ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT VISAS

The first and perhaps the most important step to traveling out of your home country into a foreign country is to be fully equipped with all the necessary information. This article gives answers to every question you might have about a visa. 

 

WHAT EXACTLY IS A VISA?

A visa is a document that allows lawful entry into a foreign nation for a limited amount of time. Visas are often affixed to the passport of the traveler. Distinct visas grant their holders different privileges within the host country.

You can apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate or do it yourself online. A visa on arrival is another option.

 

WHY IS A VISA ESSENTIAL?

As a safety precaution against illegal immigration and to keep tabs on who enters the country, visa requirements are typically enforced for foreign people by most nations.

 

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT PASSPORT AND VISA?

 

PASSPORT	VISA
Your home country issues you a passport.	The government you wish to visit issues a visa.
The term "passport" refers to a travel document that serves as proof of identity.	A visa is attached to the traveler's passport to confirm that they are authorized to enter and remain inside a particular country for a predetermined period.
The validity of a passport is typically between five and ten years.	Visas are temporary and often last from a few months to a few years.

 

WHAT KIND OF DATA CAN BE OBTAINED FROM A VISA?

Stamping or gluing a traditional visa into a passport is also possible. Your name, passport number, date of birth, country of birth, the reason for travel, and visa expiration date should all be included on the short document that is your visa if it is adhered to the inside of your passport.

Visas that have been stamped often include less information. Visas typically include the traveler's destination, the date the visa is valid, and the number of days the visa is good for per official regulations.

 

METHODS OF OBTAINING A VISA 

When applying for a visa, most people use one of these typical methods:

• At a consulate or embassy in the destination country.

• On the Internet (electronic visa).

• Point of entry (visa on arrival).

Your application process may vary by country and citizenship. Never leave home without verifying that you don't need a visa to enter the country.

 

Application for a Visa at the Consulate or Embassy

You need to apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of the nation you wish to visit. To get started, you must: 

1. Schedule an appointment.

2. Gather necessary documents.

3. Pay for the visa processing.

4. Go through a visa interview (if required).

After consideration of your application, approval or denial will be communicated. The time it takes to process a visa application can vary widely from a few days to several months.

 

Applications for a Visa Online or Electronically

Visas obtained electronically are typically issued as printable documents rather than stickers affixed to a traveler's passport. If a country offers e-visas, you can apply for one online.

One must: 

1. Fill out an electronic visa application.

2. include scanned copies of your paperwork in your electronic submission.

3. Make the required payment for the visa.

Since you will likely be required to provide personal information and possibly even pay a charge as part of the application process, you must apply via the correct website. It may take a few minutes to many days to receive word about your visa application.

 

AN OVERVIEW OF THE VISA INTERVIEW PROCESS 

The visa officer often decides on a visa application within a few business days and does not always require an interview. If an interview is, however, needed, these are some of the most frequently asked questions:

·         Why do you hope to visit X country?

·         Why do you want to come now?

·         When will you be coming, and who will you be visiting?

·         How long are you planning on staying?

·         Where are you going to stay?

·         How much time off work do you have scheduled with your employer? Or are you retired?

 

VISA FREE VS VISA ON ARRIVAL VS VISA REQUIRED

Visa free	Visa on Arrival (VOA)	Visa required
Visa-free gives travelers the capacity to enter a foreign country without a visa. Only a valid passport is required for entry and exit.	A visa upon arrival indicates that travelers are not required to apply for a visa in advance to enter the destination country, but they can obtain one upon arrival.	A visa required means that travelers must apply for a visa to the country before traveling there.
It is a considerable way to reduce travel expenses.	At the airport or any other point of entry, you can submit an application, pay a fee, and await the application's approval.	It is applied for and approved by a consulate/embassy.
It enables spontaneous and unplanned travel without the need to make arrangements ahead of time.	All required steps are performed in a single location, making it easier to acquire. Depending on the country, it may take a few minutes to several hours.	The steps are in stages.
	Additional documentation may be necessary to enter some countries, such as return tickets, hotel reservations, and bank statements.
	Countries that issue VOAs usually restrict them to specific nationalities. Before you travel, double-check that your country is on the list.

