How we collect, structure, and verify visa requirements data
Data Sources
VisaInfoGuide compiles visa requirements from authoritative sources including:
Official immigration authority websites - Government portals providing entry requirements
IATA Travel Centre - Industry-standard aviation travel information database
Embassy and consulate publications - Official visa policy documents and announcements
Government press releases - Policy changes and temporary measures
Official bilateral agreements - Visa waiver agreements between countries
We prioritize primary sources and cross-reference information across multiple authorities to ensure accuracy. For a detailed list of sources, visit our Data Sources page.
Data Structure
Our database uses a passport-destination pair model to capture visa requirements. For each combination, we record:
Visa Type Classification
Visa Free - No visa required for specified stay duration
eVisa - Electronic visa obtained online before travel
Visa on Arrival - Visa issued at port of entry
Visa Required - Visa must be obtained in advance from embassy/consulate
Stay Limits & Windows
We capture two types of stay limits:
Max stay days - Maximum consecutive days allowed per entry
Stay window days - Rolling window period for cumulative stay calculations (e.g., Schengen's 180-day window)
Some destinations use rolling window rules for stay limits. The most notable is the Schengen Area's 90/180 rule.
Schengen 90/180 Rule
Our calculator implements the official rolling window method:
For any given date D, look back 180 days (D minus 179 days through D)
Count all days present in Schengen during that window
Both entry and exit days count (inclusive counting)
Maximum 90 days allowed in any rolling 180-day period
Our algorithm merges overlapping trips, handles adjacent stays, and accounts for partial window coverage. This ensures accurate calculation even for complex multi-trip itineraries.
Update Frequency
We follow a structured update schedule:
Monthly reviews - Systematic review of all destination policies
Ad-hoc updates - Immediate updates for announced policy changes
Quarterly audits - Comprehensive verification against official sources
Source monitoring - Continuous tracking of immigration authority announcements
High-traffic passport-destination pairs receive more frequent verification. Popular routes like US-EU, UK-Asia, and major business travel corridors are monitored more closely.
Known Limitations
We acknowledge the following limitations:
Policy lag - Changes may not be immediately reflected in our database
Temporary measures - Emergency travel restrictions may not be captured instantly
Individual circumstances - Some visa decisions depend on factors we cannot model (e.g., previous visa history, purpose of visit)
Regional variations - Some countries have region-specific rules not fully captured in simplified entries
Embassy discretion - Visa officers may make case-by-case determinations
We always recommend verifying requirements with official sources before travel.
Confidence Model
We assess confidence in our data based on:
Source reliability - Official government sources rank highest
Recency - Recently verified data has higher confidence
Consistency - Agreement across multiple sources increases confidence
Clarity - Unambiguous official statements rank higher than interpreted rules
Where data confidence is lower or rules are complex, we link to official sources for travelers to verify directly.
Corrections & Feedback
If you identify inaccurate information, we encourage you to contact us at contact@visainfoguide.com with:
Specific passport-destination pair in question
Correct information and official source link
Date of verification
We investigate all reported discrepancies and update our database accordingly.
Transparency Commitment
VisaInfoGuide is committed to transparency in our data methodology. We continuously work to improve our processes, expand source coverage, and enhance data accuracy. Our goal is to provide the most reliable visa intelligence platform for international travelers.
