Tips on how to obtain a visa online

The process of getting a visa whenever you wish to travel to a foreign country is not the most enjoyable experience you have to go through. Embassies are not always the most welcoming institutions, and the application process is usually a pain in the behind. But maybe you can avoid all that. How is that possible? Simple. You do your research and find out whether the country you wish to visit releases electronic visas.

Electronic visas have been around for quite some time now, and it allows its holder to apply for it online. The online application process is simple, it takes less time, and if you want to apply for your visa at 2 AM in your PJs, you have that opportunity. Below, you will find some info on how to make the most of the electronic visa system.

Step one: find out whether or not the electronic visa is available for the country you want to visit

Unfortunately, not all governments have accepted the electronic visa system, which is why the e-visa is not available for all destinations. However, enough of them do, which is why you need to look into it. There is more than one way to check that out. One, you can take a look at the country’s visa policy. Wikipedia provides all the information you need on that. And two, some visa services offer a tool that gives you the information you need just by inserting your nationality. The latter is easier to use because you do not have to do too much reading.

Step two: check your eligibility

Just like not all countries have adopted the electronic visa system, the ones that did do not release an e-visa to all nationalities. It is possible for a particular state to provide an online visa, just not to you. Or better said, to your nationality. You can use one of the two methods mentioned in step one to find this piece of information as well.

Step three: put together everything you need for the online application process

After your eligibility is established, you need to make sure that you have all that it takes for a successful application process. The visa service you use should tell you everything that you need. The requirements are different for each country. It depends on your destination. However, the general condition is the passport. After all, an e-visa is linked electronically to a passport. So, if you have no passport, you cannot apply. Moreover, most visa policies ask that the passport should be valid for at least another 6 months from the date of arrival at the destination.

Step four: fill in an application form

As you can imagine, you cannot get something without asking for it. It is just common sense. That is why you are required to fill in an application. Online forms are usually short and easy to complete. You are asked only for the minimum, so you should be done with it in just 20 minutes. Plus, many visa services out there provide customer support, so you should do just fine.

One thing that is worth mentioning here is that you need to be very careful with the information you provide. Why? Because if there are discrepancies between the info in your electronic visa and your passport or ID card, your visa becomes invalid, and you have to apply for the travel document again. To avoid that, review your form multiple times before submitting it.

Step five: travel

After you receive the confirmation for your e-visa, you can go. Some countries do not require a physical copy of the authorization, while others make it a requirement. Just to be on the safe side, you can print out a copy before you leave. Some people choose to do that for some reassurance.

The bottom line is that you may or may not be eligible for an electronic visa when you go on your next vacation abroad. If you do not do your research, you cannot find out. And that is a real pity because the online application process has a lot of perks. There is less time and energy involved, and you can avoid the tedious trip to the embassy altogether. It does not get any better than that.