How do you get visas to all these different countries, do you do it online or go to an embassy in every nation?
Yeah, getting travel visas is sometimes a hassle, but it can be made easier by not worrying too much about it. Much of a traveler’s success rate at being granted tourist visas depends on their country of origin.
Published onMay 13, 2009byVBJFollow me on Twitter here.
Support VBJ’s writing on this blog:
How do you get visas to all these different countries, do you do it online or go to an embassy in every nation? (seems like that would be the hassle that is the most worrisome)
Yeah, getting travel visas is sometimes a hassle, but it can be made easier by not worrying too much about it. Much of a traveler’s success rate at being granted tourist visas depends on their country of origin. I am from the USA and have a USA passport, so I usually do not have too difficult of a time getting visas, and for most countries I can get them on arrival. Regardless of politics, most countries want tourists from nations that they view as being wealthy, and the USA is at the top of this list. If I was from a country whose citizens have a reputation for overstaying visas in foreign countries, then I would probably have a much more difficult time.
How to get travel visas
On the strength of my nation of origin, I have little problems getting travel visas. I simply walk into consulates, give them my passport, some money, a photo, and then return in a few hours to pick up my visa.
I very rarely get visas in my home country, as is often suggested. It tends to be more expensive if I get visas at consulates in the USA than in other countries. So if I am planing on traveling to a region where I will need lots of visas, I pick a regional administrative hub city and go to the consulates there. For example: If I want to travel to West Africa I will stop first in Casablanca and get all of the visas I need; if I want to go to China, I will take a flight to Hong Kong; if I want to go to the Indian Subcontinent or Southeast Asia I will travel first to Bangkok to get the visas or, if I am in China already, Kunming.
Travel Visas
World travel is an ongoing system of connecting transportation and administrative hubs. If you do this properly, you can continuously travel with little difficulties. Just pick a major city in a country that both does not requite you to have a visa to enter and is near the regions you want to travel to that requires visa and get all of the travel documents that you need there.
Just follow the paths of least resistance around the world, and getting visas is seldom a problem. But if you want to go straight from Guatemala to India- or some odd route like this – then getting visas become much more of a hassle.
Hello, I live and travel off of the proceeds from this website, so if you like or use this information, please consider making a donation. Thank you.
Total Views:40
Related
SUPPORT
The only way I can continue my travels and publishing this blog is by generous contributions from readers. If you can, please subscribe for just $5 per month:
I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 91 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. VBJ has written 3723 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.
I like to get the visas beforehand just so I don’t have to mess around to find the visas in a foreign country. If I change travel plans and I got to find the visa so be it, but I try to get it all done way before it is needed.
I suppose this works alright if you know exactly where you are going and are the kind of person who sticks to their planned route. Yeah, this would probably work out well. Why not get the visas before you go? But I have the impression that I am the sort of fellow who has no real idea where they are going, and I change paths constantly. Man, and many of those visas are far too expensive to just blow off.
Did you get a visa for Syria while is Istanbul? Wikitravel suggests that you can roll the dice and hope to get in at land border crossing but it is risky, am curious to know your experience.
I’m a little confused… how do you get a visa outside of your home country? Don’t you need to apply for visas in the foreign embassy (of whatever country you are visiting) in your home country?
I’m starting my trip to the east in april (the 29th) and will be solo-travelling for about two or three months (and then another month with my girlfriend accompanying me)
I will be travelling over land, hitchhiking mostly, couchsurfing and trying to get there as cheap as possible.. i have al the time of the world and if i only make it to turkey.. fine by me.. but i really also want to visit iran and pakistan and india, and I was wondering, where can i get my Iranian visa?
i mean.. where in Turkey? i heard that it was impossible in istanbul.. is this true or a rumour? What other cities in Turkey can get me a visa for iran.
Here is a list of Iranian consulates. There seems to be many on your route of travel. I would recommend calling them as they could give you better information than me.
after best greatin..
i ethiopian citizen, so want to visit kosovo, did i need visa or any think else to reach in kosovo..plz tel me if there is importent notice to know.
Hello,
I live in Boston and I’m national of Nepal but I’m in possesion of US Green card.I’m planning to visit Belgium to my girlfriend.I’m planning to apply for visa next month from NY Belgium Embassy.I don’t if I’ll get or not.
My another question is My flight from Boston to Brussels and in return flight I’ve to wait 19 hours at Amsterdam.I’ve schengen visa.So can I go out from airport or can I start my flight from Amsterdam instead Brussels.So I don’t need to wait 19 hours in airport?
Thanks in advance.
If you have to go through immigration in Amsterdam then I suppose it’s OK to leave the airport and travel overland to Brussels. You’re suppose to go through immigration in the country that you have your Schengen visa for but if that’s not how your flight is routed then I guess there is not much you can do about that.
Hello sir,;
i am indian
lost passport n schengen short term visa in europe
i got police compalint,getting new passport(indian embassy)
i am worried abt visa my travel date is 1 month later
Want to look into the core of a culture? Go to the beach.
Ghost Cities of China
Ghost Cities of China is a book which recounts the two and a half years I spent on the ground investigating China’s empty new cities. Pull back the dark veil on the New China and find out what the country is really all about.