{"id":32089,"date":"2019-08-09T14:53:56","date_gmt":"2019-08-09T05:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/?p=32089"},"modified":"2022-11-07T15:46:01","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T05:16:01","slug":"advice-booking-visas-overseas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/advice-booking-visas-overseas\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips and Advice for Booking Tourist Visas"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, you\u2019ve decided to travel? Nice choice! Hopefully, you won\u2019t regret it. But we all know it\u2019s not as simple as just boarding a plane and jetting off to a new destination. After booking your flight you might start feeling the pre-travel panic thinking about the million things there are to organise, pack and double (or triple) check.<\/p>\n

One of the most important checklist items for most travel destinations is a visa. In this article, we will discuss what a visa is, why you need a visa and a quick general guide to help when applying for visas.<\/p>\n

The first thing to note though is: if you haven\u2019t already got a passport, you should apply for or renew your Australian Passport as early as possible. This is because most countries require you to have a minimum of 6 months validity left on your passport, which can vary from your return or departure date.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

Part of your travel checklist will involve sorting our your visa.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

What is a visa?<\/h2>\n

A visa is a document, issued by the host country, that gives the bearer certain rights to be inside the host country. Visas are usually a stamp or paper glued into your passport and they will either state the entry date or both the entry and exit dates of your trip.<\/p>\n

There are several different types of visas. Common visa types can include travel\/tourist visas, business visas, e-Visa, working visas, immigrant visas and student visas. Our advice in this article will be more targeted towards tourist\/e-Visas.<\/p>\n

\"Stamped<\/p>\n

A visa is usually stamped or glued into your passport.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

When do you need a visa?<\/h2>\n

All countries have their own visa requirements and sometimes Australia has special relationships with host countries, allowing Australians a \u2018visa-free\u2019 status or special visa status.<\/p>\n

Multiple countries now have visa-free regimes for a certain period which means you do not need a visa to enter the country if you stay less than the designated period. Otherwise, it is likely that you will need a visa to enter any country without these special relationships, or if you want to stay longer than the \u2018visa-free\u2019 period.<\/p>\n

To find out the visa requirements for any country, visit the Australian Government Smartraveller website<\/a>\u00a0or check the official website of the host country.<\/p>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

Each country is different when it comes to whether a visa is required.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Applying for a visa<\/h2>\n

Applying for a visa can be as simple as crossing a border, paying some money and getting a stamp. Or it can be as difficult as detailing exact hotel dates, flight schedules, which tourist attractions you plan to visit and possibly even a letter of invitation – it just depends on the country.<\/p>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

The application process can be fairly straightforward or more complicated.<\/em><\/p>\n

What are the requirements?<\/h2>\n

The requirements will vary between countries, however, there are typical documents that many countries will request. These requirements are highly variable so make sure you check with the appropriate government website or embassy for the country you intend to travel to and prepare them before you leave.<\/p>\n

The typical documents that may be requested for your visa application include:<\/p>\n