Remembering everything you need to bring on an overseas vacation might be challenging. Some nations demand that you get a visa in order to enter, in addition to ensuring that your personal items are gathered. Getting a VOA or visa on arrival is one method of doing this. This enables you to obtain your visa at the moment of arrival rather than in advance at your country of travel. If you wish to familiarize with the ins and outs about what is on arrival visa, keep reading.
What is a Visa on Arrival?
Instead of asking in advance for a visa at an embassy or consulate, visa on arrival permits travelers to receive a visa once they arrive in the country of their destination. In other words, visitors can enter a nation and receive a visa at the point of entry, such as an airport or border crossing. For visitors who are going to a nation for tourism, business, or other reasons and may not have the time or chance to apply for the visa in advance, on arrival visa is frequently a practical choice.
How Does a Visa on Arrival Work?
With the visa on arrival, any foreigner can enter another nation safely sans the need to apply for a visa beforehand. This aids national authorities in adequately controlling their borders. Additionally, since you will not need to set up your travel authorization in a foreign embassy prior to departure, your vacation plans will be more flexible. An online visa may be used in place of a visa upon arrival in specific circumstances. The primary distinction with them is that you must apply for authorization beforehand online.
How to Get a Visa on Arrival?
When entering a nation that requires a visa on arrival, you will have to apply for a visa at the border. Typically, this involves completing out some paperwork that is available at the point of entry & going through basic document checks. The process can be completed within just 10 minutes, but in case the border crossing is exceptionally congested or understaffed, it may take up to 30 minutes.
What Does a Visa on Arrival Look Like?
When it is issued, a visa on arrival often is indicated in your passport. The country you visit to will determine how this is done. In certain nations, this will appear as a stamp that includes the date of entrance and the kind of visa that was granted. However, several countries employ stickers that fill a whole passport page. Thus, it is vital to see that your travel document has enough empty pages before you enter a nation that requires a visa on arrival.
Documents Required for a Visa on Arrival
You must give evidence that you meet the conditions for entrance into the nation in question in order to avail a visa on arrival.
Every nation has its own laws governing visa requirements. They also differ according to your nationality.
If you require a visa on arrival while travelling to a foreign country, you could need the following paperwork:
- National passport with six to twelve months validity
- Filled-out visa application
- Hotel reservation
- Evidence of future travel
- Health Insurance
- Proof of enough funding
- A processing fee for your visa is also required
- Up to three passport-sized photos may also be required in some nations
List of Countries Issuing Visas on Arrival
The list of countries that provide visas on arrival is as follows:
- Armenia
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Cambodia
- Qatar Egypt
- Gabon Georgia India
- Iran
- Kenya
- Kuwait Laos
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Malaysia
- Nigeria
- Nepal
- Oman
- Pakistan
- New Guinea, Papua
- Arab States
- South Asia
- Taiwan Turkey
- Thailand Uganda
- Vietnam
Each nation has a unique visa policy that specifies who is eligible to apply for a visa on arrival.
Please verify with the embassy of the country you intend to visit if it is not on our list to see whether you may get a visa on arrival.
What is the Processing Time of Visa on Arrival?
You may require waiting for hours or you may be able to get it within ten minutes. An arrival visa’s processing time is determined by a number of variables, including:
- The quantity of applications
- The officer at the booth’s rate of work
- If you have met all the prerequisites
- Whether you have all necessary paperwork
What Is the Duration of a Visa on Arrival?
A visa on arrival’s duration is generally between 14-30 days. This duration can alter, nevertheless, because these nations have various visa regulations. Following the clearance of your application, you will be informed of the number of days your visa on arrival has been granted.
It is advised to verify with the embassy or consulate of that nation or consult their official government sites for the most current and correct information to discover the precise period of a visa on arrival for a certain country.
Can an Application for a Visa On Arrival Be Rejected?
Yes, an application for a Visa on Arrival can be rejected. While a Visa on Arrival (VOA) is generally easier to obtain over other types of visas, it is not however guaranteed that every application will be approved. The immigration authorities of the destination country have the discretion to reject VOA applications based on various factors such as:
- Incomplete or incorrect documentation: If the applicant fails to provide all the required documents or submits inaccurate information, the application may be rejected.
- Ineligibility: The applicant may not meet the eligibility criteria for a VOA, such as having a passport from an eligible country, or not fulfilling the purpose or duration of stay requirements.
- Security concerns: If there are security concerns regarding the applicant, such as a criminal record or being on a watchlist, the VOA application may be denied.
- Previous visa violations: If the applicant has a history of visa violations, overstays, or other immigration irregularities, it can negatively impact the VOA application.
- Insufficient funds or return/onward travel proof: Some countries may require applicants to demonstrate that they have enough funds to support their stay or show evidence of a return/onward ticket. Failure to provide satisfactory proof can result in rejection.
It is essential to review the requirements thoroughly and guidelines provided by the immigration authorities of the specific country you intend to visit. Additionally, it is highly advisable to apply for the VOA well in advance and ensure that all the necessary documents and information are accurately provided to increase the chances of approval.
Can I Extend a Visa on Arrival?
Yes, provided you meet the conditions, your visa upon arrival may be renewed. The length depends on the nation where you intend to travel. While some nations may simply extend your visa, others will only do so under dire circumstances. This is particularly relevant given that VOAs are often issued for travel and that travel visa extensions are uncommon. You will probably require submitting an application for a visa extension to the immigration or tourist officials of the nation you will be visiting.
What is not included in Visa on Arrival?
Passengers are given a brief stay in any foreign nation with a visa on arrival. This indicates that there are several things that holders cannot do when visiting. You visit the country of your preference with a visa on arrival, but you cannot:
Have a long-term stay in the nation
Work full-time or look for a job
Sign up for government programs and services.
In addition, if you depart the country and then return, you will often need to apply for a new visa. For this purpose, certain nations offer the option of a multiple entry visa.
Final Analysis
Everyone hopes to travel at least once in their lifetime. Each of us has a few ideal places we would want to travel to in the future. Exploring the wonders of nature and human progress is enjoyable in and of itself. Travelling allows one to discover themselves while also lowering stress levels. In short, everyone should experience travel at least once in a lifetime. You should be cautious of a handful of things before you travel. Things include making sure you have everything you need, researching the area thoroughly, picking up a few hand gestures, purchasing travel insurance, etc. Visa is one thing which is associated with travel. Visas come in a variety of forms. One of them is a visa on arrival. It is often created to make it simpler for tourists to get a visa when they get to their target country. Typically, visas on arrival are granted for travel, business, or transit needs.
Santosh Kadam is a travel lover and a full-time expert visa consultant. He has all kinds of visa related information on his fingertips and loves to blog about visa processes during his free time.