Tourist Visas
What you need to know before you apply
- Trusted by:
Trusted by:
More than just tickets to ride, tourist visas are important legal documents you must take seriously, or risk getting kicked out at your holiday destination’s border before your holiday has begun.
- Passport versus visa – what’s the difference?
- Visa essentials – how to get a travel or tourist visa
- Understanding visa waivers and transit visas
- Overstaying your visa and what to do
What is the difference between a passport and a visa?
While passports have been around since ancient times, visas granting authorization to travel emerged as important documents little more than a century ago. While your passport is your legal document to prove who you are, the visa is your ticket to enter a country as a foreigner under certain conditions.
Be aware governments can and do change the rules around visas at a moment's notice, and in some cases travelers have arrived at their destination to find the rules changed while they were mid-air.
While you can’t prevent a last-minute rule change, it helps to understand how visas work and what you might need to know before you apply for them.
Many countries require proof of a certain level of travel insurance cover for specific events to obtain a visa. Before you buy your travel insurance with World Nomads:
- Read through the policy wording to make sure the cover offered is suitable for you
- Check the cover offered by our policy meets your visa requirements
- Contact us if you would like to request a letter summarising your cover
- Make sure you leave enough time for us to generate the letter and send it out to you before you apply for your visa.
Visa essentials: How to apply for a travel or tourist visa
Obtaining and completing visa forms: To find the form you’re after start with the government website of the country you’re planning on visiting – that’s where you’ll most likely find all the information you need about visas. There are two common ways to apply for a visa:
- Online: Many countries are increasingly offering visas online – now you can apply for, be granted and have your visa recorded against your passport details without ever filling out a paper form. Check with your country of destination if they offer this service. A quick scan of your passport (by person or machine) when you get to your destination will reveal whether you have the right to enter a country and how long you’re allowed to stay.
- In writing: Some countries still do things in writing – that means obtaining an application form from the local embassy, office or online, completing it and then submitting it. You may have to attend an interview and submit your passport with the application. Timings range from weeks to months for approvals and vary depending on how busy the embassy or office is. If successful, you’ll be issued official passport stickers or stamps as proof of a successful visa application. Make sure you allow enough time for them to process the visa as you can’t always pay for it to be fast-tracked.
Choosing the right visa: It’s important to choose the right kind of visa for your planned activities. For example, if you’re planning on working at your destination you’ll need a work visa. Planning on studying? Then you’ll probably need a student visa. Selecting the wrong visa type may see you turned back at the border, held in detention and sent back home with nothing to show for your getaway. Take the time to read the eligibility criteria for all visas and ask questions if you’re not sure on what is required or what they mean.
Valid and up to date passport: No matter what kind of visa you’ve been granted, be sure your passport has several blank pages and at least six months left before it expires or you may not be allowed to depart your home country. Also some countries like the United States of America require you to have a passport with an electronic chip to issue visas under their visa waiver program. If in doubt, play it safe and renew your passport.
Supporting information and reference letters for your visa: The information travelers supply when they apply for a visa allows officials to control who comes in (including their health, wealth and intentions) and what they can do while they’re there.
Proof of travel insurance coverage for your visa application: The rise of COVID-19 around the world has seen a change in the visa rules for many countries. We are increasingly seeing additional requirements for tourist to show proof of travel insurance coverage in order to get a visa. Cruise ships typically also require passengers to show proof of travel insurance before boarding. If you’ve booked your travel insurance with World Nomads you can contact us and we may be able to help. If it’s not with us, contact your travel insurer for help.
Where, what and how long your plan to stay: You may need to provide proof of your financial ability to look after yourself for the chosen length of stay, where you’re going, any job offers that your visa is dependent on, or confirmed study at a certain institution. Make sure you have all this information to hand before you submit your application and don’t leave anything out that is needed – insufficient information is one of the many reasons visa applications are refused and you may not get a second chance to supply that information later to prove your eligibility.
Letter of invitation: Some countries require you to be invited to the country and have proof of it, before you apply for a visa. Speak to a travel agent about how you can obtain these or check the relevant government website. Sometimes it’s as simple as booking some travel and accommodation in advance and the letter will follow…sometimes it’s a little more official than that and unless you’re a diplomat you won’t be getting that visa.
Did you know: the word ‘visa’ stems from the Latin charta visa, meaning ‘paper that has been seen’. After World War I, the League of Nations championed a global passport standard and visas soon followed as a way to control immigration. The easier it became to travel from one country to another – by land, air and sea – the more important it became to control who and how many people did so.
