Why is it important to check if you need a visa for International travel?
Planning a trip is very exciting but there is a lot of planning involved and work to be done. How many of us actually think about the Visas requirements when planning a trip? Often I am guilty myself and start to plan flights and accommodation before I get to the Visa requirements. Not planning ahead can be costly and you may be refused to board the plane or refused entry at arrival.
It is important to know that tourist visas are needed to visit most countries around the world. The application process varies from country to country and often changes. Visas are often expensive and a costly process, especially if you need to visit the Embassy in person. I suggest this is one of the first things that you get out of the way as soon as possible.
3 things normally determine if you need a visa or not. Let’s have a look at them.
- Your Nationality;
- How long are you planning to stay in the country;
- Purpose of entry. Are you travelling to the country for tourism, work, study or business.
The above will have an impact on the cost and type of visa.
Where to check for Visa requirements online when planning a trip.
The first step is to use a visa requirements tool to see if you need a travel visa. This is a simple process that takes a couple of minutes. If you do not need a visa then you can go ahead and plan the rest of your trip. If you do need a visa, then it becomes a little bit more complicated and you know work needs to be done before the time. Let’s look at a practical example:
I am South African and want to travel to Cambodia. Immediately the visa requirement tool tells me that a visa is required and the cost involved. The visa itself costs 40 USD and the service fee, if I use an online company is 20 USD for a single entry tourist visa, valid for 90 days. It also tells me that processing time will take 24 hours. This is great news because I can work it into my timetable and leave sufficient time to obtain the visa.
It is important to note that you could go in person to the specific embassy and apply for the visa. This could be costly and time consuming as travelling is often involved. In my case for example it is easier to make use of the services of an online company. Why? I am a passport holder of a country but reside permanently in another country. It is not possible for me to travel to my home country and apply there for a visa. By using an online visa processing company and applying directly on the site, I save time and money.
If I go back to the visa requirements to Cambodia, the site gives me useful and very important information. In addition it tells me that I can enter Cambodia only through the following ports of entry:
- Phnom Penh International Airport
- Siem Reap International Airport
- Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchey)
- Bavet (Svay Rieng)
- Cham Yeam (Koh Kong)
This is crucial information when planning my flights and accommodation.
Online visa application is hassle free, simple and secure.
Personally, I like to simply my life and to eliminate as much stress as possible when making travel plans. Ivisa helps me to do that. Visa application is a simple process, it is fast and secure. In many cases it is not a requirement to visit the embassy. In some cases it is even possible to obtain a last minute visa when at the airport!
