Depending on where you’re jetting off to on holiday, you may need a visa to make sure you can get into the country.
Visa requirements are different all over the world, so it’s important you do proper research to avoid being left in the lurch.
Why do I need a visa?
There are a few different reasons that some countries require you to have a visa.
To find out why you’re visiting
Often, the purpose of a visa is to find out why you’re visiting the country.
That could be:
- tourism – you're just there for a holiday
- a business trip
- to study at a university or other place of education
- to work
Some places have stricter laws around visitors studying or working in their country.
How long you’re planning to stay in the country
Visas are also needed to figure out how long you’re planning to stay.
Some places have strict rules around how long you can stay, and some won’t even allow you in if you can’t prove you’ve already booked transport out of the country.
You might be able to apply to renew or extend your visa, so you can stay longer.
Immigration and security
The most important reason is about immigration and security.
That means governments can:
- keep an eye on who’s in the country
- enforce some conditions around people staying, including how long they’re staying for
- reduce the risk of allowing people into the country who might be a threat to public safety
What visa requirements do I need?
There are lots of different types of visas for travelling, including student, work, and even refugee.
But if you’re planning to go on holiday somewhere with a visa system, you’ll likely just need a tourist visa. They’re also sometimes known as ‘travel visas’ or ‘visitor visas’.
Tourist visas do what they say on the tin – they're for people who want to explore a new country just for leisure or fun. They usually only allow relatively short stays, generally up to a few weeks.
Check the visa requirements for the country you’re travelling to
The most important thing is to do your research on the country you’re travelling to.
Every country has different rules, so there’s really no one size fits all!
A good place to start is the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s foreign travel advice. You can filter by country to find out their travel visa requirements.
What documents do I need to apply for a visa?
When it comes to making your application, there are a few things you’ll probably need on hand ready.
Your passport
Firstly, and most importantly, you’ll need your passport.
Make sure it’s in date and doesn’t expire soon. Some countries require you to have at least six months left on your passport.
The specific visa application form
This will be different from country to country, but you’ll need to complete the actual application form, often online.
The form will include lots of questions, like where you’re staying, how long you’re staying, what the purpose of your trip is, and more.
Supporting documents
Different countries will ask you for different documents to support your application.
This could be things like:
- proof of travel – for instance, receipts for flight tickets
- valid travel insurance – some places require you to take out travel insurance before you travel
How much does it cost to get a visa?
You may need to pay a fee for your visa, including some different admin fees.
This is different from country to country.
For instance, a short-term tourist visa to Australia could roughly cost around £90 - or a single-trip visa to Thailand could cost around £35.
How do I apply for a visa?
You can use the FCDO’s foreign travel advice page to find out how to apply for specific visas.
They have plenty of information on entry requirements for different countries.
Research if it can be done online or in-person
With many countries, you can apply for the visa online – or you might be able to head to their embassy in the UK to apply in-person.
Track your application
If you’ve applied online, you should get tracking updates on your visa’s progress via email, to let you know how it’s getting on.
Some can be sorted very quickly, while some can take a little longer.
Our tips for getting a visa
If you're planning a holiday that needs a visa, here’s some things to be aware of:
- Start your application early - as we said above, some visas can take a while, so try and sort it as soon as possible
- Be prepared for any delays - it’s not uncommon for there to be issues or delays, so keep this in mind
- Contact the embassy – if you have any issues, you can contact the country’s embassy for support
