Countries watch their borders.
They watch people and things move.
People use papers to travel.
This helps keep everyone safe.
It is how the world works.
Do you have a passport?
Governments watch their borders.
They watch people and goods move.
Some use walls to stop people.
Others use papers to help travel.
These papers are called passports.
Some borders check for sickness too.
This helps keep people safe.
It is how the world works.
Governments use border control to watch people and goods.
They check who moves across land, air, or sea. This helps them follow laws and stop sickness.
People have used controls for a long time. In ancient China, people used passports.
These papers listed a person's age and height. In the Middle Ages, some used tax receipts to travel.
During World War I, many countries started using passports more often. This was for safety and to control movement. Later, some countries used borders to be unfair. In the 1800s and 1900s, some laws kept Asian people out of certain places. These rules were a sign of injustice.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed things again. Many places closed their borders to stop the virus. They used bans or stays in quarantine.
Border control can be very expensive for the world. It can also be very hard on people.
Border control is how governments watch and regulate movement. People, animals, and goods move across land, air, and sea. Governments use these rules to enforce customs and biosecurity laws. They also use them to manage migration. Some borders are open and have no guards. This happens in places like the Schengen Area in Europe. Other borders require people to use specific checkpoints. These controls often use complex travel documents and visas.
These rules work in many different ways. Some controls focus on health and safety. For example, the Ottoman Empire used quarantine stations. Travelers might stay for 9 to 15 days to stop disease. Other controls focus on documents. Modern systems use intricate policies that vary by country. Some borders are internal, meaning they are inside one state. Most international borders are subject to some level of control.
People have used these systems for a very long time. In ancient Asia, the Arthashastra mentioned sealed passes. In China, the Western Han dynasty used passports called zhuan. These papers listed a person's age and height. Even children often needed them to move through counties. In the medieval Islamic Caliphate, people used a bara'a. This was a receipt for taxes like the zakah or jizya. In England, King Henry V issued passports in the 1400s.
History shows that border controls can be used unfairly. In the late 19th century, some countries targeted Asian immigrants. The United States passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Canada passed the Chinese Immigration Act in 1885. These laws were a sign of great injustice. In Australia, the White Australia Policy began after 1901. Some leaders also used borders to separate people by race. In Uganda, Idi Amin banned many Asian residents.
Today, border control affects the whole world. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused many borders to tighten. Countries used entry bans and quarantines to stop the virus. These controls have high human and economic costs. Tens of thousands of people have died at borders. Some estimates say the economic cost is many trillions of dollars. If migration restrictions were lifted, the global economy could double.
Border control refers to the various measures governments use to monitor and regulate movement. This regulation applies to people, animals, and goods. These movements occur across land, air, and maritime borders. While many people think only of international borders, control can also happen at internal borders within a single state. These measures serve several distinct purposes. Governments use them to enforce customs and biosecurity regulations. They also use them to manage sanitary and phytosanitary rules. Additionally, border control is used to restrict migration.
The mechanisms of border control vary depending on the specific goal. Some borders are open and completely unguarded. This is true for most internal borders and those within the Schengen Area in Europe. Other borders are subject to strict control. In these cases, travelers may only cross at designated checkpoints. Modern systems are very intricate. They rely on complex travel documents and visas. These policies change constantly between different countries.
Historically, the concept of border control dates back to antiquity. In ancient Asia, the Arthashastra described the use of sealed passes. These passes allowed people to enter or exit specific areas. During the Western Han dynasty in China, officials used passports called zhuan. These documents recorded a person's age, height, and physical features. Even young children often required these documents to move through imperial counties.
During the medieval period, different regions developed unique systems. In the Islamic Caliphate, travelers used a bara'a. This was a receipt proving they had paid specific taxes, such as the zakah or jizya. In medieval Europe, borders were often symbolic or consisted of contested lands called marches. Real control often happened at city gates. Authorities used these gates to exclude people like lepers or the wandering poor. In England, King Henry V issued passports as early as the 1400s. By 1540, the Privy Council of England managed travel documents.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, border control became more systematic and often discriminatory. The Ottoman Empire established quarantine stations to control disease. Travelers might be quarantined for 9 to 15 days to prevent the spread of illness. Later, some nation-states used borders to target specific ethnic groups. The United States passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Canada followed with the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885. These laws imposed a head tax on Chinese workers. Similarly, Australia implemented the White Australia Policy after 1901. These policies were used to target Asian immigrants and Pacific Islanders.
Decolonization in the 20th century also changed how borders functioned. As nations in the Global South gained independence, former colonial powers introduced stricter controls. In the United Kingdom, nationality laws became increasingly complex. The British Nationality Act 1981 created different classes of citizenship. This was criticized by the United Nations for being related to ethnic origins. Some groups, like Hong Kong residents, felt they deserved full citizenship. Later, the British government created the British National (Overseas) visa. This allowed many people to eventually gain settled status in the UK.
Border control carries significant human and economic consequences. Tens of thousands of people have died during border crossings. The indirect economic cost is estimated to be many trillions of dollars. Some experts suggest the global economy could double if migration restrictions were lifted. Recent events have also caused sudden changes in policy. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a drastic tightening of borders. Many countries imposed entry bans and strict quarantines to stop the virus. These measures were implemented after the virus had already spread in many regions.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (28)
+ 16 more
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.