Manage Watchlist
The watchlist lets you flag visitors who need special handling when they arrive. Depending on your visitor policy, a flagged visitor can be blocked at the door, warned to reception, or allowed with a log entry.
Quick Summary
Go to Visitor Management → Watchlist. Add a visitor, set the flag type, and add a reason. Your visitor policy controls what happens when a flagged visitor arrives.
Watchlist vs Blacklist
| Type | Purpose | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Watchlist | Flag for attention | Former contractor, visitor with a past incident, person who requires escort |
| Blacklist | Flag for denial | Banned individual, terminated employee, trespasser |
Both types are enforced at arrival based on the policy action configured for that site. See Set Up Visitor Policies for how to configure the enforcement action.
What Happens at Arrival
When a watchlisted or blacklisted visitor checks in (through kiosk or operator), the system checks the visitor profile against the list. What happens next depends on the policy:
| Policy action | Watchlist | Blacklist |
|---|---|---|
| Block | Entry denied automatically | Entry denied automatically |
| Warn | Reception sees a warning, can decide | Reception sees a warning, can decide |
| Allow | Entry allowed, flag logged on the record | Entry allowed, flag logged on the record |
Most facilities use Block for blacklisted visitors and Warn for watchlisted visitors. This gives reception judgment on edge cases while keeping banned individuals out.
Add a Visitor to the Watchlist
- Go to Visitor Management → Watchlist
- Click Add to Watchlist
- Search for the visitor by name, email, or phone
- Select Watchlist or Blacklist
- Enter a reason (visible to reception at arrival)
- Click Save
Update or Remove an Entry
- To update the flag type or reason, select the entry and click Edit
- To remove a visitor from the list, select the entry and click Remove
Removing a visitor from the watchlist takes effect immediately. The next time they arrive, the flag will not appear.
What Reception Sees
When a flagged visitor arrives, reception sees:
- The watchlist or blacklist badge on the visitor record
- The reason entered when the visitor was flagged
- Whether the policy blocked, warned, or allowed the entry
If the policy action is Warn, reception can decide to admit or deny the visitor and record the decision on the visit.
Escalation for Flagged Visitors
If a flagged visitor arrives and reception needs to involve security or management, use the escalation flow. The escalation carries the watchlist/blacklist context into the work request so the responding team has full background.
See Escalate a Visitor Exception for details.
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