Visa Checker — Do You Need a Visa?

The data is checked against official government sources and carries a last-reviewed date on every result. Visa rules change with little warning, though, so treat the result as a starting point rather than a final ruling. Every result links directly to the issuing government page, and you should confirm there before paying a fee or booking flights. If you find something out of date, email us and we will correct it.

No. A visa is permission to travel to a port of entry and request admission, not a guarantee of admission itself. Border officers make the final decision and can refuse entry if you cannot show a return ticket, sufficient funds, or a credible reason for the trip. Carry your accommodation bookings, return flight, and proof of funds in hand luggage rather than checked baggage.

Apply six to eight weeks before departure for a standard tourist visa, and three months ahead for destinations with long processing queues such as Australia from South Asia. Electronic authorisations like the Australian ETA and the Japan eVISA are usually granted within days, but the systems do fail occasionally. Never book non-refundable flights before the visa is granted.

An eVisa is a full visa applied for and issued online before you travel. A visa on arrival is issued at the border after you land, usually for a fee paid in cash or by card at the airport. An Electronic Travel Authority is a pre-screening permission linked to your passport electronically, not a visa in the traditional sense, and it is typically cheaper and faster than both.

Weak evidence of ties to your home country is the most common reason, followed by inconsistent paperwork. If your itinerary says one city and your hotel booking says another, or your bank balance does not support the trip you have described, the application is likely to fail. Japan rejects applications over vague day-by-day schedules specifically, and Australia refuses those that fail its genuine temporary entrant test.