Imagine this. You’ve just undertook a 12 hour flight then you shelled out a lot of money for. You ready to crash out in that luxury hotel or hostel that you’re looking forward to relax in, again that you paid money for. And that’s not forgetting the tours and extras that you are excitedly looking forward to, again that has made a dent in your bank balance. But it’s worth it, you’re here to have the holiday of your dreams. But how about as soon as you land at the airport of that country, you are told to go back straight home only because you haven’t got your visa sorted out beforehand and they don’t issue them on the spot then. You’ll be very upset and disappointed, wouldn’t you be? I really would. But I’m not the type of guy to forget sorting out my visa before I leave. In fact, it’s normally the first thing I do to plan my travels.
But as I’ve been travelling for two years now, I see and hear more and more people being refused entry into the country because they simply haven’t got their visa sorted out. Heck, even as more and more people are coming to me for travel advice (even seasoned travellers), they become flummoxed as they don’t know what a visa is and even dare pose me the question ‘do I really need it?’ Of course you need it.
Perhaps the British travellers are being lazy in their visas. After all, Britain is the country that has the most visa exemptions in the world. But still they get caught out particularly going to the US where there are specialised visas. It’s not only the British who get caught out, plenty of times I’ve had to awkwardly stand with other nationalities who plead to get in only to be turned away. I remember the time when I was in Vietnam when a couple of Germans didn’t arrive with a Visa and had to fork out a very expensive trip back out to Thailand through the same way they came from. Also, I should mention that’s after waiting overnight in the middle of immigration control with no water and food to wait for a bus to come through their way again.
So what about the countries I travelled? What visas did I need to gain entry? Here’s a list of where I visited with a British Passport as a Tourist:
Argentina
Visa Exempt
Visa exempt for a stay of up to three months. The traveller must:
- Hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page
- Hold proof of sufficient funds
- Hold proof of onward/return flights
- Hold all documents required for the next destination
- Confirm with their airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa
Australia
Tourist ETA – The Tourist ETA applies for travel for tourism only. Tourism includes holidays, recreation and visiting family and/or friends. It is valid for 1 year for multiple journeys of up to 3 months.
Brazil
Visa Exempt
Visa exempt for a stay of up to 90 days. The traveller must:
- Hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page
- Hold proof of sufficient funds
- Hold proof of onward/return flights
- Hold all documents required for the next destination
- Confirm with their airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa
Cambodia
VISA REQUIRED – See Embassy Website for further details
European Union Countries
Visa Exempt
Visa exempt for duration of passport validity. The traveller must:
- Hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page
- Hold proof of sufficient funds
- Hold proof of onward/return flights
- Hold all documents required for the next destination
- Confirm with their airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa
Fiji
Visa Exempt
Visa exempt for a stay of up to four months. The traveller must:
- Hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page
- Hold proof of sufficient funds
- Hold proof of onward/return flights
- Hold all documents required for the next destination
- Confirm with their airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa
Laos
VISA REQUIRED – See Embassy Website for further details
New Zealand
Visa Exempt
Visa exempt for a stay of up to 180 days. The traveller must:
- Hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page
- Hold proof of sufficient funds
- Hold proof of onward/return flights
- Hold all documents required for the next destination
- Confirm with their airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa
Thailand
Visa Exempt
Visa exempt for a stay of up to 30 days. The traveller must:
- Hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page
- Hold proof of sufficient funds
- Hold proof of onward/return flights
- Hold all documents required for the next destination
- Confirm with their airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa
- Be entering by air. [Overland travellers are only allowed a 15 day stay]
Uganda
VISA REQUIRED – See Embassy Website for further details
USA
US ESTA – Electronic System For Travel Authorisation To Travel To The United States
A US ESTA is the equivalent to a visa, but no stamp or label is placed in your passport.
- With CIBT, you can apply anytime and you will receive an email or post confirmation from CIBT notifying you once your ESTA has been issued.
- You must apply for an ESTA at least 72 hours before travel.
- Once an US ESTA is issued it is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires and will allow multiple entries into the US.
Vietnam
VISA REQUIRED – see Embassy Website for further details.
So there you have it. Always remember and remember to get your visas sorted out.
Visas are extremely important.
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