Port of Entry
What is Port of Entry?
A port of entry (POE) is any official location — typically an international airport, seaport, or land border crossing — where travellers are permitted to formally enter a country, and where immigration and customs authorities have jurisdiction to inspect, process, and admit or deny entry. Not all entry points to a country are designated ports of entry; some visas and entry permissions specify that travellers must enter through approved ports only.
For travellers, the port of entry is where documents are checked, passports stamped, and any customs declarations made. Critically, a valid visa does not guarantee entry — it is a permission to request entry. The border officer at the port of entry has final authority to admit or deny any person, regardless of what documentation they hold.
Example of Port of Entry
Sofia's eVisa for Kenya was valid, but when she landed at Mombasa rather than Nairobi, the immigration officer paused. "Your visa says Nairobi port of entry," she said. It turned out Sofia had accidentally selected the wrong city during her online application. After a tense 20-minute conversation in a side room, her passport was stamped. She rewrote her pre-travel checklist with one new item: verify every visa for port-of-entry restrictions.