Drew Binsky

I'm Drew Binsky

I’ve been to
ALL 197 Countries Now I want to help you become a better traveller & save money

YouTube
3.3M

Facebook
4.5M

Instagram
810K

TikTok
525K

Snapchat
573K

LinkedIn
15K

Twitter
71K

A World Traveler’s Best Tips to Help You Get Travel Visas

A World Traveler’s Best Tips to Help You Get Travel Visas

Contents

Written by Drew Binsky

After traveling to 197 countries over the last ten years, I’ve had to become an expert at acquiring travel visas, and now I want to share that expertise with you! This article is a bit more technical than my usual posts, but I want to make sure you guys get all the information you need to be successful. 

A travel visa is basically the proof of permission granted to you by foreign governments around the world to stay in their country for a limited amount of time. Visas can be issued for thirty days, sixty days, ninety days, or even many years (depending on the type of visa you receive.) 

Visas will always cost you something, so make sure you consider that when you are budgeting for your trip! Usually you can pay for them via credit card but sometimes you do need cash in-person.

Different Types of Visas

  • Work Visa: You can get a work visa if you’re going to be doing business. This type of visa gives the necessary permission to work in a foreign country. 
  • Student Visa: This type of visa is best if you plan to go to a school of some kind in the country you’ll be visiting. You can sometimes get these visas to attend language schools in countries like Italy, Germany, or Spain. 
  • Volunteer Visa: This is what I did in Syria, and there are many other places you can volunteer around the world.
  • Tourist Visa: Also called a travel visa, this will be what you will need 99% of the time, so it’s the visa we’re going to talk about in this blog.

Whether you need a visa to enter any specific country depends on where your passport is from.

How Do I Check Visa Requirements?

Visa requirements change all the time, especially with the pandemic and global political matters. In my experience, the best place to check for visa requirements is Wikipedia. I’ve been using it since 2012, and I’ve found it to be highly reliable. 

How to check Visa Requirements in Wikipedia

  1. Open up Google (or any web browser.) 
  2. Type in “Visa requirements for _________ citizens,” inserting your country in the blank. 
  3. On the Wikipedia page, you will see a list of countries in alphabetical order. 
  4. Choose your country, scroll down, and you will see the map. 
  5. On the map, the one in red is your country.
    • The countries in green are visa-free, meaning you can just book a plane ticket, show up, show your passport to immigration, and they will let you in! No fees and no questions asked.
    • The countries in blue are the ones that offer electronic visas or E-visas. You can pay to get them online in advance. 
    • The gray countries are the ones where you need to get a visa prior to arrival.
  6. You can click on the countries on the map; it’s interactive. If you continue to scroll down, you can see country by country, and it will have all the details next to it.

You can also check out the Henley Passport Index.

Every year, Henley Passport Index comes out with a list of the most powerful & least powerful passports, and you will be able to see how your passport ranks. The US passport is always in the top ten, along with many Western European nations, Japan, and Singapore. You can also use this website to check which countries require a visa for your specific passport, although I recommend confirming that info elsewhere because it often changes.

Different Categories of Tourist Visas

So you’ve looked up the country you want to visit, and it turns out you need a visa. What are your options, and how do you go about getting the right paperwork to enter the country? 

1. E-Visa

Certain governments offer online pre-approval to get a visa before you arrive in their country. 

Let’s use Turkey as an example. When I go to Turkey with a US passport, I just google “E-visa to Turkey.” Once you find the website you need, you just fill out the paperwork. This usually includes your name, address, the hotel you’re staying in, what you plan to do in Turkey, and sometimes a few other questions. Then you just pay the visa fee, and they will email you a confirmation. It’s instantaneous—you print it out, present it at immigration, and BOOM—you’re in!

Keep in mind that some E-visas are not as easy to get. One example of this is the country of Angola; while they have an e-visa program, it is more expensive and difficult to navigate. It was quite a process to get my e-visa for Angola, so just keep that in mind and give yourself plenty of time before your trip to get what you need. 

Usually, with an e-visa, they will ask you to provide the print-out of your confirmation before allowing you to board the flight. Then you will also show it to immigration when you arrive in the country. 

E-visas can vary in cost from $20-$200, but getting one is pretty straightforward!

