What is a Visa?

A visa is a travel document that permits entry into a foreign country for a specific duration. In most instances, you must apply for a visa before traveling, either through an embassy, consulate, or online. Occasionally, visas can be acquired upon arrival. They are typically affixed to your passport and specify the allowed duration of stay.

To enhance security measures and monitor entries, most countries enforce visa requirements for foreign nationals. Visas also serve as a defensive mechanism, preventing potential security risks from entering a country and contributing to efforts against illegal immigration.

What does a Visa look like?

A visa is a sticker on your passport that includes your name, picture, and the authorized number of days you can stay in a specific country.

In certain instances, visas are issued as separate documents and are not affixed to your passport. This includes electronic visas, which must be printed out.

A brief history of Travel Visas

The word “visa” has its origins in Modern Latin, from “charta visa,” meaning verified paper or translated as “paper that has to be seen.” In the past, visas were distinct documents that accompanied passports during international travel. However, in contemporary times, most visas are in the form of stamps or stickers affixed to your passport.

Here is a concise history of the evolution of travel documents:

Period	Event	Description
420 BC	First travel documents	The first mention of traveling documents (passport and visa) in the Hebrew Bible when Nehemiah sought a travel passage to Judea.
1386-1442	The first passport	The reign of King Henry V, credited with creating the first passport.
1643-1715	The “Passe port”	The reign of King Louis XIV of France, who personally issued travel documents called “passe port” with debates on the origin of the term “passport.”
1918 onwards	Obligatory passport	After World War I, passports became mandatory for international travels, often accompanied by visas.
1922-1938	Nansen passport	The League of Nations established the Nansen passport in Paris to address the loss of nationality experienced by many refugees after WWI.
1945 onwards	Visas	Post-World War II saw a surge in global migration, leading to stricter border control, making both visas and passports mandatory for international travel.

Nowadays, a valid passport from your home country is a necessary identification document for international travel. Travel visas, issued by the destination country, play a crucial role in migration control.

Visa types

Various visa types cater to specific purposes of travel:

1. Tourist Visas
– Issued for recreational purposes.
– Short-term validity, usually three months.
– Prohibits work during the stay.
– Multiple applications permitted based on embassy/consulate approval.

2. Transit Visas
– Allows passage through a specific country while en route to another destination.
– Duration typically 24 to 96 hours, or up to two weeks.
– Must be applied for before traveling; not issued at the airport.

3. Medical Visas
– For seeking medical treatment in a foreign country.
– Short-term, aligning with the medical procedure and recovery time.
– Requires proof of medical condition and treatment arrangements.

4. Working Holiday Visas
– Allows exploration of a foreign country while working for financial support.
– Restrictions on work type and hours.
– Generally issued for one or two years; some exceptions exist.

5. Student Visas
– Issued for educational purposes.
– Valid for the duration of the study program.
– Prohibits work unless permitted by the host country.

6. Work Visas
– For individuals finding employment in a foreign country.
– Usually long-term, ranging from one to four years.
– Often serves as a pathway to permanent residence.

7. Family Reunification Visas
– Issued when a spouse works in another country.
– Allows temporary or permanent residence.
– May include minor children.

8. Investment Visas:
– Allows residency through a significant financial investment.
– Investment types vary; positive financial impact required.

9. Official Visas
– For diplomatic representatives working abroad.
– Includes diplomatic, service, and courtesy visas.

10. Refuge or Asylum Visas
– For those persecuted in their home country.
– Issued based on religious, racial, or political reasons.

11. Digital Nomad Visas
– For individuals meeting digital nomad criteria.
– Allows remote work; requirements vary by country.

12. Retirement Visas
– Issued to foreigners retiring outside their home country.
– Requires proof of sufficient funds for support.

13. Pilgrimage Visas
– For religious journeys in another country.
– Typically issued for group pilgrimages and valid for the pilgrimage duration.

Visa Free Travel

Not everyone needs a visa for travel. Numerous countries have visa waiver agreements, allowing citizens of specific nations to enter visa-free for short trips. Passport holders from Western countries, including the U.S., Australia, Canada, and EU states, can generally travel to most places without obtaining a visa.

The duration of visa-free stays is typically brief, ranging from a few days to a few months. It’s crucial to check your visa requirements before traveling, regardless of your nationality.

Reminder:

When visiting a country without a visa, you are not permitted to engage in work or sell any goods or services.

Ways to get a Travel Visa

Typically, you can apply for a visa through one of the following methods:

At an embassy or consulate of the country you intend to visit.
Online (electronic visa).
At the point of entry (visa on arrival).

The application method varies based on the specific country and your nationality. It is crucial to check your visa requirements before traveling; never embark on a journey without doing so.

Visa Application at an Embassy

In most instances, you can apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of the country you intend to visit. The process typically involves:

1. Making an appointment.
2. Collecting a set of documents.
3. Paying a visa processing fee.
4. Attending a visa interview (in some cases).

Consular officers will review your application and determine whether to grant you a visa or not. The processing time varies, ranging from several days to several months, depending on the visa type.

Important Reminder:

At times, embassies or consulates may delegate visa submissions to private travel agencies. In such cases, the agency collects your documents and forwards them to the embassy/consulate, which then makes the final decision.

Online Visa Application

You can also apply for a visa online. Electronic (online) visas are typically issued as printable documents and are not affixed to your passport. When a country offers electronic visas, there will be an official application website where you can:

1. Complete an online visa application form.
2. Attach electronic copies of your documents.
3. Pay a visa fee.

Ensure that the website you use is the official one, as you might need to provide personal information during the application process and make a payment.

The decision on your visa application can take from a few minutes to several days to be communicated.

