Visas
Gaining Safe, Legal Entry To A Country
In addition to having a valid passport when entering a country you may also need a Visa. A Visa is a permit which allows you to stay in a country for a designated period of time. Whether you need a Visa will depend upon the country you are trying to enter and possibly the country you are coming from as different rules can apply.
To obtain/apply for a Visa you need to contact the Embassy or Consulate for the destination country which can usually be found in your capital city. Alternatively for some countries you can now get an electronic Visa which can be purchased through a travel agents or with some airlines. Be sure to keep the print out of the Visa you are given and take it along with your passport to your destination. Apply for your Visa a couple of months before you travel as complications can occur, but electronic Visas can be obtained within seconds if all goes to plan. Alternatively you can obtain a Visa when arriving at the destination international airport but again it is risky if complications occur.
Visas can be expensive but again it depends on your nationality, where you are going, the purpose of visit, and the length of time you are staying for. As an example a UK resident purchasing a 3 months electronic Visa for Australia will cost roughly ten pounds.
You can get all your Visas sorted out before you leave but do not forget to ensure your passport is still valid and that you have at least 6 months left on it until expiration for the entire duration of your trip. Also note that although EU travel for EU citizens is relatively slack at borders, if your are travelling outside of the EU by law you need to present a valid passport to the local authorities if asked as well as at borders so carry it with you securely at all time.
For Visa requirements for specific countries please see our travel guides for South America, Australasia, Asia, Europe or North America