2. Visa On Arrival

This type of visa is exactly what it sounds like: you receive it once you arrive at your destination! Unlike the last one we talked about, this type of visa is not electronic—it’s all in person. Once you land, you will go to immigration and customs and find the line that says “Visa On Arrival.” 

Usually, you’ll need to show them your hotel reservation and outbound ticket, so be sure to print out everything you think might be necessary and bring it with you. Also, know what your plans are because they may ask you some detailed questions about your visit. Once they approve your visa, you will pay them in cash (always US Dollars.)

3. Visa Prior To Arrival

You can also get a visa before your trip by visiting one of the nearby embassies of your destination country. The best way to do this is in your home country: for example, I am from the US, so I can ship my passport to Washington, D.C. (which is where most of the international embassies are.) I either fill out the application online or mail it in, and then they send me back my passport with the visa in it. 

The other option (if you’re not currently traveling in your home country) is to get your visa at your destination country’s embassy in a different country. For example, if I want to go to Sudan but I’m currently traveling in Egypt, I can go to the Sudanese embassy in Cairo and apply there. It’s usually a more challenging way to get a visa, but it can be done! 

If you are trying to visit certain countries like Pakistan, you will have to go and have an interview in person at the embassy. Dress nicely and show up ready to make a great first impression. At the end of the day, you’re asking them to allow you to visit their country; they want you to have a good time and return in one piece!

4. Getting a visa for a warzone country is more complicated

When I visited __________________, I had to show a letter of invitation from my host, as well as my tour company, outbound flights, inbound flights, and proof of accommodation. I also have been in situations where I was asked to show my bank account (they’ll often check your bank accounts because they want to see if you have enough money to afford the trip, so you’re not going to get stranded there.) They also ask about my profession, so be prepared to tell them what your job is; they might also ask you for your insurance for a doctor’s note to make sure that you’re fit and healthy to go. 

You can look up the requirements or call the embassy and ask about the qualifications. Ask them about what you need to bring with you to make sure you have everything set up and ready to go (at the very least, you’ll need your passport and passport photos.) You’re going to print everything out, walk in, hand it to them, shake their hands, and sometimes you’re going to need to meet with the ambassador.

One of the most complex parts about visiting every country or visiting hard, dangerous countries is getting the visas you need. When I was getting ready to go to Venezuela, I visited the embassy seven times over four weeks to have appointments with the Venezuelan ambassador and meet their requirements. 

Getting a visa for a warzone or otherwise difficult country is a case-by-case basis. I wish I could just say every time is the same, but that’s part of the challenge! As a rule of thumb, the more uncomfortable situations you put yourself in, the better experience you will have. Remember, life is an adventure. Make sure you know how to stay safe in foreign countries, and then have fun!

Did You Know You Can Have Two US Passports?

This is one of the best tips in this entire course: you can have two US passports at the same time! This trick is one of the ways I was able to visit all the countries I did as fast as I did. It definitely helps you be efficient.

All you have to do is prove to the US Passport Office that you’re a frequent traveler. Start by booking an appointment in one of the satellite passport offices around the country. Make sure you bring along upcoming plane tickets/itineraries and use them to explain that you’re always on the road.

Many people don’t know that you can get two passports. You can actually do it in about 16 countries, including the US, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, and twelve countries in Western Europe. Get your hands on a second passport if you can; it will change your life!

Try Applying for Dual Citizenship

Some people qualify for dual citizenship, which means you’d be able to become a citizen of another country and carry that passport along with your passport from your birth-nation. It’s not as easy as you may think; you may have to prove that your great grandparents, grandparents, or parents are from that country, etc.

In some cases, you can outright pay for dual citizenship: this is known as “citizenship by investment” and is currently available in 11 countries, including options in the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. You pay a lot of money (I’m talking between $50,000 and $750,000, depending on the country), allowing you to become a citizen of that country and carry their passport.

If you want to get dual citizenship and need help, just send me a private message. I have a friend who specializes in this, and he could help you out at a reasonable rate!

Are You Overwhelmed With the Visa Process?

Getting a visa is definitely a process, but you don’t have to go it alone! If you’re an American or US passport holder, you can use Passport Visa Express

I have been using them since 2013, literally since I started traveling. It’s super convenient! You just send your passport in the mail, fill out all the applications online, and they do everything on your behalf. They deliver the passport to the embassy, then collect it and send it back to you in the mail. It’s expensive, obviously—you’re paying for the service and the convenience, but if you want to save time, I definitely recommend it. 