Travel Tip: Although some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements, these are few and far between which means travel insurance may still be necessary when you leave your home country. Without travel insurance, travelers can quickly find themselves in debt if they get ill overseas. Travel insurance may provide cover for medical assistance, cancellation, delays, evacuation, repatriation and more.
Understanding visa waivers and transit visas
Visa waivers
As a gesture of goodwill, some countries have mutual agreements that allow citizens to come and go between them for holidays, or even work, without obtaining a visa. In some cases, that still means registering for travel but it’s a quick and easy process (usually online), and travel is often valid for much longer than a typical visa. If you come from a country that’s excluded from a visa waiver program, all may not be lost, you will need to apply for a normal visa to match your plans.
Transit visas
Transit visas are designed for travelers passing through a country to get to another destination, and not intending to stay or visit in that country. These can be valid for up to 10 days, or for as little as 24 hours. If you have a stopover but won’t be leaving the airport, find out whether you still need to apply for a visa. Some countries won’t allow you to continue on with your journey without a transit visa in place, and you might find yourself having to return home at your own expense.
If you’re booking flights with the help of a travel agent, double check any visa advice you receive and take a worst-case approach. A delayed flight that has you missing your connecting flight will make you glad you went to the trouble of applying for a transit visa – a hotel is a lot more comfortable than an airport to wait for the next available flight.
Traveler tale: "Our Finnish World Nomad was travelling to Kathmandu with a stop over in New Delhi. Unfortunately – they hadn’t checked visa requirements for New Delhi as they were transiting through and didn't think it would matter. When questioned by the airline at check-in as to whether they should have a visa for India, they didn’t know and neither did the airline. As a result, the airline cancelled their ticket and they couldn't board their flight.”
Overstaying your visa and what to do: Why overstaying your visa is a bad idea
So like this Nomad, you’ve turned up at the border ready to exit but turned out you were having so much on holidays you got your dates wrong and you’ve inadvertently overstayed your visa… what happens now?
Depending on the country you’re in, you may be able to talk your way out of it, pay a small fine or lead to detention, deportation and being banned temporarily or permanently from re-entering the country.
What happens if you overstay: If you can avoid staying longer in a country than your visa permits, do whatever it takes to do so. The penalties can be harsh and impact your travels well into the future. Even if you overstay on medical reasons, you may still find you’re banned from that country in the future.
Generally, the longer you overstay, the longer the period you won’t be allowed back. Fines and imprisonment can also be expected in some countries, even if overstaying your visa by as little as an hour or two. The legal expense and hassle involved in getting yourself out of jail just aren’t worth it.
Traveler tale: "An American Nomad had their passport stolen in Thailand while they were in southern Thailand. They were due to fly out the next day when their visa also expired. Instead they traveled to Bangkok to get a replacement passport and overstayed their visa by 5 days, paying a fine on exit."
How and when to extend your visa: Many countries recognise that plans change and allow travelers to extend their tourist visa if they want to stay a little longer – or have to. Just how long that extension is, and whether it’s granted at all, depends on where you are in the world as well as your home country. Apply as soon as you know you might need it.
Special visa conditions if you overstay due to reasons outside your control: If you can’t leave a country due to border closures or limited return flights home, there may be temporary visas available to you – and they may even allow you to work. The lingering effects of COVID-19 have led to a range of special visa conditions being introduced throughout much of the world, but be sure to allow plenty of time to apply for an extension or special visa.
What to do if your tourist visa is rejected
There are all kinds of reasons your visa application may be refused, including having previously overstayed your visa as mentioned above, and not all of them may seem fair if you’re given a reason at all. Not many countries welcome people who have a criminal record or have previous visa/immigration violations, and some countries will refuse a visa application for such reasons as:
- Your passport is damaged or shows too much wear and tear.
- Failing to show you have booked accommodation in the destination country.
- Not providing all the requested documentation with your application.
- You’ve visited a country the destination country considers hostile, or you’re from a ‘high-risk’ country yourself.
- You’re not considered of good moral character.
What’s good moral character, you may ask? That depends on the country making the decisions. Even if you don’t have a criminal record, if you’ve been subject to a domestic violence order, have failed to file or pay taxes, are guilty of adultery, or have violated controlled substance laws, a government may consider they have reason enough to refuse you entry.
If you fall into these categories, give yourself plenty of time to get your visa and address any queries along the way. If you’re refused you may be able to reapply again with more information to help your case, or appeal the decision.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you*
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact the teamWherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
Emergency Assistance, World Nomads
Travel insurance. Simple & flexible.
Travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.