Worldwide Travel Visa Guide

Tourist visas are short-term (around three months), strictly for leisure, and you cannot work while on a tourist visa. You can usually apply multiple times, provided the embassy/consulate grants you the visa.

Transit visas allow you to pass through a country on the way to a third destination. They are usually valid for 24–96 hours (or sometimes up to two weeks). You must apply before traveling; they are not issued at the airport.

A mix of tourism and limited work, usually valid for one to two years. There are age restrictions (often 18-30), and typically you can only apply once (except in certain countries, e.g., Australia).

Issued for educational purposes for the duration of your study program (1–4 years or more). In many countries, you cannot work, or you have limited work hours on this visa.

For employment in a foreign country, typically valid from one up to four years (depending on contract). Often a path to permanent residence.

Allows you to join a spouse or parent working in another country. Minor children can usually be included.

An investment visa grants residency in exchange for a significant financial investment, such as in a startup, government fund, or real estate.

Issued for diplomatic or official government-related duties abroad (e.g., diplomatic, service, or courtesy visas).

Granted to individuals persecuted in their home country for religious, racial, or political reasons. Each country has its own criteria.

To qualify for a digital nomad visa, you must be able to work remotely. Requirements vary depending on the country’s specific program.

A retirement visa is issued to those who have reached retirement age and can provide proof of sufficient funds to support themselves abroad.

For religious journeys (e.g., Hajj). Usually issued for groups and valid only for the duration of the pilgrimage.

While they are both travel documents, the main difference between a passport and a visa is that a passport is issued from your home country, whereas a visa is issued by the country you want to visit. Other differences include:

• The passport is an identification travel document, whereas a visa is attached to your passport, showing you have permission to enter a specific country.
• A passport is issued for about ten years, whereas a visa’s duration is shorter, usually a few months.

The main difference between an entry visa and a tourist visa is that an entry permit is not an actual visa; instead, it’s permission to allow you to enter a specific country, while a tourist visa allows you to enter and visit your destination country for up to six months.

An entry permit is usually issued on top of a tourist visa, and you have to apply for the permit one or two days before you enter the country, while you need a tourist visa months before you travel.

Here is an extensive list of the differences between an entry visa and a tourist visa:

Please note that the requirements for a tourist and entry visa are different based on your nationality and destination country.

The terms visa and a residence permit are often used interchangeably. However, a notable difference between the two is:

• You need a visa to travel to and enter a foreign country, either for tourism, business, work, studies, etc., usually for a short period.
• You need a residence permit to settle in a foreign country for an extended period.

Sometimes, you receive a visa first and then convert it into a residence permit once you enter your destination country. Other times, you automatically get a residence permit as soon as you apply for a long-stay visa (work, study, family reunion, etc.)

Electronic travel authorizations are entry requirements for nationals who do not need a visa for a specific country. They can be easily obtained online for a small fee, and are valid for long periods of time. The following are examples of electronic travel authorizations:

• eTA (Canada). The Canadian eTA costs CAD 7 and is approved within just a few minutes. It is valid for up to five years, and allows you to stay six months per trip.
• ETA (Australia). The Australian ETA costs AUC 20 and is approved within a few minutes. It is issued for one year, and allows you to visit Australia multiple times during its validity.
• ESTA (United States). The American ESTA costs USD 14 and is approved within a few minutes. It is issued for up to two years, and allows you multiple entries to the US, with a maximum three months per trip.
• ETIAS (European Union). The European Union’s ETIAS will become mandatory starting from May 2025. It will cost €7 and will be valid for three years. It will allow multiple trips of up to three months during its validity period.

Electronic travel authorizations are not actual visas and their purpose is to simply keep track of who enters and leaves a country. Because of this, it is unlikely that an application will be rejected.

These are some of the most common reasons why your visa application may be denied:

• Passport validity. Most countries will require you to have a valid passport with at least a three or six months validity period. However, whether this period begins when you enter or depart the country depends on your travel destination.
• Passport blank pages. The number of required blank pages on your passport differs from country to country, but it is usually two to four pages. Blank pages are required so there is enough space to stamp your passport and visa.
• Vaccination requirements. Several countries in Africa ask you to have an international vaccination certificate; otherwise, you won’t be granted a visa.
• Criminal record. It’s almost impossible to obtain a visa with a criminal record; only a few select countries, i.e., the US, and Canada, will grant a waiver for your criminal record when you need a visa.
• Travel ban. All governments have the power to declare a person “persona non grata.” As a result, diplomats and non-diplomats will not be allowed to enter a specific country.
• Inadequate health insurance coverage. In many countries it is obligatory for all visitors to have travel health insurance coverage.

Some countries that are a part of a regional organization issue a common visa for all organization member states. In addition to joint visa schemes, one visa issued by another country will allow you to travel visa-free to multiple countries. For example, if you have a valid US visa, you can also visit Costa Rica, Mexico, the British Virgin Islands, and several other countries as well.

An exit visa is a traveling permit that grants you permission to leave a specific country. Nowadays, exit visas are considered an outdated practice borderline a violation of human rights, so most countries do not enforce an exit visa.

Here is a list of the countries which require some form of an exit visa:

• Belarus
• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• North Korea
• Oman
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• The People’s Republic of China
• United Arab Emirates

Exit visas can sometimes be imposed on you because of your nationality, so check the traveling requirements with an embassy or consulate before you depart.

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