If you’re not from the US, be sure to check online! You might have a version of Passport Visa Express in your country.

Which of these visa tips was most helpful for you? Be sure to let me know!

Top offers

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

card_name

bonus_miles

AMEX Platinum Credit Card

card_name

bonus_miles

Chase Ink Cash Credit Card

card_name

bonus_miles

Capital One Venture X Credit Card

card_name

bonus_miles

card_name

bonus_miles

Top Offers

card_name

bonus_miles

AMEX Platinum Credit Card

card_name
bonus_miles

card_name
bonus_miles

card_name
bonus_miles

card_name
bonus_miles

Get Access To Exclusive Travel Tips &
My Travel Secrets In Your Inbox

Get Access To Exclusive Travel Tips &
My Travel Secrets In Your Inbox

Everything I Recommended

Sony a7R III A Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera with FE 20mm f/1.8 G Full-Frame Lens and Accessory Bundle (6 Items)

Sony Alpha a7 III - 24MP UHD 4K Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only) - AC-UUD12 AC Adapter - ALC-B1EM Body Cap - Accessory Shoe Cap - Eyepiece Cup - Micro-USB Cable - NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (2280mAh) - Shoulder Strap - Sony 1 Year Limited Warranty - Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS E-Mount Lens
Newly Developed - Full-frame 24.2MP Back-Illuminated Exmor R CMOS Image Sensor with Evolved Image Processing
Wide ISO range - of 100 - 51200 (expandable to ISO 50 - 204800 for still images) and 15-Stop Dynamic Range at low sensitivities
World Class AF system - featuring 693 phase-detection AF points covering 93% of image area, 425 contrast AF points and fast and reliable Eye AF
Continuous Shooting - at up to 10 fps with either Mechanical Shutter or Silent Shooting and full Auto Focus/Auto Exposure tracking
Details

2021 Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, Apple M1 Max chip with 10‑core CPU and 32‑core GPU, 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD) - Space Gray - Z15H00109

10-core - CPU, 32-core GPU
64GB - Memory
1TB - Storage
Details

TEVA Men's Hurricane Xlt2 Sandals with EVA Foam Midsole and Rugged Durabrasion Rubber Outsole

Quick-dry webbing - made from recycled plastic using traceable, verifiable REPREVE polyester yarn by Unifi supports your foot and stands up to abuse
Injection-molded strap - ends for quick and easy grip and adjustability, Easy hook-and-loop closure comes on and off quickly and gets the fit just right
Robust EVA footbed - for enhanced comfort built for all-day wear
Nylon shank - stabilizes and supports your foot on uneven terrain
Best for - day hikes, light hikes
Details

Sea to Summit Ultra-SIL Stuff Sack 3-Piece Set (2.5L, 4L, and 6.5L Ultralight Stuff Sacks)

Set of three ultralight - water-resistant stuff sacks for organizing gear and clothing in a backpack or bag, for any outdoor or travel adventure
Manufactured - from lightweight 30D Ultra-Sil Cordura nylon; slippery finish makes it easy to slide bags into tight spaces for better packing
Drawcord top opening - with durable pull tab for quick and easy access to bag contents
Round base - has a reinforced webbing pull handle for easy carry; stress points are bartacked and seams are double stitched for durability
Includes three stuff sacks - 2.5 liter (open dimensions: 4 x 10 inches, weight: 0.5 ounces), 4 liter (open dimensions: 5 x 12 inches, weight: 0.5 ounces), 6.5 liter (open dimensions: 6.5 x 13 inches, weight: 0.6 ounces)
Details

LaCie Rugged USB-C 4TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD, Drop Shock Dust Rain Resistant Shuttle Drive

Compatible with PC & Mac Quickly and easily connect to the latest Windows and Mac computers with Rugged’s reversible USB-C cable, or legacy computers using the included USB 3.0 adapter
Fast USB-C Enjoy fast USB-C 5Gb/s file transfers, backups, and image browsing
Protection Confidently tackle any terrain with drop, crush, and rain resistance
All-terrain use Shock, drops up to 4 feet, dust and water resistant for all-terrain use
Privacy Password protection built in
Details

OlimpiaFit Quick Dry Towel - 3 Size Pack of Lightweight Microfiber Travel Towels w/ Bag - Fast Drying Towel Set for Camping, Beach, Gym, Backpacking, Sports, Yoga & Swim Use

