Yes, felons can travel outside the country because the law allows them to get a passport, the question is, what country are you traveling to – or intending to travel to? Below is what you need to know.
Quick take: Can felons travel outside the US?
In the US, once a felon completes his sentence and there is no court order barring the convict from travel, that individual is free to travel outside the country. However, if you have a pending case or if you:
The department of state may deny you a passport or exit from the country. That raises the question.
If you have completed your sentence, the law does not restrict you from traveling by plane or other means. Remember, your right to travel is protected under the fifth amendment. However, if you are a flight risk, or if there is a court order or warrant barring you from travel. Airport officials may confiscate your passport. If you are in a foreign country, you may be deported.
If the crime happened within the shores of the United States, the embassy requires you to obtain a court record from the court in which you were tried. Note that the embassy can only issue a visa if the arrest did not result in a conviction. What the embassy wants from your record is. (1) to verify the nature of the offense (2) pending cases (3) penalty imposed.
Because of that, if trial resulted in a conviction, it is highly unlikely that you will get a visa to travel outside the US. Other embassies have similar requirements, so as a felon, getting a visa can be problematic.
Yes. A felony conviction does not revoke your right to travel. Furthermore, a passport is an identifying document, meaning anyone can apply for one. To begin the process, you must complete a DS-11 Application for a passport.
To complete the form, you will need:
Note that under 18. USC. 1001 and 18.USC 1542/ 18 USC.1621. Intentionally and willfully making false statements while applying for a visa, and alteration/mutilation of US passports -are crimes punishable by fines and or prison. Therefore, when applying for a passport, it is in your best interest to answer all questions truthfully.
The only crime that may disqualify you from getting a passport is a conviction for international drug trafficking.
Some countries allow US citizens to enter without a visa. Thus, if you are a felon and have a passport, you can enter the following countries.
According to worldpopulationreview, in 2021, US passport Visa-free Countries include:
See the full list in the link above.
If you have completed your sentence, there are two ways to travel to Canada with a felony conviction. One is to apply for a Canada Temporary Resident Permit. Two, complete a Criminal Rehabilitation Form. A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) allows the holder to visit Canada for a set amount of time. Meaning, you cannot use it to become a permanent resident.
To become a permanent resident or extend your stay in Canada you will need a Criminal Rehabilitation Form.
What to remember:
It is also worth noting that Americans traveling to Canada who intend to stay less than 180 days do not need visas according to the US Department of State-Bureau of Consular AFF.
Some countries in Europe have strict no-admission policies for individuals convicted of certain felonies or ones with criminal records. Furthermore, country immigration laws change almost daily. Because of that, before you make travel arrangements, it is vital to contact the embassy of the country you intend to visit.
The Schengen region of Europe, an area encompassing about 26 countries, including France, Germany, Greece, Denmark, and Estonia -have lenient immigration laws, meaning a record will not deny you entry. But again, check with the embassy before you board a plane or purchase tickets.
Remember, you may get into the country, but it is up to border patrol officials to decide if you can stay.
If you are American, you do not need a visa to enter, all you need is your passport.
There are over fifty countries in Africa each with its own immigration laws, some laws are strict, and some are loose. For example, countries including South Africa, Senegal, Malawi, and Rwanda, do not require Americans to have a visa, whereas, you may need a visa to travel to Kenya and the other countries.
The majority of countries in Africa do not restrict felons from traveling there, instead, what they want to know is your reason for travel, how long you will be in the country, and where you want to go. what might restrict you from entry into African and Asian countries is if you are on TSA’s no-fly list or terror watch.
African countries that do not allow felons include: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Congo, South Africa, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Angola, Ghana, Niger, Zambia, Morocco, and Malawi.
Asian countries that do not allow felons in 2021 include China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, Iran, Myanmar.
Some cruise ships do not require passengers to carry a passport or Visa. Consequently, choosing to travel on a cruise ship or commercial ship is a great alternative to air travel because you may or may not need a visa to leave the ship when it docks.
In the US, certain felonies are eligible for expungement after the accused has completed the sentence. For example, if you were convicted of a felony when you were below 18 and have completed the sentence, you may petition the court to expunge your record. Expunging your record will shield you from country-imposed travel restrictions.
What happens if the court grants your expungement is the court deletes your record of conviction or arrest. Because of that, you will no longer be required to report your conviction while applying for a VISA, or work. In some states, juvenile records are sealed automatically, and in others, you must petition the court. Therefore, we recommend consulting with a criminal lawyer near you to find out if you are eligible.
As an American citizen, your right to travel is enshrined in the constitution. Because of that, if you do not have an impending case or if there are no warrants for your arrest, you may get a passport and travel.
However, it is up to the country you are traveling to decide if you can get in. so we recommend contacting the country’s embassy or checking the countries immigration laws.
No visa countries only require you to have a passport, making them easier for felons to enter. However, entering another country illegally is a crime that may land you in a foreign prison. So, we recommend using formal means. It is also worth noting that there are fewer checks when you travel by sea.
