Regular, on arrival and electronic visas: the differences you need to know before traveling

At TFC we have already talked about passports and in particular of the "strength" of the Japanese one (first in the world according to one report), and of the descent of the Italian one (which, however, continues to hold an excellent position). 

In that same article, we reported how the tricolor passport allows us to reach 189 destinations among those that do not require a visa. 

But what is the visa?

There are different types of visas: from regular visas to visas on arrival to electronic visas. In this article we try to understand the differences by highlighting what they are, when they are needed and how they can be obtained.

In general, a visa is defined as the act by which a state grants a foreign individual permission to enter its territory for a specific period of time and for specific purposes. In addition to a passport, therefore, some countries also require travelers to present a visa (theIndia is an example in this regard).

The regular visa

A regular visa is applied for in the country of residence at the embassy and/or consulate you want to visit. Usually this visa is a kind of stamp or sticker that is placed right in the passport. 

Those who do not completely trust their level of English, or in any case prefer to be supported throughout the process, can instead rely on a mediating agency that checks that the forms are filled out correctly.

In fact, the data and documents provided are forwarded only when there is certainty that everything is correct, to avoid delays or errors that would invalidate visas. In the case of, for example, Vietnam, where visa on arrival has been strongly discouraged for some years, the accuracy of the date entered is critical: the validity of the visa runs only from the date scheduled for arrival in Vietnam, as per the application form. Although it is not mandatory to have already booked an airline ticket to apply for a visa, it is good to know when you will be traveling to Vietnam and to meet certain requirements, including entering the country at one of the permitted entry locations.

Visa on arrival

In some countries, the visa can be produced as soon as you land. This is certainly a faster process than the regular visa. It can be applied for once you land in your destination country. Here the immigration officer will affix it to your passport (the paperwork can cost between 15 and 50 euros depending on the country).

In order to apply for a visa on arrival, however, you will need to possess the following certain requisites:

• Have a valid passport
• Travel to that country for tourism or business
• Be a citizen of one of the countries covered by the VoA (Visa on Arrival) program.
• Being in a country that issues visas on arrival 

Traveling abroad, however, sometimes it will be mandatory to have a visa before landing. In these cases, in order to obtain the necessary document, you will need to go to the embassy or consulate of the corresponding country with your passport, ID, itinerary, and, of course, airline ticket. In some cases the paperwork can be done via the Web, while in others it will be necessary to physically go there.

Important Note. To apply for and obtain a visa, in many cases you will need to obtain international health insurance. 

The electronic visa (ETA)

If you wish, you can apply for the following an electronic visa (in some countries such as Indonesia for some travelers it must be shown on arrival). This is a document (which can be applied for by one person, for a family of 2 to 20 people) valid for traveling to various countries in a given period of time.

L'Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) can be required only for certain categories of travel: tourist, business, humanitarian. In other cases, such as for work or study, a traditional visa is required.

The procedure for applying for an electronic visa consists of three steps:

• Completing the application on the official portal of the chosen country
• Payment (by credit card or bank transfer)
• Receipt of visa directly on email

The renewal

When in Rome, read what you will. Here's why the conditions for renewing a visa are not always the same, but vary depending on the place we visit. In general, one must go to the immigration office with the required documentation. Only after this step will the visa be renewed (in some cases even repaid).

The advice we can give you when you set out to travel abroad is to Always make a photocopy of your passport and ID card for yourself. This is to prevent theft and/or loss that would not allow us to prove our identity to local authorities.