If you plan to visit a particular foreign country for either business or holiday, you may need to get yourself a visa. A visa is an official document that allows you to enter a foreign country legally. It may include information on when you will enter the country, when you will leave, or how long you should stay.
- How can you apply for a Visa?
You need to look for the official government immigration of the country you plan to visit. Once you have found the site and read all the information, including the visa application requirements, fill in the required travel visa application form. Alternatively, you can look for a migration agent of the country you intend to visit to help you out.
There are also other countries which require visa on arrival, if this is the case, you shouldn’t worry about obtaining a visa in advance. Once you get to your destination, you will be required to fill in a visa form and pay any applicable fees.
- What are the documents required for Visa applications?
- Valid passport
- Passport photos
- Travel insurance
- Letters of invitation if you are going to visit someone
- Employment status
- What are the fees for obtaining a Visa?
Each country has varying fees for obtaining a visa. You can check your intended destination’s government immigration website or any reputable migration website to find out the costs.
- 3 important things you should know when applying for a visa.
- Ensure that you really need a visa
Sometimes, some airline sites can post warnings that don’t apply to everybody. For instance, if you are booking a flight to the U.S., it will mention that you need a visa even if your home country participates in the Visa Waiver Program.
Another essential factor you must consider is if you only need a visa to study or work, but not to visit the country as a tourist. To confirm if you actually need a visa is to check out the “Visa” page of the official government website for the country you intend to visit and find information that relates to people of your nationality. Or you can call the embassy to get confirmation if the information on the website is unclear.
- It can take days to weeks to obtain a visa
The period it takes to get a visa depends on factors such as your destination, your purpose of traveling, etc. Every country has certain application and requirements for getting a visa. If your visa requires you to be interviewed physically, you may wait for more than a week just get an appointment. If your visa doesn’t require an in-person interview, Swift can help to speed up your visa processing time. It can only take one business day.
- Visa application may be denied
Before you apply for a visa, you should know that it may be denied. The reasons why your visa application may be denied include:
- Incomplete applications
- Insufficient information
- Unacceptable photos
- Insufficient documentation
