Viisumia

Viisumia is a collaborative, open-data project that curates and disseminates information on global visa policies. It aims to provide a centralized resource for researchers, travel planners, and policy analysts by compiling visa requirements, application steps, eligibility criteria, fees, and processing times from official sources and partner organizations. The project emphasizes machine readability and interoperability, supporting standardized data formats and APIs for integration with other travel and research platforms.

Core data fields include country, visa type, visa entry validity, duration of stay, eligibility criteria, required documents, application procedure, processing time, and fees. In addition, notes describe special conditions such as e-visas, visa on arrival, or transit rules. Data are updated regularly through automated feeds and human verification.

Viisumia originated as a multi-year pilot launched in 2014 by a consortium of universities, non-governmental organizations, and government partners in Europe and Asia. It is governed by a steering committee and a technical advisory board, with working groups focused on data standards, privacy, and regional coverage. The project operates under an open data license to encourage reuse while acknowledging official limitations.

As of 2024, Viisumia covered hundreds of visa regimes worldwide and provides APIs used by research institutions, journalists, and travel platforms. It is not an official government source; users must consult national immigration authorities for authoritative requirements, particularly for high-stakes decisions.

Limitations include incomplete coverage, inconsistent source updating, and legal changes that outpace data releases. Proponents view it as a useful, transparent bridge for comparative policy analysis; critics note reliability concerns and the risk of misinterpretation if used without verification.