Visa Application at an Embassy

In most cases, you can apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. You will have to:

• - Make an appointment.
• - Collect a set of documents.
• - Pay a visa processing fee.
• - Enter a visa interview (sometimes).

The consular officers will review your application and decide whether to grant you a visa or not. Depending on the visa type, it could take several days to several months to process your application.

Online Visa Application

You can also apply for a visa online. Electronic (online) visas are usually issued as printable documents and are not pasted onto your passport. If a country issues electronic visas, then there will be an official application website, where you can:

• - Complete an online visa application form.
• - Attach electronic copies of your documents.
• - Pay a visa fee.

Make sure that the website you are applying through is the official website, as you may have to provide personal information during the application and even pay a fee.

It can take a few minutes to several days to hear a decision on your visa application.

Visa on Arrival

You can apply for a visa at the airport or other point of entry of the country you are traveling to. This is known as a visa on arrival (VOA). In these cases, there will be visa counters at the point of entry, where you have to apply, pay a fee, and then wait for the decision to be made before you can pass through. Depending on the country, it could take from a few minutes to a few hours.