COMPACT DESIGN - This sports towel set is packable for the gym, beach, and anywhere else you need them. They can easily be condensed in size 4x smaller than a camping towel of the same size.
FAST DRYING - Made with fibers that are much thinner than a standard microfiber towel, our quick dry towels have 4x as much surface area, allowing them to absorb more water and dry up to 3x as fast.
MULTIPURPOSE - Each set includes 3 lightweight travel towels in the sizes 50"x30", 30"x15", and 15"x15". Use them as swim towels to dry off, gym towels during a workout, or small beach towels on vacation.
HIGH QUALITY - Every microfiber travel towel is made with premium material that shares the same smooth qualities as satin. They're also super absorbent, odor-resistant, and won't smell after drying.
SOFT - If you're looking for a packable beach towel or swim towel, give this one a go! It has a slip-resistant surface and extra plush microfiber that is oh-so-gentle on your face, body, and skin.
Details

GoPro HERO10 Black

More Power. More Clarity - More Stability. Revolutionary Processor: Faster. Smoother. Better. The powerful new GP2 engine changes the game—snappy performance, responsive touch controls and double the frame rate for amazingly smooth footage. Designed specifically for the demanding nature of the GoPro, the GP2 “system on a chip” is by far our fastest ever.
MORE STABILITY - Groundbreaking HyperSmooth 4.0 is our most advanced stabilization ever. 8X SLO-MO. - HERO10 Black captures up to 240 frames per second for astonishing 8x slo-mo. MORE ACCELERATION. - Record mesmerizing time-lapse videos with LIVEBURST - Record 1.5 seconds before and after your shot. Find the best pic or share it as a short video.
KEY SPECIFICATIONS - SCREEN SIZE - 23MP GP2 Chip with Improved Performance - 5.3K60/4K120/2.7K240 Video, 23MP Photos - New Front Display/Rear Touchscreen - Cloud Connected, 1080p Live Streaming - Enhanced Low-Light Performance - HyperSmooth 4.0 Image Stabilization - 33' Waterproof without a Housing - Time-Lapse & Night-Lapse, 8x Slo-Mo - Built-In Flip-Out 2-Prong Mount - 1720mAh Capacity Battery
Night-Lapse Video - In-Camera Horizon Leveling; Live View Front Display & Intuitive Rear Touchscreen; Webcam Mode & 1080p HD Live Streaming. Standard, Activity, Cinematic, Slo-Mo & Custom Presets; Voice Control; Portrait Orientation; RAW Photo Mode; Built-In Mounting
Bundle Includes – 1 x GoPro HERO10 Black - Waterproof Action Camera with Front LCD and Touch Rear Screens, 5.3K HD Video, 23MP Photos, 1080p Live Streaming, Stabilization | 1 x Compatible Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery | 1 x Extreme Pro 64gb microSDXC Card | 1 x 6AVE Electronics TM Microfiber Cloth
Details

Osprey Porter 46 Travel Backpack

Meets carry-on size - restrictions for most domestic airlines - Dimensions 21.5h x 14w x 9d IN.
U-zip - zip access to main compartment with lockable zippers on main and laptop compartments - 46L total volume
Shoulder straps - and hipbelt can be tucked away when the bag is checked
Protected rear - panel zip laptop sleeve and front panel vertical zippered pocket for books or other documents
Tuckaway web loops - to attach a shoulder strap (sold separately)
StraightJacket compression - straps compress the bag to a smaller size when it isn’t full
Dual internal zippered - organization side pockets and front panel organization with zippered pocket and key clip
Reinforced cord loops - to attach an Osprey Daylite daypack (sold separately)
Details

Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones for Apple devices - Black (Wired 3.5mm)

Apple compatible devices - Applies to: QC 25 noise cancelling headphones Apple devices The remote and mic are compatible with the following Apple devices: iPhone 3GS or later iPad iPod touch 2nd generation or later iPod classic 120GB, 160GB iPod nano 4th generation or later
Deep, powerful sound - for the music you love
Lightweight, comfortable around - ear fit you can wear all day long
Control your music - and calls on Apple devices with inline mic/remote
Details

Explore More Travel Tips

Hacks & Points, Travel Tips

Advertiser Disclosure

Drew Binsky has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Drew Binsky and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Editorial Disclosure

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

Editorial Disclosure

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.