Določitev tistih tretjih držav, katerih državljani morajo imeti vizum, in tistih, katerih državljani so izvzeti iz te obveznosti, je urejena s premišljeno, na konkretnih primerih utemeljeno presojo različnih meril, povezanih med drugim z ilegalnimiimigracijami, javnim redom in varnostjo ter zunanjimi odnosi Evropske unije s tretjimi državami, pri čemer se upoštevajo tudi posledice za regionalno povezanost in vzajemnost.
The determination of those third countries whose nationals are subject to the visa requirement, and those exempt from it, is governed by a considered, case-by-case assessment of a variety of criteria relating inter alia to illegal immigration, public policy and security, and to the European Union's external relations with third countries, consideration also being given to the implications of regional coherence and reciprocity.