For anyone interested in traveling abroad, there is concern about whether an old conviction for a criminal offense or DUI will create challenges on those seeking to travel. The following is a general discussion about which countries care the most and the least.
Bhutan and India asked about criminal history for their visa and have restrictions based on any crime, admission into the country depends on the crime.
Qatar gives visas on arrival and asks. I don’t know about restrictions.
Nepal and Thailand don’t seem to care.
I’ve traveled to Southern Africa. Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, & South Africa don’t have restrictions that I remember. However, Tanzania asked about criminal history if you were traveling to Zanzibar (semiautonomous region of Tanzania).
Vietnam & Cambodia ask. I don’t know what their policy is if you answer yes.
Jordan and Egypt ask.
Most European countries do not have restrictions.
New Zealand asks about criminal convictions to get a visa and a DUI will probably keep you out of the country. Section 5 are character Requirements and Section A5.45.5 refers to Section 15 of the Immigation Act 2009. Section 15(1)(b) says no entry if person has been SENTENCED to imprisonment of 12 months or more, or for an indeterminant period capable of running for 12 months or more
This means that if in Washington, a person is sentenced to the maximum of 364 days with 362 days suspended (serve 2 days) the person is probably inadmissible to enter the country of New Zealand unless you argue that 364 days is not truly 12 months.
As an aside, Washington lowered all misdemeanor maximums from 365 to 364 so that it will not involve Immigration issues. The state of California made similar changes in the laws for immigration reasons as well.
In addition to DUI, most countries will deny entry for folks who have a felony. Here is a list of the countries that prevent travel for people with a felony on their record:
Partial list of countries that restrict visits from felons:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Brazil
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Hong Kong
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Ireland
- Israel
- Japan
- Kenya
- Malaysia
- Macau
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Peru
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
Many countries, including the United States, do generally prohibit the admission of felons. Which ones do and don’t is actually a very complicated, non-binary question. So it would be imprudent to rely solely on a list of countries that do or don’t admit felons, no matter the source of the list. I’d recommend doing current research on each country your particular client may hope to be admitted into. That would likely include, among other things, contacting the foreign nation’s consulate or embassy, and/or a specialist in that country’s immigration law.
