What Countries Can You Visit with a Criminal Record? (2026 Guide)

They say, ‘The world is your oyster,’ but for those with a criminal record, that oyster can feel quite small. While some They say, “The world is your oyster”, but for those with a criminal record, that oyster can feel quite small. While some countries restrict entry to those with convictions, others welcome guests without issue.

In this guide, we look at the countries you can’t visit with a criminal record, the ones you can and everything you need to know before you plan to relocate or visit.

Yes and no. There are many countries around the world with strict rules prohibiting entry to anyone with a criminal record. Other countries are much more relaxed and have no qualms about granting entry, regardless of criminal history.

Much depends on the crime committed, how long ago it occurred and what the sentence was. For example, in the USA, if you were under 18 when you committed the offence, have had at least five years pass since it took place and were sentenced to less than six months in prison, you’ll be viewed much more favourably than someone who doesn’t fulfil these criteria.

Before visiting or relocating, you may need to declare any crimes you may have been convicted of. In some cases, you may face challenges gaining access; in others, there may be no issues at all.

Our table below shows the key factors that may determine whether you will be allowed into a country.

Entry requirements can change suddenly, especially if there is a change in government. You should always check the entry requirements of your specific destination before booking flights or accommodation.

A key point to remember is that in most cases, your criminal record is only investigated when you require a visa. If you do not need a visa to travel to the country you are visiting, the likelihood of a criminal past affecting your travel plans can be small.

That being said, if you knowingly hide a conviction, and it comes to light, you could be banned from the country or prosecuted. Again, much depends on the country you are visiting. Some will require a visa, some won’t. Some will ask about criminal history, some won’t

For UK travellers, Nacro’s criminal record support service provides detailed, country-specific guidance on travelling from the UK with a criminal record.

If there is no visa requirement, and therefore no investigation into a criminal past, the following countries are more likely to accept those with criminal records. Whilst entry is not guaranteed, no visa is required, and individuals are not required to answer specific questions about criminal history on any entry applications.

This is far from an exhaustive list. The majority of popular expat and holiday destinations do not routinely screen tourists for criminal records. We’ll cover the full country-by-country breakdown below.

Other countries may not be so welcoming. With strict visa requirements or a no-tolerance policy, you could find entry refused or only granted if you complete a host of detailed forms divulging your criminal misdemeanours.

These countries include, but are not limited to:

For complete clarity, you should speak to the relevant embassy before making travel plans. This way, you’ll benefit from the latest information and a clearer understanding of what specific conditions may apply.

The countries with strict rules on granting entry to those with a criminal record have strict guidelines. Some criminals are deemed low risk and will be allowed in, while others are simply refused. Below, we explore these countries in a little more depth.

As previously mentioned, always verify current requirements with official embassies or consulates. Border decisions can vary and are subject to change, especially if the country is engaged in conflict with another country, there is political instability, or there are increased terrorism concerns.

As mentioned earlier, many popular expat and tourist destinations do not routinely screen for criminal records. Entry is generally permitted, though border officers do retain discretionary powers, and individual circumstances may vary.

Most Schengen Area countries do not require criminal record declarations for tourist entry, but long-stay visas and residency applications will likely involve checks.

Schengen residency note: Long stay visas (those of 90 days or more) and residency applications within the Schengen/EU area will typically require a criminal record certificate. You should check with the relevant embassy before travel.

Long-term stays in the region will require you to obtain a visa, which, in the majority of cases, requires you to divulge any criminal convictions.

As with most other places, if your stay is to be permanent or long-term, your visa application will likely require you to disclose any criminal convictions.

If the stay in Central or South American countries is long-term, criminal record checks may be required as part of a visa application and could determine whether you will be granted entry. Our chart is based on short-term visits only.

If you plan to visit Africa long-term, perhaps to live permanently or stay for several months, a criminal record check may be required as part of a long-term visa application.

Visiting any of these countries for long-term stays or for permanent relocation may require a criminal record check as part of a visa application.

The USA has some of the strictest rules for travellers with a criminal record. If you are from a country eligible for the ESTA Visa Waiver Program, such as those from the UK, you will be asked during your ESTA application whether you have ever been arrested or convicted of a crime, even if the crime is spent under UK law.

If you are visiting the USA on holiday, you would normally apply for an ESTA for approved entry; however, if you have a criminal record, you may need to obtain a visa instead.

Within the visa application, you’ll need to provide details of your criminal record, attend an interview at an embassy and be assessed for entry. Depending on the crime and factors such as your age at the time and the sentence length, a decision will be made.

You could apply for a waiver of inadmissibility. This allows US authorities to review your case and potentially grant access regardless of the crime committed. It is worth noting that even arrests without conviction may need to be disclosed.

If you have visa-free access to the Schengen zone, you can travel freely even with a criminal record. Should you not have this visa-free access, you may be required to disclose any criminal history when applying for a visa.

