Traveling is one of the most exciting things you can do. If you have a criminal record, though, then it can be very tricky and extremely difficult, depending on which country you’re planning on traveling to.
Generally speaking, any country that requires you to get a visa beforehand will not approve your application if you have a criminal record. Some countries that don’t require a visa may also not allow you to enter if you have been sentenced to 1 year or more of jail.
Some of these countries include Japan, India, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
In this article, we are going to look at the countries you cannot visit with a criminal record and what type of crimes will prevent you from traveling abroad.
Countries You Can’t Travel to With a Criminal Record
Here is a list of all the countries you can’t travel to with a criminal record:
- Japan: While Japan allows visa-free entry for many nationalities, you won’t be allowed to enter if you have been sentenced to more than one year in prison.
- Australia: If you have committed a felony, then you’ll have to apply for a visa to visit Australia as a tourist. You’ll have to declare your criminal record and may have to provide additional documents.
- Canada: Canada can refuse entry to anyone who’s committed a felony or has spent more than 10 years in prison. You have to wait for at least 5 years after your sentence is over before you can be considered for entry.
- Israel: Israel may also deny entry to anyone who has a criminal record. You may be asked questions at the border by the border control authorities, and if they discover that you have a criminal history, you’ll be denied entry.
- South Africa: While you can visit South Africa without a visa if you’re applying for temporary or permanent residency, then your application may be denied if you have a criminal record, and you’ll be declared a “prohibited person.”
- Turkey: Border security officials in Turkey can deny entry if you have a criminal record, but it depends on how serious the offense is. If you have to apply for a visa, then your application could be rejected if the authorities deem your criminal history to be a risk.
- India: Before 2018, people visiting India were not required to disclose their criminal record, but now you have to declare any past convictions if you’re applying for a visa. It doesn’t automatically mean that your application will be rejected, though, as it depends on the nature of the offense.
- New Zealand: New Zealand doesn’t grant entry to people who have a criminal record unless they’ve been given a “character waiver.”
There are many more countries that don’t allow people with a criminal record, but most of them tend to assess applications on a case-by-case basis. Most countries in Europe are very lenient and won’t deny entry even if you’ve committed a felony.
What Types of Crimes Make It Hard to Travel?
If you have a misdemeanor, then it’s very likely that you won’t be refused entry into any country. However, a felony is a serious crime and can make international travel very difficult. It also depends on how long ago the crime occurred.
If it was a long time ago and you’ve shown good behavior since then, then some countries won’t deny entry.
You should never lie on a visa application, though. If you are asked about your criminal history, then answer as truthfully as you can. Anyone can use a dedicated people lookup tool to find publicly available information about you.
There are very few background check services that don’t show your criminal history, but border authorities take these things very seriously. While you might be able to slip by with a misdemeanor, felonies are more closely scrutinized.
Another thing to keep in mind is that what’s considered a misdemeanor in your country may be considered a felony in the country you plan to travel to. That’s why we recommend that you speak to legal experts or immigration authorities first to make sure that you can travel without running into any problems.
Traveling International With a Criminal Record
Traveling abroad when you have a criminal record can be challenging, but there are many countries that won’t automatically deny entry based on past convictions. If you have a misdemeanor, then it’s very unlikely that any country will not let you enter.
Just make sure that you honestly answer any questions asked by a border official because they’ve likely already run a background check on you. If you have to file a visa application, then make sure you provide accurate information to avoid any issues.