Visa on Arrival

You can apply for a visa at the airport or another point of entry in the country you are traveling to. This process is known as a visa on arrival (VOA). In such cases, there will be visa counters at the point of entry where you need to apply, pay a fee, and then wait for the decision before proceeding. The processing time can vary, ranging from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the country.

Important Note:

Not all countries offer visas on arrival.
Even in countries that do, these are typically limited to specific nationalities.
Visas on arrival are usually available only at certain airports or entry points.

Common reasons for Visa Denial

Here are some of the most common reasons why your visa application may be denied:

Passport Validity
– Most countries require a valid passport with a three or six-month validity period.
– The starting point for this period, whether upon entry or departure, depends on your travel destination.
Passport Blank Pages
– The number of required blank pages varies, typically ranging from two to four.
– Sufficient blank pages are necessary for passport and visa stamps.
Vaccination Requirements
– Some African countries demand an international vaccination certificate for visa approval.
Criminal Record
– Having a criminal record makes obtaining a visa challenging.
– Only a few countries, such as the US and Canada, may grant a waiver for certain criminal records.
Travel Ban
– Governments can declare a person “persona non grata,” restricting entry to a specific country for diplomats and non-diplomats alike.
Inadequate Health Insurance Coverage
– Many countries mandate travel health insurance for all visitors.

Visa Duration and Validity

Visas can be issued for the following durations and validities:

Visa Durations and Validities:

Type	Description
Short-stay	A short-stay visa can be issued for a duration ranging from a few days to several months. Typically for tourists, business purposes, or short-term activities like medical visits or family visits.
Long-stay	A long-stay visa can be issued for months or years, and in some cases, residence permits are considered as long-stay visas.
Single-entry	This type of visa allows only a single entry into the specific country or area. Once you leave, re-entry is not permitted, even if there are remaining days on the visa.
Multiple-entry	A multiple-entry visa permits entry into a country or area multiple times as long as the visa remains valid.

What is the difference between a Passport and a Visa?

Although both are travel documents, the primary distinction between a passport and a visa lies in their issuance. A passport is issued by your home country, whereas a visa is granted by the country you intend to visit. Additional differences include:

Purpose and Nature
– A passport serves as an identification travel document.
– A visa is affixed to your passport, signifying permission to enter a specific country.
Duration
– Passports typically have a validity of around 5 to ten years.
– Visas, on the other hand, usually have a shorter duration, often spanning a few months up to 5 years.

What is the difference between a Visa and a Residence Permit?

The terms “visa” and “residence permit” are often used interchangeably, but a significant distinction exists:

Visa
– Required for traveling to and entering a foreign country, be it for tourism, business, work, studies, etc., typically for a short period.
Residence Permit
– Necessary for settling in a foreign country for an extended period.

In some cases, individuals receive a visa initially and then convert it into a residence permit upon entering their destination country. Alternatively, for certain long-stay visas (e.g., for work, study, family reunion), a residence permit may be automatically granted upon visa application.

What are Electronic Travel Authorizations?

Electronic travel authorizations are entry requirements for nationals not requiring a visa for a specific country. Easily obtained online for a nominal fee, they remain valid for extended periods. Here are examples of electronic travel authorizations:

ETA (Canada)
– Costing CAD 7, the Canadian eTA is approved within minutes.
– Valid for up to five years, it allows a six-month stay per trip.
ETA (Australia)
– The Australian ETA, priced at AUC 20, gets approval within minutes.
– Issued for one year, it permits multiple visits to Australia during its validity.
ESTA (United States)
– The American ESTA, priced at USD 14, receives approval within minutes.
– Issued for up to two years, it allows multiple entries to the US, with a maximum three months per trip.
ETIAS (European Union)
– The European Union’s ETIAS becomes mandatory from May 2025, costing €7.
– Valid for three years, it allows multiple trips of up to three months during its validity.

While electronic travel authorizations are not actual visas, serving primarily to track entries and exits, rejection of applications is unlikely due to their purpose.

Joint Visa Schemes

Some countries, as part of regional organizations, issue common visas for all member states of the organization.

The Schengen Visa
A shared entry permit allowing entry to any of the 27 European countries in the Schengen Area.
The Central American Single Visa
Joint visa agreement between Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, enabling visa-free travel between member states.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Agreement among Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, allowing visa-free travel within their borders.
The Pacific Alliance
Agreement among Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, facilitating visa-free travel for citizens within member states.
The KAZA Univisa
Allows 30-day travel between Zambia and Zimbabwe under the KAZA Univisa agreement.
The CARICOM Visa
Agreement among 15 Caribbean countries allowing visa-free travel for their citizens and issuing a joint CARICOM passport for domestic and international use.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Agreement among 15 West African member states, providing freedom of movement between countries.
Mercosur Agreement
Comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and associate countries, allowing visa-free travel for citizens, with individual visa policies for international visitors.
The British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS Visa)
Visa scheme between the United Kingdom and Ireland, permitting foreign nationals to travel with one visa between the two countries.
In addition to joint visa schemes, a visa issued by one country may enable visa-free travel to multiple countries. For example, a valid US visa allows visits to Costa Rica, Mexico, the British Virgin Islands, and several other countries.

What is an Exit Visa?

An exit visa is a travel permit granting permission to leave a specific country. Nowadays, exit visas are considered an outdated practice, bordering on a violation of human rights, so most countries do not enforce them.

Here is a list of countries that may require some form of an exit visa:

Belarus
Iraq
Kuwait
Lebanon
North Korea
Oman
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
The People’s Republic of China
United Arab Emirates

Exit visas can be imposed based on your nationality, so it’s advisable to check the travel requirements with an embassy or consulate before your departure.

List of countries that offer eVisas to Pakistani Citizens

Clicking the above list of eVisa countries that will take you to their dedicated pages, where you will find a detailed step-by-step guide their specific requirements.

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