Border control

Border control is the set of rules and checks that governments use to watch over and manage how people, animals, and goods move across borders. These borders can be between countries, like the line between Bhutan and India, or even inside one country, like between different states or regions.

The main reasons for border control are to follow rules about trade, health, and safety, and to control who can move into or out of a country. Some borders, like those inside the Schengen Area, have no checks at all, while others need special passes or documents to cross safely at certain points.

Today, border control uses many papers, tickets called visas, and different rules in each country, making travel more planned and careful. However, these controls can also cost a lot of money and make it hard for people to move freely.

History

In old Europe, the lines between countries were often just symbols or wild lands. Real borders were the walls around towns and cities, where guards could stop unwanted people like travelers, beggars, or others they didn’t want inside.

The idea of border controls began long ago. In Asia, old writings talk about special passes people needed to enter or leave a country. China also used early forms of passports, with details about the person, like their age and height. Even children sometimes needed these papers to travel.

Medieval period

During a busy time in the history of Islam, a kind of passport called the bara’a was used. It was a receipt showing taxes were paid, allowing people to travel freely. In Europe, passports began being used in England to help people show who they were when traveling to other places.

Modern history

One of the first times countries tried to control who could enter was in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some places like Canada, Australia, and America made rules to limit people from certain parts of Asia from coming in. These rules were unfair and caused problems for many people.

Before the 1900s, many places didn’t have strict border rules. But after World War I, most countries started using them more often. After countries gained independence, some made new rules that caused problems for people from different backgrounds.

COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led many countries to tighten their border rules. They made it hard for people to enter if they came from places with lots of sickness, or sometimes stopped everyone from traveling. These rules helped slow the spread of the virus but also hurt businesses that depend on travel and kept families apart. Even after the rules end, some people might choose to meet online instead of traveling.

Tactics

Contemporary border control policies are complex and address different situations based on the needs and priorities of the countries involved. Because of this, many parts of border control differ from place to place.

Air and maritime borders

Countries also apply border control measures to the air above them and the waters around them. These measures control who and what can enter their airspace and waters, including areas where resources like fish or oil can be found.

Under international law, states have different levels of control over various parts of their waters:

• Internal waters: These are waters inside a country's boundaries, like lakes and rivers, where the country has full control.
• Territorial sea: This is a band of coastal waters up to about 22 kilometers from the shore, considered part of the country's territory. Countries can patrol these waters to enforce their rules, but they must allow innocent passage for foreign ships and aircraft.
• Contiguous zone: This is a band of water up to 44 kilometers from the shore where countries can enforce laws related to customs, taxes, and health.
• Exclusive economic zone: This extends up to 370 kilometers from the shore, where countries control resources like fishing and oil but must allow passage for foreign ships and aircraft.

Ships and planes that do not follow a country's rules can face consequences. Countries also control who can fly their flags or operate in their airspace and waters, especially for carrying passengers or goods.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity involves measures to stop harmful organisms, like diseases, from spreading to animals and plants. This helps protect food crops, livestock, and people from illnesses and threats like harmful materials. Countries often require animals to be vaccinated or quarantined and may have rules about bringing in plants or animals.

During events like the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries added health checks, required vaccinations for travelers, and used quarantine to slow the spread of the disease.

Customs

Each country has its own rules about what goods can be brought in or out, enforced by customs officers. These rules can include taxes on goods, called tariffs, and stopping illegal items like dangerous substances. Some countries have special areas for goods waiting to be checked, called customs areas.

Countries also have rules to protect their plants and animals from pests and diseases, which can include checking goods from other countries. For example, Australia has strict rules about bringing in food and wooden products to protect its environment.

Border security

Border security means the steps countries take to enforce their rules about who and what can cross their borders. This can include building walls, using patrols, and setting up checkpoints. Different countries focus on different issues, like stopping illegal travel or trade.

For example, India focuses on its borders with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar, while the United States focuses on its border with Mexico. Some borders, like the one between the United States and Canada, are longer and less guarded, using cameras and sensors instead of walls.

