What Is a Visa?


A visa is an official document that allows the bearer to legally enter a foreign country. The visa is usually stamped or glued into the bearer’s passport.

Travel visas can be separated into two categories: Immigrant and Non-immigrant. Immigrant visas allow the bearer to reside permanently in the host country, whereas nonimmigrant visas allow the bearer entry into the host country on a temporary basis.

There are different kinds of visa's, such as;

1) Travel/Tourist Visa


Travel visas allow the bearer to enter a foreign country for touristic and leisure purposes only and stay for a predetermined amount of time. These visas do not entitle the holder to work or engage in any business activities in the host country.

2) Work Visa


Work visas are required for individuals who wish to take on employment or engage in business activities in the host country. There are several types of work visas that depend on the nature of the work and length of stay. For example, working holiday visas allow individuals to temporarily take on employment while travelling through the country.

3) Business Visa


A business visa allows the bearer to enter the host country and engage in business activities without joining that country’s labour market. For example, an individual may require a business visa if they are travelling to a country to do business with another company or if they are attending a business conference. The visitor typically must show that they are not receiving income from the country.

4) Student Visa


A student visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa that allows the bearer to enrol at a postsecondary educational institution in the host country. High school foreign exchange students must typically obtain a visa for temporary residence.

5) Refugee/Asylum Visa


Refugee visas and asylum visas can be granted to individuals fleeing persecution, war, natural disasters and other situations in which their life is at risk.

6) Working Holiday Visa


Working holiday visas allow the bearer to undertake temporary employment in a country through which they are travelling.

7) Spousal Visa
Spousal visas allow partners to visit each other when the couple does not hail from the same country.

8) Transit Visa


Travellers may sometimes require transit visas in order to pass through a country that is not their destination country. Transit visas are typically required if you have a layover in a country of more than a few hours.

9) eVisa


An eVisa, or electronic visa, is a digital visa that is stored in a database rather than stamped or glued into the bearer’s passport. The eVisa is linked to the individual’s passport number. Applications for eVisas are typically done over the Internet and the applicant will receive a paper document to present while travelling.

What Does a Visa Look Like?


Traditional visas can either be stamped or glued into your passport. If your visa is glued into your passport, a passpost is usually a small document that includes your name, passport number, place of birth, reason for travel and expiration date.

Stamped visas typically have less information on them. They usually only have the destination and date from which the visa is valid and official instructions stating how many days the visa is valid for.

What Is a Visa Policy?
A country’s visa policy is a rule that states who may or may not enter the country. The policy may allow passport holders of one country to enter visa-free but not the passport holders of another country. Most visa policies are bilateral, meaning that two countries will allow visa-free travel to each other’s citizens, but this is not always the case. For example, Canadian passport holders may travel to Grenada visa-free, but Grenadians must apply for a visa in order to travel to Canada.

The reason why such restrictions are placed is to check and control the flow of visitors, in and out of a country and to also prevent any illegal immigratioin and other criminal activities.

When do I really need a Visa?
When you need a visa depends on where you'd like to go. For example, if your home country has a visa agreement with the country to which you intend to travel, then you most likely don't need to apply for a visa beforehand.

However, if your home country doesn't have an agreement, then you have to apply for a visa beforehand.

How Do I Apply for a Visa?


Now, embassies typically offer visa application services, assistance and up-to-date information regarding visa and travel requirements. It’s always a good idea to check the embassy of your destination country to learn about travelling there.

You can also search online for the official government immigration website of the country you intend to visit. Once you’ve found and read all the information, including the visa application requirements, fill out the required travel visa application form. You may be able to send in the form electronically or you may be required to send it by mail. If your destination requires visa on arrival, then you don’t need to worry about applying for a travel visa beforehand. In this case, once you get to your destination you may be required to fill out a visa form and pay any applicable fees. Double check the requirements with the relevant website or consulate as you may need to bring a passport-sized photo as well.

What Are the Requirements for a Visa?
Each country has its own visa application requirements. Make sure to check with your destination country’s appropriate government website to find out.

If you do not meet the visa requirements for the country you intend to visit it is highly likely that your visa application will be denied and you will not be allowed entry into the country.

When filing your visa application with the embassy of the country you intend to visit, you will be asked to include supporting documents with the main visa application. The following is a list of commonly requested supporting documents:

1) Letter of invitation

2) A photocopy of the information page of your passport.

3) One or two photographs of a specific size determined by the visa office.

4) Proof of financial support during the trip.

5) Travel insurance.

6) Airplane tickets

7) Proof of purpose of travel

8) Visa application fees.

What to Expect During a Visa Interview?


Once you have filed your visa application, you may be requested to submit to a visa interview by the country you intend to visit. Most visa applications are approved or denied without the need for an interview, but the visa officer may request one. The following are common questions you may be asked during a visa interview:

1) Why do you want to travel to X country?

2) Why do you want to visit at this specific time?

3) Do you have a criminal record?

4) Are you travelling with someone else?

5) Who will you be visiting?

6) How long will you stay?

7) Where will you stay?

8) Have you booked airline tickets?

9) Do you have health insurance for this trip?

10) If you are currently employed, do you have proper leave from your workplace for the duration of the trip?

11) Will you return to your home country after your visit?

What Are the Fees for Obtaining a Visa?

Each country has different fees for obtaining a visa. Check with your intended destination’s government immigration website to find out the costs.

What Are Visa Processing Times?


Every country processes visa applications at a different rate. Make sure to check the government website of the country you intend to visit to find out how fast they process visa applications.