Common types of visas are:

• transit visa, usually valid for 3 days or less, for passing through the country to a third destination.
• tourist visa, for a limited period of leisure travel, no business activities allowed. Some countries (e.g., Kuwait) do not issue tourist visas. Saudi Arabia introduced tourist visas only in 2004 although it did (and still does) issue pilgrimage visas for Hajj pilgrims.
• business visa, for engaging in commerce in the country. These visas generally preclude permanent employment, for which a work visa would be required.
• temporary worker visa, for approved employment in the host country. These are generally more difficult to obtain but valid for longer periods of time than a business visa. Examples of these are the United States' E-3, H-1B and L-1 visas.
• on-arrival visa, granted immediately prior to entering the country, eg. at an airport or border control post. This is distinct from not requiring a visa at all, as the visitor must still obtain the visa before they can even try to pass through immigration.

Less common visas include:

• student visa, which allows its holder to study at an institution of higher learning in the issuing country.
• working holiday visa, for individuals traveling between nations offering a working holiday programme, allowing young people to undertake temporary work while traveling.
• diplomatic visa, which confers diplomatic status on its holder and is normally only available to bearers of diplomatic passports.
• journalist visa, which some countries require of people in that occupation when travelling for their respective news organizations. Countries which insist on this include Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United States (I-visa) and Zimbabwe.
• fiancee visa, granted for a limited period prior to intended marriage based on a proven relationship with a citizen of the destination country: for example, a German woman who wishes to marry an American man would obtain a Fiancee Visa (also known as a K-1 visa) to allow her to enter the United States.
• immigrant visa, granted for those intending to immigrate to the issuing country. They usually are issued for a single journey as the holder will, depending on the country, later be issued a permanent resident identification card which will allow the traveller to enter to the issuing country an unlimited number of times. (for example, the United States Permanent Resident Card).