Updated
GL-T-03
Glossary · Due Diligence and compliance
Travel ban - sanctions-based or immigration-based, and they are different stories
A travel ban — a restrictive measure depriving a person of the right to enter a country or group of countries; it can be sanctions-related or immigration-related.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- An entry ban — losing the right to enter a country or group of countries
- Types
- Sanctions-related (against specific persons) and immigration-related
- Who imposes it
- States, the EU, the UN — against particular persons
- During checks
- The ban comes up and becomes a deal-breaker
- How to use it
- Check whether there is one and challenge it if unjust
02 / In plain words
What Travel ban means
A travel ban is a restrictive measure that deprives a specific person of the right to enter a particular country or group of countries. In the context of sanctions and compliance it most often means targeted bans against specific persons: the EU, the UN or individual states, for example, place a person on a list of those barred from entry, alongside other measures such as asset freezes.
Entry bans differ in nature. A sanctions travel ban is part of political sanctions against specific persons (officials, businesspeople connected with certain regimes or actions). An immigration ban may result from a breach of visa rules, deportation or refusal of entry by decision of the migration authorities. It is important to understand exactly which kind of ban a person faces.
In investment migration an entry ban is a serious signal: it will come up in due diligence and, if it is linked to sanctions, will become a deal-breaker for citizenship or an account. At the same time, as with some other measures, sanctions and immigration bans may be contentious or out of date — in which case they can be challenged or lifted in the established way. We help understand the nature of the ban and build a strategy.
A case from practice
A client is found to have an old immigration ban on entering one country because of a long-ago visa breach. It is not sanctions, and the question can be resolved. We work out the nature of the ban, prepare documents and build a strategy for lifting it or working round it when planning citizenship and travel.
Where an entry ban matters
- Due diligence for citizenship and residence
- Sanctions checks
- Planning international trips
- Challenging an unjust ban
- Assessing immigration history
- Checking before filing an application
03 / What it covers
What matters about an entry ban
What it is
- Losing the right to enter
- A country or a group of countries
- A targeted measure
Types
- Sanctions-related
- Immigration-related
- Different in nature
Who imposes it
- States
- EU and UN
- Migration authorities
Keep in mind
- A deal-breaker in DD
- It may be contentious
- It can be challenged
04 / How it works
What to do about a ban
Check whether there is a ban
We check sanctions lists and the immigration history.
Determine its nature
Sanctions or immigration, who imposed it and when.
If unjust, challenge it
If the ban is disputable or outdated, we prepare a challenge.
Legal work
Documents and filing with the authority that imposed the ban.
Lifting or a strategy
The ban is lifted or factored into the citizenship and travel plan.
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01What it is
Entry refused
A person is barred from entering a country or a group of countries. The decision targets a specific individual.
02Sanctions-based
A political measure
Imposed by states, the EU or the UN on named individuals, often together with an asset freeze.
03Immigration-based
The result of a breach
A visa violation, deportation or refusal of entry decided by the immigration authorities.
04In checks
It shows up in due diligence
A sanctions ban closes the path to citizenship by investment; an immigration ban can often be resolved.
Common mistakes
Not checking for a ban before applying
Find out whether a ban exists and what kind before applying for citizenship or residence.
Confusing sanctions and immigration bans
Identify the legal basis: it determines the chances and how to lift the ban.
Hiding a ban on the form
Declare the ban and attach an explanation: the checks will find it anyway.
Applying for citizenship under an active sanctions ban
First challenge or lift the ban through the proper procedure.
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Whether there is an entry ban is checked in advance and its nature determined: sanctions-related or immigration-related. If the ban is unjust or out of date, it is challenged or lifted in the established way with legal support. Applying for citizenship with an active sanctions ban is pointless — that question is resolved first. We help build a strategy.
What we do for you. We check in advance for entry bans and determine their nature — sanctions or immigration. If a ban is unjust or out of date, we help challenge or lift it in the established way. That way the question is resolved before filing rather than turning into an unexpected refusal in due diligence.
Klara RihterBanking compliance and source of funds specialist
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
A restrictive measure depriving a specific person of the right to enter a particular country or group of countries. It may be sanctions-related or immigration-related.
A sanctions ban is part of political sanctions against specific persons (imposed by states, the EU, the UN). An immigration ban results from a visa breach, deportation or refusal of entry.
A sanctions ban will become a deal-breaker in due diligence. An immigration issue can often be resolved. It is important to determine the nature of the ban and build a strategy.
Yes, contentious or out-of-date bans — both sanctions and immigration — can be challenged or lifted in the established way with legal support.
No, the check will find it, and concealment will arouse suspicion. The right strategy is to check for it in advance and deal with the question openly.
Determine its nature and, if it is unjust or out of date, challenge or lift it. Applying for citizenship with an active sanctions ban is pointless — it is resolved first.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
Tell us what outcome your family needs
We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.
