| If you're planning a trip abroad, you are almost certain | | | | The most common type of visa is the tourist visa. This |
| to require a visa. But for many people the concept of | | | | is usually only valid for a short period of time, |
| a visa remains confusing. Here's some useful | | | | sometimes a few weeks, sometimes a few months, |
| information about visas to provide you with all you | | | | and it is this that you will need if you are just planning |
| need to know to prepare for your trip abroad. | | | | to visit the country. On a tourist visa you are generally |
| What is a visa? | | | | not allowed to take part in certain activities such as |
| A visa is an official permission for you to enter a | | | | working or studying. |
| foreign country. Whenever you travel outside of your | | | | Others types of visa include business visas, study |
| own country you will generally need one (unless your | | | | visas, fiancée visas, journalist visas and many others |
| country has a special agreement with the country to | | | | depending on the country. All of these provide you with |
| which you are traveling). | | | | permission to take part in certain activities. |
| The visa comes in different forms: sometimes it is a | | | | There are also resident visas for people who are |
| paper document, but normally it is a simple stamp in | | | | planning to live in a country. You will normally require a |
| your passport. Sometimes you need to get one | | | | valid reason to get one (for example you may be |
| before you arrive in the country, and at other times | | | | getting married to a citizen of the country), and as |
| you simply need to turn up and you will be given a visa | | | | such these are harder to acquire. |
| when you pass through passport control. | | | | Do I need a visa? |
| A visa determines the length of time you can stay in | | | | Whether you need a visa depends on where you are |
| the country, and the activities you can take part in | | | | traveling and the purpose of your trip. Whereas some |
| whilst there, such as studying or working. | | | | countries are very strict in providing visas, others are |
| You will often have to pay for a visa, and it depends | | | | very relaxed. Always find out beforehand whether |
| what country you are from and which country you are | | | | you require a visa for your destination country |
| traveling to, because different agreements are in place | | | | because sometimes the process can be more |
| for different countries. | | | | complicated, even requiring a letter of invitation or a |
| Different types of visa | | | | sponsor in the country. |