What Is a Visa?
A visa is a travel document that allows you to enter a foreign country for a specific period of time. In most cases, you have to apply for a visa before travelling, either at an embassy, consulate, or online. Sometimes you can also obtain a visa on arrival. Visas are usually affixed onto your passport and state how long you can stay.
Most countries impose visa requirements for foreign nationals as a security measure: to keep track of who enters and to stop illegal immigration. Visas are also used as a defensive effort, stopping security risks from entering a country.
A visa is a sticker on your passport, containing your name, picture, and the number of days you are allowed to stay in a specific country.
In some cases, visas are also issued as separate documents and are not attached to your passport – such as electronic visas, which you must print out.
If you are planning a holiday visit or a short business trip to Australia, you will need to apply for either a visa or an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). An ETA will let you spend up to three months in Australia. There are a number of visa options available for people who want to migrate permanently to Australia and who have the required skills and qualifications.
A citizen of a foreign country, wishing to enter the U.S., generally must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The type of visa you must have isdefined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.
Work Visas & Green Cards | Family Visa & Green Cards | Student Visa |
Canada welcomes you as a tourist, student or temporary worker. Every year, more than 35 million people visit Canada to enjoy the many opportunities.
Our goals are to bring communities together and improve the UK’s competitiveness as a destination for travel, trade, migration and investment through programmes which prevent immigration abuse, deliver value for money and earn public confidence. Visas info will tell you whether you need a visa to enter the UK and, if so, how to apply.
Visitor Visas | Student Visa | Work Visas | UK Family Visas |
