Cookie Policy
Exactly which cookies VisaRequirementMap uses, why, and how to control them. We use analytics cookies only — no advertising, no retargeting, no third-party tracking.
Last Updated: January 15, 2026
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are tiny text files that websites store on your browser. Most websites use them. They can remember that you are logged in, remember items in a shopping cart, count visitors, or follow your browsing across other websites to show you ads. The same word covers very different uses, so a "cookie policy" matters less than what specific cookies a site actually sets.
A related technology, browser local storage and session storage, is sometimes lumped in with cookies. Strictly speaking storage is different from a cookie, but the privacy implications are similar enough that we cover both on this page.
2. Our Cookie Philosophy
We set the minimum cookies needed to publish a useful, reliable website. Specifically:
- We do not use advertising cookies of any kind.
- We do not use retargeting or remarketing pixels.
- We do not embed social media trackers (Facebook Pixel, Twitter conversion, LinkedIn Insight, etc.).
- We do not use heat mapping, session replay, or behavioral profiling tools.
- We do not use affiliate tracking cookies.
- We use a privacy-respecting analytics provider that counts page views in aggregate without tracking individuals across sites.
This minimal approach is not just our preference; it reflects our editorial values. A reference site that tracks readers around the web while telling them what to do about visas would be hard to take seriously. We don't.
3. Cookies We Use
The table below lists everything we currently set. If we ever change this list, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
| Cookie / Storage Item | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
_ga | Google Analytics (only if we enable GA) | Distinguishes unique anonymous visitors for aggregate analytics. | 2 years | Analytics, optional |
_ga_* | Google Analytics | Stores session state for GA4 property. | 2 years | Analytics, optional |
_gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique visitors for a 24-hour window. | 24 hours | Analytics, optional |
_gat | Google Analytics | Limits the rate at which analytics requests are sent. | 1 minute | Analytics, optional |
vrm_recent | VisaRequirementMap (sessionStorage) | Remembers your last few visa checker lookups for the "Recently checked" suggestions on the Visa Checker tool. Lives only in your browser, never sent to our servers. | Cleared when you close the tab | Functional, strictly local |
Note: vrm_recent is a sessionStorage item, not a cookie. It is stored only in your current browser tab and is never transmitted to our servers. We describe it here for transparency.
4. Cookies We Do Not Use
For complete transparency about what we are not doing:
- Advertising / remarketing cookies. Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, Criteo, AdRoll, etc. We do not run banner advertising and we do not maintain advertising audiences.
- Social media tracking pixels. Facebook Pixel, Twitter conversion tracking, LinkedIn Insight Tag, Pinterest tag, TikTok pixel. None of these are present on the Site.
- Session replay / heat mapping. Hotjar, Mouseflow, FullStory, Crazy Egg, LogRocket. None of these record your scrolling, clicks, or form input on our pages.
- Affiliate tracking cookies. We do not currently run an affiliate program. If we ever add tasteful affiliate links to travel insurance or eSIM providers (which we have considered), we will update this policy first and clearly label affiliate placements.
- Fingerprinting techniques. We do not use canvas fingerprinting, WebGL fingerprinting, or audio fingerprinting to identify your device across sessions.
5. Third-Party Cookies on Our Pages
Even sites that try to keep tracking minimal can carry third-party cookies because of the services they load. We disclose these honestly.
Google Analytics
If we have Google Analytics enabled, it sets the cookies listed in the table above. Google Analytics collects aggregate, anonymous usage data — not personally identifiable information — and we have configured IP anonymization. You can opt out of Google Analytics globally for all websites by installing the official Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Google Fonts
We load the Instrument Sans typeface from Google Fonts (fonts.googleapis.com). When your browser requests a font file, Google receives the IP address of the request. Google Fonts does not set cookies, but the request is logged. To avoid Google Fonts entirely, you can use a browser extension that blocks third-party domains. The Site will render in a fallback system font and remain fully functional.
jsDelivr CDN
We load the Cal Sans typeface from jsDelivr, an open-source CDN. jsDelivr does not set cookies but logs aggregate access for abuse prevention. Privacy details: jsdelivr.com/privacy.
6. How to Control Cookies
Every major browser lets you view, block, or delete cookies. You can also browse in private / incognito mode to avoid persisting any cookies between sessions. The exact path differs slightly by browser:
Chrome
Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data. From here you can block all third-party cookies, see cookies set by visarequirementmap.com, or clear them.
Firefox
Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data. Firefox's "Strict" tracking protection mode blocks most analytics and advertising cookies across all websites by default.
Safari (macOS / iOS)
Safari → Settings → Privacy. Safari blocks cross-site tracking by default. To view or remove cookies, use "Manage Website Data."
Microsoft Edge
Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data. Edge supports Strict, Balanced, and Basic tracking prevention levels.
Blocking analytics cookies will not break any feature of the Site. The visa checker tool, all navigation, and all content work fine without cookies.
7. Cookie Consent
Different jurisdictions take different approaches to consent. Under the EU ePrivacy Directive and GDPR, non-essential cookies require informed consent. We approach this as follows: our only persistent cookies are analytics cookies, and we are willing to operate without them if our analytics provider requires consent that we have not collected. If you are in the EU and you do not see a consent banner, that is because we are using either a cookieless analytics provider (Plausible Analytics or Cloudflare Web Analytics) or have configured Google Analytics in a way that does not require a banner under your specific national interpretation. If a consent banner is required, you will see one on first visit; you can change your choice at any time by clearing your browser's cookies for our domain.
8. Updates to This Policy
If we add a cookie, remove a cookie, or change a third-party provider, we will update this policy and revise the "Last Updated" date. Material changes will be noted at the top of the page for at least 30 days.
Last reviewed: January 15, 2026.