Yes, felons can travel outside the country because the law allows them to get a passport, the question is, what country are you traveling or intending to travel to? Below is what you need to know.
Quick take: can felons travel outside the US?
In the US, once a felon completes his sentence and there is no court order barring the convict from travel, that individual is free to travel outside the country. However, if you have a pending case or if you:
The department of state may deny you a passport or exit from the country. That raises the question.
If you have completed your sentence, the law does not restrict you from traveling by plane or other means. Remember, your right to travel is protected under the fifth amendment. However, if you are a flight risk, or if there is a court order or warrant barring you from travel. Airport officials may confiscate your passport. If you are in a foreign country, you may be deported.
If the crime happened within the shores of the United States, the embassy requires you to obtain a court record from the court in which you were tried. Note that the embassy can only issue a visa if the arrest did not result in a conviction. What the embassy wants from your record is. (1) to verify the nature of the offense (2) pending cases (3) penalty imposed.
Because of that, if trial resulted in a conviction, it is highly unlikely that you will get a visa to travel outside the US. Other embassies have similar requirements, so as a felon, getting a visa can be problematic.
Yes. A felony conviction does not revoke your right to travel. Furthermore, a passport is an identifying document, meaning anyone can apply for one. To begin the process, you must complete a DS-11 Application for a passport.
To complete the form, you will need:
Note that under 18. USC. 1001 and 18.USC 1542/ 18 USC.1621. Intentionally and willfully making false statements while applying for a visa, and alteration/mutilation of US passports -are crimes punishable by fines and or prison. Therefore, when applying for a passport, it is in your best interest to answer all questions truthfully.
The only crime that may disqualify you from getting a passport is a conviction for international Drug trafficking.
Some countries allow US citizens to enter without a visa. Thus, if you are a felon and have a passport, you can enter the following countries.
According to worldpopulationreview, in 2021, US passport Visa-free Countries include:
See the full list in the link above.
If you have completed your sentence, there are two ways to travel to Canada with a felony conviction. One is to apply for a Canada Temporary Resident Permit. Two, complete a Criminal Rehabilitation Form. A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) allows the holder to visit Canada for a set amount of time. Meaning, you cannot use it to become a permanent resident.
To become a permanent resident or extend your stay in Canada you will need a Criminal Rehabilitation Form.
What to remember:
It is also worth noting that Americans traveling to Canada who intend to stay less than 180 days do not need visas according to the US Department of State-Bureau of Consular AFF.
Some countries in Europe have strict no-admission policies for individuals convicted of certain felonies or ones with criminal records. Furthermore, country immigration laws change almost daily. Because of that, before you make travel arrangements, it is vital to contact the embassy of the country you intend to visit.
The Schengen region of Europe, an area encompassing about 26 countries, including France, Germany, Greece, Denmark, and Estonia -have lenient immigration laws, meaning a record will not deny you entry. But again, check with the embassy before you board a plane or purchase tickets.
Remember, you may get into the country, but it is up to border patrol officials to decide if you can stay.
If you are American, you do not need a visa to enter, all you need is your passport.
There are over fifty countries in Africa each with its own immigration laws, some laws are strict, and some are loose. For example, countries including South Africa, Senegal, Malawi, and Rwanda, do not require Americans to have a visa, whereas, you may need a visa to travel to Kenya and the other countries.
The majority of countries in Africa do not restrict felons from traveling there, instead, what they want to know is your reason for travel, how long you will be in the country, and where you want to go. what might restrict you from entry into African and Asian countries is if you are on TSA’s no-fly list or terror watch.
African countries that do not allow felons include: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Congo, South Africa, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Angola, Ghana, Niger, Zambia, Morocco, and Malawi.
Asian countries that do not allow felons in 2021 include China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, Iran, Myanmar.
Some cruise ships do not require passengers to carry a passport or Visa. Consequently, choosing to travel on a cruise ship or commercial ship is a great alternative to air travel because you may or may not need a visa to leave the ship when it docks.
In the US, certain felonies are eligible for expungement after the accused has completed the sentence. For example, if you were convicted of a felony when you were below 18 and have completed the sentence, you may petition the court to expunge your record. Expunging your record will shield you from country-imposed travel restrictions.
What happens if the court grants your expungement is the court deletes your record of conviction or arrest. Because of that, you will no longer be required to report your conviction while applying for a VISA, or work. In some states, juvenile records are sealed automatically, and in others, you must petition the court. Therefore, we recommend consulting with a criminal lawyer near you to find out if you are eligible.
The first step to getting your record expunged is completing probation, for help with that try the app Finish Probation to keep track of all your appointments.
As an American citizen, your right to travel is enshrined in the constitution. Because of that, if you do not have an impending case or if there are no warrants for your arrest, you may get a passport and travel.
However, it is up to the country you are traveling to decide if you can get in. so we recommend contacting the country’s embassy or checking the countries immigration laws.
No visa countries only require you to have a passport, making them easier for felons to enter. However, entering another country illegally is a crime that may land you in a foreign prison. So, we recommend using formal means. It is also worth noting that there are fewer checks when you travel by sea.