 

S/N	Visa-free destinations for Nigerian passport-holders	Visa on arrival destinations for Nigerian passport-holders
1	Barbados	Bolivia
2	Benin	Cambodia
3	Burkina Faso	Comoros
4	Cape Verde	Djibouti
5	Chad	Ethiopia
6	Cote d'Ivoire	Gabon
7	Dominica	Iran
8	Fiji	Kenya
9	The Gambia	Lebanon
10	Ghana	Lesotho
11	Guinea	Madagascar
12	Guinea-Bissau	Malawi
13	Haiti	Maldives
14	Liberia	Mauritania
15	Mali	Mauritius
16	Niger	Mozambique
17	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Namibia
18	Senegal	Palau
19	Sierra Leone	Rwanda
20	Togo	Samoa
21	Vanuatu	Seychelles
22		Somalia
23		South Sudan
24		Suriname
25		Tuvalu
26		Uganda

 

CLASSIFICATION OF VISAS BY NUMBER OF ENTRIES 

Visas that only allow a single entry/exit are called "single-entry"; they enable you enter a nation/territory just once. No matter how many days you still have left on your ticket, they will be wasted if you leave.

A visa that allows you to enter a nation or region several times while still valid is called a "multiple-entry visa."

CLASSIFICATION OF VISA BY PURPOSE OF ENTRY 

Depending on your destination and reason for travel, you may need one of several different types of visas.

• Study visa: To further your education, you may apply for a student visa, valid just for the length of your current academic program. 

 

• Work visa: You will need a work visa to work in a foreign nation. The terms of your employment contract are a significant factor in whether or not you are granted a work visa. Your work visa may pave the way to citizenship or another permanent residence.

 

• Tourist visas: These are temporary visas provided for leisure travel and typically last for three months; however, tourists are not allowed to work during this time. One can apply many times for a tourist visa to a country.

 

• Medical visa: This visa is granted for the period of treatment and recovery, and a medical report from your doctor detailing your ailment and evidence that medical care is available in your country of destination is required.

 

• Retirement visa: Foreigners who wish to retire in a nation other than their own can apply. Most countries require evidence of financial stability to grant this visa to persons who have achieved retirement age.

 

• A Pilgrim visa: is granted to those who want to participate in religious activities abroad. These visas are awarded to entire groups, not individuals, and are only suitable for the duration of the journey.

 

• A family reunification visa: is issued when a spouse or parent has employment outside their home country, making you eligible for temporary or permanent access to that country.

JOINT VISA SCHEMES

When traveling between nations that are part of the same organization, some countries will issue one visa that can be used in any other country. Among the most widely recognized joint visa schemes are:

1. Schengen visa: to enter any of the 26 member states that make up the Schengen Area, you only need one visa to visit any of the Schengen countries. 

 

2. The British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS): is a visa scheme between the United Kingdom and Ireland that allows foreign nationals to travel between the two countries using just one visa.

3. The Central American Single Visa: consists of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, which allows them to travel to all four countries using a single visa. A visa is not required for citizens of these nations to travel to other countries. Travelers need one visa to visit any of the member nations.

4. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait are all signatories to GCC. Visa-free travel within these countries is possible for their citizens. However, due to political tension, visa-free travel to other countries is not always possible.

5. CARICOM visa: a citizen of one of the 15 Caribbean countries that are part of this agreement doesn't need a visa to visit any of the others. CARICOM countries also offer a single passport for local and foreign travel.

6. The Pacific Alliance: Citizens of the member countries (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru) do not need a visa to travel to any of the other Pacific Alliance countries. Tourists only need to apply for one visa to visit all member countries.

7. The Mercosur Agreement: eliminates the need for visas for citizens of the four member states (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and other associate countries. However, visa requirements for foreign travelers are governed by individual countries.

8. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): it guarantees the free movement of people between the 15 member states.

9. KAZA Univisa agreement: enables tourists to spend up to 30 days in Zambia and Zimbabwe without needing a separate visa.

Possession of a visa for one nation often entitles you to visa-free entry into several other countries; for example, a US visa will allow you to enter Costa Rica, Mexico, and the British Virgin Islands.

It is sometimes possible to convert a visa (usually work, study, family reunion, etc.) to a residence permit once you enter a country. Other times, it can change automatically if the purpose of entry is on a long-term basis. 

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