Border walls

Walls along borders are used to stop unauthorized travel. For example, India is building a fence along its border with Bangladesh, and there have been proposals for walls between the United States and Mexico. In Europe, countries like Hungary and Saudi Arabia have built walls to control movement of people and goods. Botswana has an electric fence along its border with Zimbabwe to stop diseases and unauthorized entries.

Border checkpoints

Border checkpoints are places where people and goods are checked when they cross borders. These can be at airports, seaports, or land crossings. Checkpoints help stop unwanted people and goods from entering a country and collect taxes. For example, the Sultan Iskandar Building in Malaysia and Woodlands Checkpoint in Singapore handle many travelers every day.

Border zones

Border zones are areas near borders with special rules. Countries can restrict who can enter these zones and what people can do there. These zones act as buffers to stop unauthorized travel and help catch people trying to cross borders illegally. Examples include the border zone between Russia and Finland and the area around the Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba.

Immigration law

Immigration law are the rules that govern who can enter and stay in a country. These laws can change based on the country's policies and international agreements. Countries also have rules about how long people can stay, what they can do, and how they can become citizens.

Immigration policies

Diaspora communities

Some countries have special rules for people from certain backgrounds. For example, India allows citizens of Indian origin to live and work there under a special status. The United Kingdom has similar rules for people of British ancestry. Poland has a card for people of Polish descent living abroad, and Israel allows people of Jewish ancestry to move there.

Open borders

Open borders mean fewer rules about who can move between countries. Some areas, like Europe under the Schengen Agreement, have open borders, allowing people to travel freely between member countries. Other examples include the arrangement between India and Nepal, where citizens can move freely between the two countries. Similarly, Australia and New Zealand allow each other's citizens to live and work in either country.

Hostile environment policies

Some countries create difficult conditions for people who are in the country without proper permission, hoping they will leave. For example, the United Kingdom has policies to make life hard for such individuals. In the United States, there have been policies to create a difficult environment for immigrants, including rules that make it harder for them to settle in the country. India has also implemented policies that affect certain communities, leading to the creation of detention centers for people not meeting citizenship requirements.

International zones

International zones are areas where the normal border rules of the country do not apply fully. These can be special economic zones, areas at ports where customs rules do not apply, or places administered by foreign states. International zones can have their own visa rules different from the rest of the country.

Internal border controls

Main article: Internal border control

Further information: Travel document § Internal travel documents

Internal border controls are ways that countries manage the movement of people and goods inside their own borders. These controls can include checkpoints and special travel papers. They are used for many reasons, such as making areas near borders safer, protecting special regions, or keeping different groups from having trouble with each other.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many places around the world put in temporary rules to stop people from moving between areas. For example, some parts of Australia and Malaysia had limits on travel inside the country to help stop the spread of the virus.

Specific requirements

The rules about border checks change depending on the country and the border. Some countries look at things like where a traveller comes from, their background, or which places they have visited. Others might check if travellers have paid for the right to visit (called a visa) and have plans to leave the country later. Some countries focus on what is in the traveller's bags or goods to make sure nothing harmful is brought into the country.

Biometrics

See also: Biometric identification by country

Many countries ask travellers to have their fingerprints taken when they arrive. Some countries might even do this for people just passing through to another country. Countries also often take a photo of people entering. The United States plans to use facial recognition technology to check people leaving from airports. Fingerprint, face, and iris scanning are all ways to identify people and have been used internationally since 2006. The United Arab Emirates uses iris scanning for visitors who need a visa. The United States also plans to collect more biometric data at its borders. Singapore started trying out iris scanning at some border points in 2018.

Immigration stamps

Main article: Passport stamp

An immigration stamp is a mark put in a passport or travel document when someone enters or leaves a country. The stamp can show that the person has permission to enter. In some countries, like the United Kingdom, the stamp shows the permission given to enter. In the Schengen Area, a stamp just shows the date and does not say how long someone can stay. Some countries do not stamp passports at all for certain travellers. For example, citizens of the European Union travelling within the European Union do not get stamps. Some countries only stamp when people leave, and some do not stamp at all, using other papers instead.

