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RTAG's International Travel Matrix
Registrant Travel Action Group (RTAG – www.registranttag.org), an RSOL affiliate organized to protect the international travel rights for lawful travel of registrants, is putting together a travel matrix, to serve as a snapshot guide to warn which countries you may have difficulty traveling to.
Since the US is now sending out travel alerts whenever a registered citizen travels, you need to be mindful of issues you may have at certain borders.
The below matrix is a work-in-progress and if you have traveled internationally as a registered citizen, we ask that you share your experience with RTAG (good or bad), so that information can be shared.
You can reach RTAG at the following:
Email: info@registranttag.org
Phone: 1.972.638.0651
| Area | Country | SOs turned away | Law keeping out SOs | Law keeping out felons | SO Registry | ||||||
| Mexico | Mexico | YES | YES | Unk | NO | ||||||
| Canada | Canada | YES | YES | YES | YES | ||||||
| Central Amer | Belize | NO | NO | NO | NO | ||||||
| Costa Rica | YES | NO | Unk | NO | |||||||
| Guatemala | NO | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Panama | YES | YES | YES | NO | |||||||
| Nicaragua | YES | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Caribbean | Aruba | NO | NO | NO | NO | ||||||
| Bahamas | NO | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Dom republic | YES | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Jamaica | YES | NO | NO | YES | |||||||
| St Lucia | NO | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Trinidad | NO | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| South Amer | Argentina | YES | YES | Unk | Unk | ||||||
| Brazil | YES | YES | Ukn | Unk | |||||||
| Chili | NO | NO | NO | Unk | |||||||
| Colombia | YES | NO | NO | Unk | |||||||
| Europe | France | NO | NO | NO | NO | ||||||
| Germany | NO | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Ireland | YES | NO | NO | YES | |||||||
| Italy | NO | NO | NO | YES | |||||||
| Netherlands | NO | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Spain | NO | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| UK | YES | YES | YES | YES | |||||||
| Asia | Australia | Y/N | YES | YES | YES | ||||||
| China | Y/N | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Japan | Y/N | YES | YES | NO | |||||||
| Hong Kong | NO | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Korea | YES | NO | NO | YES | |||||||
| Indonesia | YES | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Loas | Y/N | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| New Zealand | YES | YES | YES | YES | |||||||
| Singapore | YES | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Thailand | Y/N | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
| Vietnam | Y/N | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Middle East | Dubai | YES | NO | NO | NO | ||||||
| Lebanon | NO | NO | NO | NO | |||||||
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Got turned away in hong kong. Had been 3 times in the past each time always questioned but allowed in. My wife and I were both there they separated us and denied me entry. She is Filipino and arrived from philipines. I came from US we timed arrivals to get there to go through immigration together.
Again hong kong has now turned away at least one registered individual. Misdemeanor conviction 20 years ago passport identifier.
Hi oh sorry to hear about that , but I think you can settle down in Nepal or somewhere in Europe z I think there they accept RSO especially if convection is long time . Advice just don’t give up till your together and always pray
Travelers in TS’ situation are urged to complete a RTAG Travel Experience Report (link below). That will help spread the word and prevent additional travelers from wasting a trip to Hong Kong.
http://registranttag.org/travel-experience-report/
Im a citizen of Sri-lanka and the US I have no identifier and i am a level 1 from Northern California. i read on facts not fear that sex offenders are not turned away from Sri-Lanka, but im not sure. I was also wondering even if i get an identifier on my US passport can I use my Sri-Lankan passport to travel anywhere? Im thinking of giving my 21 day notice to travel to Sri-lanka then for a few weeks travel to Japan from Sri-Lanka and return to Sri-Lanka
I’m sorry about that. Did you give a 21 day notice and have a identifier on your passport?
Also curious what did they say in terms of your denial?
I would recommend maybe speaking to a immigration lawyer from Hong Kong about this and also consider flying into the country from another destination to avoid any notice being directly sent.
Yes I gave the legally required 21 day notice. Circumventing the requirement I’m concerned would end up getting me a felony conviction. I’ve just decided I won’t return to hong kong cost over $3000 because of this. Not worth taking a chance again we will go to Europe next time.
hi I hope your doing fine, did you and your filipina see each other again after what happened to hongkong? Have you travel to Europe? if yes where? cz Im planning to trVel too one day
Yes we ended up doing a trip in Europe started and ended in Amsterdam. No issues at all. Just had to get her the visa in advanced.
