The massive arrival of humanoid robots, driven by advances in Tesla (Optimus), Boston Dynamics or even Figure, raises a question that sounds like something out of a Philip K. Dick novel: Does a robot need a visa to cross a border?
The question may be easy to smile at, but it's taken very seriously by international lawyers and customs logistics experts. In 2026, as the first industrial deployments begin, here's a look at the concrete state of play regarding the “traveler status” of these new machines.
Commodity or passenger? The legal grey zone
At present, a humanoid robot is not a “robot".“person“. For immigration authorities worldwide (USA, Schengen zone, China), a robot is classified as a capital good or technological commodity.
The ATA carnet: today's passport for robots
If you're traveling with a humanoid today (for a demonstration, a trade show or a technical mission), you don't go to the consulate, but to the Chamber of Commerce.
The necessary document The ATA carnet (Temporary Admission). It allows the robot to be temporarily exported duty- and VAT-free to over 80 countries, but must be re-exported within 12 months.
The “Robot Worker” scenario”
This is where the problem lies. Imagine a French company renting Optimus robots to a factory in Mexico.
Work visa ? No. The import regime for services or equipment applies. Some trade unions are beginning to ask for “robotic immigration taxes”To compensate for the loss of human jobs, a sort of social customs duty.
Why the “human” visa could become a reality
Several countries are thinking about an Electronic Legal Personality. Saudi Arabia set the ball rolling in 2017 by granting citizenship to the Sophia robot. Although symbolic, this sets a complex precedent.
Safety challenges
Humanoid robots are packed with sensors, 4K cameras and high-fidelity microphones. Bringing a robot into the U.S. or China could be seen as bringing in a mobile surveillance device.
We could also see the emergence of specific authorizations linked to data storage: where do the images filmed by the robot during its stay on national territory go?
| Type of trip | Legal status | Required documents |
|---|---|---|
| Exhibition | Professional equipment | ATA Carnet / Customs Declaration |
| Maintenance / Plant | Capital goods | Proforma invoice + Import license |
| Personal use | Special luggage | CE/UL Declaration of Conformity |
| My expert opinion Don't look for stamps in their passports (for the time being) Don't expect to see a robot queuing at Heathrow airport with a biometric passport. The brake isn't technical, it's responsible. “If a robot causes damage in a foreign country, who is liable? The manufacturer? The owner? The software?” It is this question of civil liability that will dictate the creation of a “Robotics Visa”. This will not be a travel permit for the machine, but a compulsory international insurance policy coupled with a temporary operating license. |
There's another point still unresolved in these reflections:
What about the high-capacity lithium-ion batteries used by humanoids, which are strictly forbidden in the hold of conventional airliners? Cargo would be the only option.
Is your company planning to send robotic equipment or PLCs abroad? Contact us for customs compliance analysis and avoid blocking your units at the border.
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