Immigration offices often use different stamp designs for entering and leaving to help track people's movements. The colour of the ink might show how a person is travelling (by air, land, or sea). Some places change the size of the stamp to show how long someone can stay. Passengers on cruise ships often do not get stamps because the whole ship is cleared to enter the port. Sometimes, travellers can ask for a stamp as a souvenir.

Exit controls

India and China, like most countries, check people both when they enter and when they leave. However, some countries do not check when people leave by land. For example, the United States and Canada do not check when people leave by land; they collect this information from airlines and share it with neighboring countries. Australia, Singapore, and South Korea also no longer stamp passports when people leave, though they still have some checks.

Countries without exit stamps include the United States, Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Countries that have exit checks but do not always stamp passports include Albania, Australia, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Fiji, Hong Kong, Iran, Israel, Japan, Macau, New Zealand, South Korea, Panama, Taiwan, Singapore, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and countries in the Schengen Area.

Exit permits

Some countries need people to get special permission, called an exit permit, before they can leave the country. For example, Uzbekistan needs its citizens to have exit visas to leave for certain places. Some countries in the Middle East need foreign workers to have exit visas under a sponsorship system. During a certain time, countries in the Eastern Bloc needed permission to travel abroad. Singapore needs its citizens to have exit permits to follow national service rules. South Korea and Taiwan have similar rules. India needs some citizens to get approval before leaving the country to prevent human trafficking. Eritrea needs most of its citizens to get special permission to leave the country.

Travel documents

Main article: Travel document

Countries usually need travellers to show proper travel papers to prove who they are, where they come from, and if they are allowed to enter. The most common travel paper is a passport. Some places let people use identity cards instead.

Visas

Main article: Travel visa

Tourist visas issued by India (left) and Singapore (right) in a stateless person's travel document

Brazilian multiple entry visa in an American passport

Tourist entry visa for mainland China

Facilitated Rail Transit Document issued in Saint Petersburg for travel to Kaliningrad

Thai visa issued on arrival in stamp form

A visa is a paper that lets foreign visitors enter a country. It is usually a sticker or stamp in a passport. Visas can have rules about how long someone can stay, where they can go, when they can enter, how many times they can visit, or if they can work. Many countries in Asia have made it easier to get visas to help business and tourism. For example, India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka now have electronic visas. Malaysia has made it easier for people from India and China to visit. Thailand often lets visitors get a visa when they arrive. Indonesia has also made it easier for many visitors to get visas. Singapore has agreements with many countries to make it easier for people to visit.

Some countries in Europe and the Americas give special visas to young people who want to work and travel. Saudi Arabia gives a special visa for religious visits. Some countries need special visas for journalists.

Because of changes after a certain event, some countries have special rules for people travelling between certain places. For example, Russia lets people travel between two places without a visa if they do not stop. The Schengen Area has special travel papers for people going between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia.

Many countries let people use visas from other countries to enter. The Philippines lets people from India and China use certain visas to enter. South Korea lets people in transit use visas from certain countries to stay for a short time. Bermuda does not give its own visas; people need a visa from Canada, the United States, or the United Kingdom to enter.

Electronic visas and electronic travel authorisations

Main article: Electronic visa

Starting in the 2000s, many countries started using electronic visas and travel authorisations instead of paper visas. An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is a form of registration before a trip. An e-visa is a visa that people can apply for online without going to a government's office. Some countries need certain travellers to have an ETA or e-visa to enter.

Nationality and travel history

Some countries do not let people from certain places enter. For example, Georgia will not let people with passports from the Republic of China enter. Some countries ban people from certain places, like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, from entering parts of Libya. Many Arab countries, Iran, and Malaysia do not let Israeli citizens enter, though Malaysia sometimes allows it with special approval. Some countries will not let people enter if their passports show travel to certain places, like Israel or Artsakh.

Between a certain time, the United States did not give new visas to people from Iran, North Korea, Libya, Somalia, Syria, or Yemen. This rule was later changed.

Prescreening

Some countries check travellers before they arrive to make things easier when they get there. This helps prevent problems and reduce crowding at border points.