Oh that’s good news, Is Barbados always welcome an RSO? We have similar situation and hoping to see my wife in barbados, is it easy for filipina to visit there?
We went during COVID so things may have changed but I was not even questioned upon arrival. There was no visa requirement for Filipino citizens at the time.
I started my retirement travel journey on 12/25/22. I landed in madrid en route to Portugal.They gave me a hard time because I had no return trip scheduled back to USA.Didn’t mention my rso status.They just don’t want people migrating to their country and using resources.Had to prove I had enough money to sustain my self. Had paid printouts of where I was staying for the first 42 days. and social security document proving my deposit each month. I caught a bad chest cold and was nervous about getting ill in a foreign country. I came back after 3 weeks but plan to return in 2 months.Had no real problem getting in. Thanks.
We had traveled many times and had a passport with no identifier until last September they sent a revocation letter. We returned it even though.we had just gotten a new one in may and reapplied for another as we have several overseas trips planned.. the new passport arrived with the identifier now on the signature page right above main passport page. Now in a place it will for sure be seen. Worried about travel but will take it and see. We travel to italy and spain in april. Prayers for us.
I’ve traveled to Europe 4 times since 2019 with the identifier,They never check,never been asked about it.Just make sure you have a return or onward travel ticket to show.Good Luck.
My passport just says on the bottom of main page under passport expiration date. see page 27. that’s where the identifier statement is.No one ever checked,some won’t care about the rso status. Just go and travel and you should be okay.
HI Mario If you dont mind I ask , Is Portugal good to visit? Are retiring in Europe now?
Hi.Portugal is beautiful,affordable with lots to do and see.Lots of walking and lots of hills.I stayed in great hostels for $10 a night with free breakfast. rooms were clean and beds and lockers perfect for travellers.I will be leaving the U.S. for good end of September ending up in Tirana , Albania where the cost of living is very cheap for expats and retirees.Plus you can stay there for 1 year without a visa. I’ll still travel thru western europe every 90 days or so. Chance to save lots of money staying in eastern europe. My passport expires in 2029 so I have lots of time to apply for residency somewhere.Thanks.
oh wow thats good to know about Portugal why not retire in Portugal? … Is Albania allow RSO? cz we might consider there if everything fine.
Cathy, did they change where the stamp goes? From reading your post the stamp did not appear on page 27 as is supposed to go – unless the rule has changed!
Apparently it has changed and is now on front main page above where signature goes. We were shocked when it arrived. If there is anything written that says on page 27 that would be helpful but we have not found that.
Ouch, Thank you, Cathy. Mine says look on page 27 but page 27 is blank. I know the law says I am supposed to have the stamp so I am planning to get my passport redone.
We traveled on his old passport 4 times in 2022 then had a new one done and traveled 3 more times before they sent revokation letter. Because they didnt put it in. We had to pay again for their error. Because we paid expedite and they gave him a passport card and passport without anything. When they revoked it they kept it and made us apply for a completely new passport with birth certificate everything and pay yet again.
Took 6 weeks and this time it is on the page above the laminated page the one you sign.
Frustrating and totally not needed after we had traveled to europe 7 times.
HI Cathy , hows your travel in Spain . Did you fly direct from US to Spain?
We always fly direct when we go if we can but on trips where we had to connect we chose Philly – and each time it has been fine – they took him aside for questions but about 5 minutes and never checked or had issues and never here in Dallas either. We have another trip in July going back to Amsterdam, Germany, Czech, Austria, Belgium, and France. It is best to stay in Schengen nations as they are all welcoming.
Hi Mario, do you an idea about retirement in Portugal? or a place that good to retire?
good and affordable even on S,S, checks.
have you been to Portugal recently? We like to go there
My husband is an RSO. Will we be able to travel to Ireland and Scotland?
Unless you are citizens of those countries, it is unlikely.
I want to see my gf in Nigeria I’m a Canadian rso. Will there be an issue?
Absolutely not. The U.K. appears to exclude any RSO’s under the same “catch all” law that they used to exclude that crazy Dutch parliamentarian Pim Fortuyn. Ironically, the U.K. courts had declared lifetime registration illegal under EU human rights laws/treaties prior to Brexit.
If he is able to get off the registry would that help?
