The world we live in is free but is still not. We need permission from other countries before we enter their borders.
Hence there is a visa requirement.
Visa – a simple sticker in one’s passport isn’t as quiet as it looks. It is the government authorized permission for non-citizens to travel and reside in one country for a specific purpose and period of time.
Each country has its own set of rules and regulations for accepting a visa application and even after accepting one, a country may not allow you to enter their borders remember Tom Hanks in Terminal and you may be asked to undergo a series of security and medical check-ups on your arrival.
Top related stories: 8 points to Remember When Applying for Visa
Top 6 Countries Offering Visa on Arrival for Indians
Types of Visa
Visa applications are of many kinds depending on the nature of your travel to the other country. Some of the popular ones are –
- Transit visa short term visa issued while travelers are in transit
- Tourist visa for leisure, pleasure
- Visa on arrival no earlier visa application is required
- Immigration visa resettling in a country
- Student visa for further studies
- Business visa for working
The details of each visa requirement vary depending on the purpose and the country.
Since we are all wanderlusters here, we will be only discussing travel visas.
Thankfully, Tourist/ Travel visas are one of the easiest and hassle-free visas to obtain.
Here are few of the most frequent questions asked while applying for an International tourist visa –
How do I apply for a Visa?
- Shortlist the country you intend to visit
- Visit their official government immigration website
- Carefully read through visa application requirements
- Fill the travel visa application form
- Upload/attach required documents
- Upload the information electronically or send it by mail
If the country offers a visa on arrival then no need to apply for a visa beforehand. Just carry the required visa fee and essential documents mentioned by the website/embassy and submit them on your arrival.
What are the basic visa requirements?
Visa requirements vary from country to country. Check the immigration website of the destination country for the exact requirements. Some of the generic requirements for visa application are –
- An accurately filled the visa application form
- A passport with more than 6 months validity and sufficient blank pages at the time of submission of visa application form
- Recent passport size photographs
- Letter of invitation
- Proof of residence
- Proof of profession
- Proof of financial soundness
- Proof of health insurance/vaccinations
- Travel insurance
- Airplane tickets
- Visa application fee
Read more stories related to visa: Top 15 : Visa on arrival Spots for Indians
India to Malaysia Visa Application Process
If you have stated the purpose of your travel as visiting family/friends while applying for visa, you may need to attach a letter of invitation along with your visa application. A letter of invitation is a formal letter by the person you intend to visit inviting you to their country. This is usually done to re-confirm the purpose of your visit and ensure its honesty.
More stories to read: 15 countries that you should visit with Schengen visa
| Indian Passport Just Got Stronger, Sri Lanka Announces Free Visa on Arrival for Indians |
Once you have submitted your visa application form, you will be asked to appear for a visa interview. Interviews do sound nerve-wracking but there is nothing to worry as the questions asked are simple and basic.
Here are few of the common questions asked during the interview –
- Why do you want to travel to the specified country
- Why do want to visit at the chosen time?
- Do you have any criminal record?
- Who are you travelling with?
- Who will you be visiting?
- What is the duration of your stay?
- Have you booked airline tickets?
- Will you return to your home country after your visit?
- Things to remember while appearing for the interview –
Know the basic details of your trip – places you will be visiting, number of days, your airline details, date of departure and arrival
- Be honest and confident
- Wear something presentable
- Give precise answers and not full-blown stories
- Try and speak in English
- Use your native language if you don’t understand English unless the embassy doesn’t allow it
How much is the visa fees?
Visa fees depend on your nationality, period of stay, the purpose of travel and the destination country. The visa fees can vary from free to INR 10000 For USA. Check the immigration website of the destination country for exact information on visa fees.
How much time does it take to get a Visa?
Again, it depends on the country you are in and the country you want to travel to. Usually, it takes about 10 – 20 days for a visa application to be processed and granted. To avoid any last-minute glitches it is advisable to apply for visa well in advance.
If I am an Indian citizen, which countries can I travel to Visa- free?
Indian passport allows you to travel visa-free or getting a visa on arrival to 59 countries including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Fiji, Bhutan, Nepal, Kenya, Maldives, and Thailand.
Important Tips -
- Never imply directly/indirectly that you plan to stay there for a longer period of time
- Show solid financial proof i.e. sufficient money to support yourself
- If you are a student/unemployed you can show a sponsor – a friend/relative with enough money to finance your trip
- Show strong ties to your homeland to convince the embassies that you have no reason/chance of overstaying in their country
- Make sure you have submitted all essential documents
- Never submit fake/doctored documents
- Give a strong and reliable purpose of visiting. If you are traveling to that country for the first time attach your itinerary
-
Don’t let this entire visa application talk and procedures dampen your traveling spirits. If the visa process feels complicated you can always take the help of a reliable visa processing company.
Plan your next overseas holiday in an informed way with Hello travels and make memories worth a lifetime
Read more stories: 58 Visa Free Countries for Indians
| India Records High Increase In Foreign Tourist In India On E-Tourism Visa In January |