• Hong Kong and mainland China: There are two border crossings where both Hong Kong and China do their checks at the same place.

• Singapore and Malaysia: Singapore and Malaysia have a train station where both countries do their checks before the train crosses the border.

• Malaysia and Thailand: A railway station in Malaysia has checks for both Malaysia and Thailand.

• United Kingdom and the Schengen Area: The United Kingdom and the Schengen Area have special checks for people travelling by ferry or train.

• United States: The United States has places in other countries where people go through U.S. checks before they board their plane or ship to the United States.

• Informal prescreening: Sometimes, private companies check travellers' papers before they board a plane or boat, following laws from another country. Airlines often check passports and visas before letting people board. Some passenger boats also do this check before boarding.

Expedited border controls

See also: Automated border control system

Some countries and groups of countries have special programs to help people who travel often or are considered low-risk. These programs make border checks faster and easier. In some places, citizens or residents can use special machines instead of talking to a person. Here are some of these programs:

• APEC Business Travel Card: This card helps business travelers from certain countries. It makes border checks faster, though it does not always give freedom from visa rules.
• SmartGates in Australia: These machines at airports check passports quickly using facial recognition. Travelers need a special passport to use them.
• ePassport gates in the UK and Ireland: These gates use facial recognition to check travelers' identities. People from certain countries can use them if they have a special passport.
• CARIPASS: This is a travel card for people from Caribbean countries. It helps make border crossings easier and faster.
• China: Residents can use special channels after registering. People from Hong Kong and Macau can use special documents to travel.
• Japan: Automated gates at airports let travelers use machines instead of talking to an officer.
• Mexico: Viajero Confiable lets members use quick customs and immigration checks using machines.
• New Zealand: SmartGate systems at airports help travelers with special passports check out faster.
• Singapore: The eIACS system helps citizens and residents clear borders more quickly.
• South Korea: The Smart Entry Service lets people aged 7 and above use quick border checks.
• Taiwan: An automated system called eGate helps residents and frequent visitors.
• Thailand: An automated system has been used since 2012. It started with Thai people and later included some foreigners.
• North America:
  • Global Entry in the United States: This program helps frequent travelers use machines to clear border checks faster.
  • CANPASS in Canada: This helps citizens and residents entering Canada on private or company planes.
  • NEXUS and FAST: These are programs for travelers between Canada and the United States, making border checks faster.
  • SENTRI: This program helps people traveling between the United States and Mexico, including using machines at airports.

Border control organisations by country

Main article: List of Border control organisations

Countries have special groups that help control their borders. These groups look after things like checking people who enter the country, making sure rules about bringing in goods are followed, and keeping animals and plants safe. Different countries may have different names and ways of organizing these groups, sometimes using more than one group to do the job.

Controversies

Certain border control policies in different countries have caused debate and disagreement. People in different countries have different opinions about whether closing borders or controlling who enters a country is right or wrong.

• Australia: Starting in 2001, Australia made rules to control who comes into the country, especially people arriving by boat. These rules have been debated, especially about how they follow international laws about human rights.
• Bhutan: In the 1990s, Bhutan changed its rules about who could live there, which created problems for many people and led to many becoming refugees.
• China: China has rules about people trying to leave North Korea. If caught, they are sent back immediately, which has been criticised by groups that care about human rights.
• Cyprus: Because of a disagreement about which part of Cyprus is in charge, one part has put rules on the other part’s airports, making it hard for them to operate normally.
• Israel: At Israeli airports, security checks sometimes treat people differently based on their appearance or background, which has caused concern.
• United States: After the events of September 11, 2001, the United States put in place extra security measures. These included treating people differently based on their background and separating children from parents who were seeking safety in the country. This caused a lot of disagreement and was later changed.

Effects

Border controls cost a lot of money. In the United States alone, they cost hundreds of billions of dollars, and some experts think the total cost around the world could be much higher.

When rules make it hard for people to move between countries safely, some try dangerous ways to cross. This can lead to serious risks for those traveling. Studies also show that making it harder to cross borders can lead more people to stay in a country longer than allowed, often because they entered legally but did not leave when they should have.