UK and Ireland policy is to deny entry for felons generally. If his conviction was a misdemeanor and he gets off the registry, or there is some other circumstance (such as citizenship) then that may help.
Always best to contact their embassies in advance of making travel plans.
Does anyone know if Paraguay allows RSO’s?
Is there any problems traveling to Bulgaria?? If you’ve been to Bulgaria can you please describe anything related you may of experienced? What is Bulgaria’s approach on S/O? Just looking for a nice vacation for my family without issues. Thanks!
Can anyone tell me about traveling to Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Sudan as an RSO? What should I expect! My passport is marked.
Yes anyone have any news on Israel and Jordan?
Israel is OK to travel
I’m a 49 yo female SO who received a deferred adjudication and six years probation when I was 26 2nd degree felony sexual assault/child. He was 16. I’m a lifetime registrant in Texas.
I traveled to Egypt in Spring of 2015 with absolutely no issues getting in or staying for a month. Now that was five years ago. I wasn’t questioned by anyone about anything. I’ve been to Dubai (2018) as well. I was very anxious about Dubai as they are quite advanced in their customs security even doing an eye scan but was never questioned there either. I contacted the UAE Embassy prior to leaving and was told customs has no way of knowing unless I tell them.
Going through in Alexandria (Egypt) was the most lax security I’ve ever been through. It was basically a bunch of young Egyptian guys smoking cigarettes, playing music and playing around. There was one actual uniformed officer who briefly glanced at my passport to verify it had the Visa stamp.
It’s been five years but I still don’t think Egypt, at least in Alexandria, would be an issue if you don’t have the new required stamp on the passport stating the holder has been convicted of a sex crime with a child. In that case, I don’t know.
I am going back to Dubai in May. I haven’t yet received my letter telling me to surrender my passport to be stamped. If I don’t, I don’t anticipate it being an issue as a visa isn’t required unless you intend to stay beyond 90 days but will most likely have issues when applying for a residency. My Egyptian husband lives there and says for a tourist visa, UAE really doesn’t care. They care about all those tourist dollars.
Egypt is more in need of tourist dollars than Dubai. I know your post didn’t mention Dubai I only included it because they are so security conscious and advanced.
You posted a while ago so this might be too late but I’d be interested in knowing how things go for you. I hope you will post. Much luck to you in your travels! K
Thanks for the details to your travel! I have always wanted to travel to Dubai but have also been worried since their security is so high!
Could you reply back or post about your travels to Dubai! It’s been a dream for me to go but it be shitty to get rejected!
Good luck to your travels
I traveled to Dubai in August of 2018. When I arrived very early morning hours, there was only one guy in the booth. I placed my luggage on a conveyor to go through and handed him my passport at a separate booth.
He took my passport, flipped through, asked me to step back for an eye scan, stamped my passport and said, “Welcome to Dubai. Enjoy your stay.” He handed me my passport, I gathered my bags and went to pick up my checked baggage as quickly as possible to be honest. I really felt like there had to be an oversight or mistake. I had a long way to go to get out of baggage claim to my exit. But I had no issues. Off topic but interesting to note, Dubai (DXB) is a, “silent airport”. They have no gate calls or other announcements which is a bit odd especially when there are relatively no people anywhere.
I am planning to go back (and apply for residency) so I can be with my husband the end of May. I still haven’t received a notice to surrender my passport for the stamp, though others in my county have. Crossing my fingers that I get over there before that happens as I’m pretty certain that will cause me to be turned away.
Of course getting residency there is a whole other matter entirely. Won’t know if I don’t try but I’m really nervous as I noted here that evidently others have been turned away though it doesn’t provide any specific information about when or the charges or if they had a stamped passport.
Dubai is a cool place. Good luck in your travels. K
I forgot to ask. Did you passport have a SO stamp on it? Also did you give the police 21 day notice before you traveled? I know some states don’t require it but its federal law.
Very interested to hear your update on Dubai…. my fiancé is a RSO and we desperately want to have a nice honeymoon out of the country but we are terrified of traveling with him. He was convicted and registered as an adult at 16 for a low class sex offense with a minor in Oregon. We were thinking Dubai/Maldives honeymoon package but maybe we should just stick to Europe where we are less likely to get turned away….. we would be so heartbroken…..
Hello, I wanted to follow up if you had been to Dubai since 2018 and during your first or second time visiting you gave a 21 day notice of your travel?
Thank you!