An
open border is a border that enables free movement of people between different jurisdictions with limited or no restrictions on movement. A border may be an open border due to intentional legislation allowing free movement of people across the border, or a border may be an open border due to lack of adequate enforcement or adequate supervision of the border. An example of the former is
that between most member states of the
European Union and
European Free Trade Area, which allows free movement with very few restrictions. An example of the latter has been the border between
India and
Bangladesh, which is becoming controlled. The term "open borders" applies only to the flow of people, it does not refer to the flow of goods and services. However where an open borders policy exists, so does a
free trade policybut the converse is not necessarily or even usually true.