The above concerns have caused states to increase the security of their external borders. They may regulate entry by requiring nationals of certain states to obtain visas before entering the country. National visa policies tend to exempt certain states from the necessity of applying for a visa. Other mechanisms of border protection include, immigration control in neighbouring and third states, designed to prevent arrival at the national border. Such mechanisms include stationing of immigration officers in airports in third countries to prevent persons without the necessary documentation from travelling to a state and placing border officials outside the state borders to work with officials from neighbouring states to prevent irregular entry.

Regional mechanisms are also in place to manage external borders. In the European Union a number of policies on immigration have focused on external border management. These initiatives include: visa controls, carrier sanctions, and immigration controls in countries of origin and interdiction and interception policies. In 1995 Council Regulation No 1683/95 laid down a uniform format for Visa policy in the EU. Further measures have been decided on the uniformity of documents required to obtain a Visa, in 1998 and a Schengen wide list of countries, in 2001, from which nationals are required to obtain a visa for travel in the EU. Work is continuing in the EU towards joint Visa offices and a European Visa Identification System. A network of liaison officers in countries of origin is being increased. Common training of border guards and the involvement of the European Police College (CEPOL) are aimed at closer cooperation and better networks between EU states for border protection.

Analysis provided by Anisa Niaz, LLM (Public Law), United Kingdom.