Visa policy of the Kingdom of Sierra
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The visa policy of the Kingdom of Sierra deals with the policy set by Her Royal Majesty's Government that determines which foreign nationals and non-citizens wishing to enter and remain temporarily in the Kingdom of Sierra, including Sierra, the Deseret, Hawaii, and Bajaría and how they may be granted permission to do so. Visitors must obtain a visa unless they are a citizen of a country that is exempt from the visa requirements, part of Sierra's Visa Waiver Program, or come from a member state that is part of the Conference of American States' Lincoln Area or a fellow realm within the Columbia realms. Visitors who require a visa generally receive them from one of Sierra's diplomatic missions, or a firm that has been accredited and authorized to issue such visas by the K.S. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sierra's national visa policies do not apply in the Sierran territories, which each form and maintain their own visa policies.
Overview
Entry visas
A foreign national wishing to enter Bajaría, the Deseret, Hawaii, or Sierra must obtain a visa unless he or she is:
- a permanent resident of the Kingdom of Sierra
- a citizen of the Lincoln Area member states: Alaska, Astoria, Greenland, Manitoba, Superior, or the West Indies
- a citizen of the Columbia realm or associated state of the Agana Agreement: Cozumel, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands
- a citizen of a country part of Sierra's Visa Waiver Program
- holding a Ministry of Foreign Affairs-issued refugee status or special circumstances form
Sierra issues 42 different types of visas, which can be sorted into one of three categories:
- Nonimmigrant visa – for temporary visits such as for tourism, business, studying, work, athletics, etc. This is the most common category of visas and covers different kinds of reasons a foreign national may have for visiting the Kingdom.
- Immigrant visa – for people intending to immigrate into Sierra. Those holding an immigrant visa at a port of entry are processed and issued a permanent residency card if approved.
- Circumstantial visa – for persons who are confirmed refugees from a humanitarian crisis, religious or political persecution, war, or special economic hardships. Circumstantial visas are generally issued automatically upon verification of one's circumstantial status at a port of entry, although the similar pre-entry refugee status/special circumstances form may be issued at an overseas Sierran diplomatic mission.
Exit visas
Sierra requires any foreign nationals who entered the country with a required visa to leave with in possession of the same visa upon departure. If the foreign national entered using an e-visa, they must provide their unique ID in order to satisfy this requirement. Under certain conditions, those without their visa can be issued one automatically, if necessary. Those who cannot produce a visa and are not granted an exit visa automatically must apply for an exit visa. Should a foreign national overstay the duration of their visa, they must either apply to extend their visa or to obtain an exit visa. Those without an exit visa are interred into a 72-hour period. During this period, they may not leave the country on their own accord until they receive one or provide a valid reason for overextending their stay. After this period has expired, the foreign national may be subject to deportation in violation of immigration and movement law for failure to produce an exit visa, and can be banned from reentry in the future under a blacklist.
Visa exemption
Lincoln Area
As a member of the Lincoln Area, border control and passport checks are abolished at the mutual borders of member states. The Area also upholds the freedom of movement, empowering the right for citizens of one Lincoln Area member state to move to and reside in another Lincoln Area member state. As a result, citizens from any of the Lincoln Area member states do not require a visa to travel to Sierra or any of its territories. Nonetheless, Lincoln Area citizens are required to provide an acceptable form of legal identification (usually a driver's license or a passport) at all ports of entry by air or by sea.
Visa Waiver Program
Currently, 37 countries are enrolled in Sierra's Visa Waiver Program. This program exempts citizens from these countries from the Sierran visa requirement upon entry in the Sierran mainland, its territories, and crown dependencies. However, they are still required to obtain an electronic authorization if arriving by air or ship. An electronic authorization is not required for any nationals arriving by air if they are part of a connecting flight or layover that has a destination outside of Sierra, provided they remain at the airport and stay no longer than 72 hours.
Visitors may stay between 45–120 days without a visa, depending on their country's status in the Visa Waiver Program. This includes time spent in other countries within the Lincoln Area if the arrival was through Sierra.
120 days
90 days
60 days
45 days
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Sierra's visa policies are not applicable in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands as the territory maintains its own independent entry requirement policy and border control. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands are nonetheless, part of the Lincoln Area, and thus, nationals from any of the Lincoln Area members are not subject to visa entry requirements. All visas must be obtained from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands' Office of the Attorney General. In order to obtain a visa to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, foreign nationals are required to apply by contacting the Office via phone or Internet, and pay a fee of 20 KSD for processing and an additional 10 KSD for shipping after the application is approved with proof of passport and a roundtrip boarding ticket at least 72 hours in advance of arrival.
Other arrangements
Citizens of the following countries, linked with the Kingdom of Sierra through the Columbia realms or the Compact of Free Association, do not require a visa to enter, reside, or work indefinitely in Sierra or its territories.
*Columbia realm associated state
Non-Lincoln Area CAS states
All Conference of American States citizens who have the right of adobe in Sierra but hold citizenship in a non-participating state of the Lincoln Area Agreement do not require visas but must use an enhanced driver's license or passport in order to gain access to Sierra and its territories at all ports of entry. Nationals from these states who enter Sierra through another Lincoln Area member do not require reporting to border control authorities, and may use standard means of identification if necessary. Sierran authorities can still deny entry to or forcibly remove non-Lincoln Area CAS member state nationals under extenuating circumstances however, such as if they pose a serious threat to Sierran public safety (such as criminal ties or drug trafficking).
Visa or entry refused to nationals of certain countries
Entry suspended
As of 2022, no nationals from any recognized LN member state has been denied visa entry into the Kingdom of Sierra. During the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions were imposed on numerous states in Europe, Asia, and Africa in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. All travel restrictions and visa suspensions were lifted by December 2021 although certain travel limitations remain in effect.
