour practices, and not to violate human rights.

Exit Visa reforms in recent years

Many countries have relaxed or abolished exit visa requirements in recent years.

• Qatar removed the exit visa for most private-sector workers in 2020.
• Uzbekistan abolished its Soviet-style exit visa system in 2019.
• Saudi Arabia launched reforms under Vision 2030..

Do I need an exit visa to leave my own country?

In many countries, you don’t. However, if you are from countries like North Korea or Iran, you need state permission to leave.

Do exit visas apply to tourists?

Rarely. Most exit visas target foreign workers, students, or residents. They hardly use it for tourists.

Can I be denied an exit visa?

Yes, of course. If you have unresolved debts or legal issues, or if you haven’t completed your obligations like employment contracts, you will be denied an exit visa.

While exit visas seem foreign to many, they still exist, and countries that issue them use them as a form of control over who comes in and goes out of the country and for what reason.