??Many countries accept a standard GD and do not require pilots or cabin crews to obtain a visa. This way, crew and pilots do not get a stamp on their passports as ordinary passengers do. ??But countries like the US and China require foreign airline pilots and cabin crew to obtain a crew visa before arriving.

Contrary to popular belief, flight attendants cannot just "enter any country" at will; they are subject to strict immigration laws just like passengers. However, most countries have a "Crew Member Visa" (like the C-1/D visa in the US) or "General Declaration" (GenDec) agreements that allow crew to enter for a short period (usually 24 to 72 hours) without a standard tourist visa, provided they are in uniform and on active duty. If a flight attendant wants to visit a country for a personal vacation, they must apply for the same tourist visa as anyone else. Furthermore, certain countries have very strict reciprocity rules; for instance, a US-based flight attendant might need a specific pre-cleared visa to enter China or Russia even for a layover. If a crew member is denied a visa for personal reasons, it can actually limit their career, as they may not be able to work on certain international routes.