For short-stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period), most Schengen countries do not require a criminal record declaration. Most EU/Schengen countries do, however, require a criminal record certificate as part of a long-stay visa or residency application.

It is also worth noting that ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, planned for launch in late 2026, will introduce background checks for visitors entering the Schengen area.

Canada is much like the USA in its approach. Honesty is essential if you want to enter. There is one question on the travel authorisation application that asks if you have “ever committed, been arrested for, been charged with, or convicted of any criminal offence in any country.”

If you have, you need to respond accordingly. Canada applies a concept called criminal inadmissibility. If you have a criminal record, you may be considered inadmissible even for minor offences that are considered spent in the UK or elsewhere.

Your options for entering Canada with a criminal record include:

For further information and the latest government updates, the Canadian Government Immigration guidance explains the options in full.

Australia is known to be tough with granting entry, but even with a criminal record, it is still possible. You’ll need to apply for a visa, and as with the USA and Canada, you must be completely honest.

Australia applies a character test to all visa applicants. You are likely to fail and be refused a visa if:

Australian tourist visa: This must be applied for via the Australian embassy and requires a police certificate as part of the application. Australian authorities will look at your criminal history, and if you don’t exhibit what they classify as “good character”, you’ll need to prove what you have done to give them confidence you are now of good character. If they deem your crime too serious, your application will be cancelled, and you could be banned permanently from entering the country.

Dubai is a hugely popular destination and generally welcomes tourists regardless of their criminal history. You can visit if you have a criminal record, particularly for holidays or short stays. UK, US, and EU passport holders can visit visa-free for up to 90 days.

However, there are important caveats to be aware of:

Each country has its own rules, but several crimes are considered serious enough to see entry attempts turned down across a wide range of destinations. These include:

Should any of these, and crimes similar to them, appear on your record, it is highly unlikely you’ll be granted entry to a large number of countries, particularly for long stays.

There are a few crimes that authorities tend to overlook. It shouldn’t be assumed that this applied everywhere, though. What may be seen as minor in one nation could be deemed a significant crime in another.

Crimes that may be overlooked include:

In some countries, even serious crimes have an expiry. If you have served your time, committed no further crimes, and the crime happened long ago, it might be classed as non-existent. This would then make you free to travel. On the flip side, other countries may label you a criminal permanently, regardless of how much time has passed, and you’ll be refused entry until the rules change.

The simplest solution is to speak to the relevant embassy. Gather as much information as possible and research what you may need to do for entry to be granted.

In England and Wales, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 means that certain convictions become “spent” after a rehabilitation period. Once a conviction is “spent”, you are normally not required to disclose it in a domestic situation.

However, when travelling to certain countries, even spent convictions may still need to be declared.

Some countries share criminal record information under bilateral or multilateral agreements:

UK-EU: Under ECRIS (European Criminal Records Information System), EU countries historically shared records; however, since Brexit, the UK no longer has direct access, though some information is still shared between countries under separate agreements.

Five Eyes: The UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand share intelligence and law enforcement information, which can include criminal records.

Interpol: Maintains international notices that may be visible to border officials globally.

This means that even if a country does not ask you to declare a conviction, information may be accessible to border officials through international data-sharing channels.

If you are planning a long-term relocation rather than a holiday, the bar for entry is typically higher. Below are the 5 things you must do to help smooth your pathway to a new life abroad.

Before travel, it is also essential to obtain sufficient expat travel insurance for your relocation. That way, you can avoid any costly expenses should something go wrong. Our team can help with this to enable a smoother transition from one country to the next. Contact us to learn more.

This guide was last updated in June 2026. Entry requirements and visa rules can change at short notice. Always verify current requirements with the relevant embassy or consulate before making travel plans.

Can I travel to Europe with a criminal record?

Yes, in most cases. For short-stay tourism, EU and Schengen countries do not routinely screen criminal records. Long-stay visas and residency applications typically do require disclosure.

Can a felon travel internationally?

It depends on the destination. Many countries permit entry regardless of criminal history. Countries with strict screening, notably the USA, Canada and Australia, may refuse entry to those with felony or equivalent convictions.

What countries can felons not travel to?

Countries most likely to deny entry include the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, New Zealand and Indonesia. The UK also retains the right to refuse entry to foreign nationals with a criminal record.

Do I have to declare a spent conviction when travelling?

It depends on the destination. The USA requires disclosure of all convictions, including spent ones and arrests without conviction. Most EU countries do not require disclosure for tourist entry.

Can I travel to Thailand with a criminal conviction?

Generally yes. Thailand does not routinely screen tourists for criminal records. However, drug-related or serious convictions may attract scrutiny.

Can I travel to Singapore with a criminal record?

Singapore does not require a criminal record declaration for tourist entry in most cases. However, drug-related offences carry a higher risk of refusal, and Singapore has some of the strictest drug laws in the world.

Does Japan do background checks on tourists?

Japan can and does refuse entry to those who have been sentenced to a year or more in prison, or those convicted of drug offences, regardless of sentence length.