Legal Definitions - visé

The term visé refers to an official endorsement or a mark of approval placed on a document, most commonly a passport or other travel document. It signifies that the document has been examined and approved by an authorized official, often for the purpose of allowing entry into or transit through a foreign country. While closely related to a "visa," visé can also refer to the act of an official examining and stamping or signing a document to validate it.

• Example 1 (Historical Travel Document): In the early 20th century, a traveler journeying across multiple European nations would often need to have their passport viséed at each border crossing. This meant presenting the passport to a consular official, who would then review it and place an official stamp or signature within the document, granting permission for entry into their country.

  Explanation: This illustrates visé as both the act of an official examining and approving a travel document, and the resulting official endorsement (stamp/signature) that authorizes the traveler's entry.

• Example 2 (Internal Corporate Approval): A large corporation might have a policy requiring that all significant capital expenditure proposals be viséed by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) before they can proceed to the board for final approval. The CFO would personally review the financial details, ensure compliance with budget guidelines, and then sign or initial the proposal to indicate their official endorsement.

  Explanation: Here, visé refers to the act of an authorized official (the CFO) formally reviewing and endorsing a document (the expenditure proposal) to validate it, signifying official approval within an organizational context.

• Example 3 (Diplomatic Document Review): Before a draft international treaty is formally presented to heads of state for signature, it often needs to be viséed by the legal departments of all participating nations. This process ensures that legal experts from each country have thoroughly scrutinized the document, confirmed its adherence to international law and national interests, and officially endorsed its readiness for the next stage of negotiation.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates visé as the formal act of official review and endorsement of a critical document by authorized personnel, signifying legal approval and readiness for further action in a diplomatic setting.