e-Visas (Electronic Visas)
Everything You Need to Know
What is an e-Visa?
Foreign citizens are required to obtain a Visa before entering many countries. An E-Visa is a digital version of a Visa. Rather than being printed, it's entirely online and often easier to apply for.
An e-Visa permits foreign travellers to enter a specific country and stay for a certain period of time.
The need to obtain an e-Visa depends on your nationality, the destination you plan to travel to, and how long you intend to stay.
A growing number of countries are choosing e-Visas over physical ones. However, there are still some where you'll need to obtain a paper visa, and others where you won't need one at all.
How do e-Visas work?
An e-Visa is similar to a traditional hard-copy travel Visa. However, the process of obtaining one is different and luckily often easier.
Applicants will submit their e-Visa application online and receive their e-Visa via email, either instantly or within a few days. On the other hand, physical Visas can take weeks or even months to arrive by the post.
Depending on your destination, you can either keep your e-Visa on your digital device, such as your mobile or tablet, or you may be required to print your e-Visa before arrival.
Alternative Airlines recommends printing your e-Visa, that way if something happens to your phone, you still have your documents at the ready.
Upon arrival at your destination, passport control officers at ports of entry, such as airports, will scan your e-Visa to verify it in their system.
E-Visa information for popular destinations
Apply online for an e-Visa for Vietnam
- As of August 2023, citizens of all countries can enter Vietnam with an e-Visa.
- Once issued, e-Visas are valid for 90 days of travel, including multiple stays.
Apply online for an e-Visa for Australia
- Australia implemented e-Visas in 2016 by the Goverment of Australia, with the goal of enabling future eligible travelers to easily and conveniently apply for a Visa online.
- The e-Visa permits eligible travelers to stay and travel within the country for up to three months.
- Depending on the country that you are traveling from, foreign nationals may need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which provides authorisation to travel to and enter Australia. This is because many travellers to Australia are Visa exempt, but will still need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to enter the country.
Apply online for an e-Visa for Canada
- Most foreign nationals traveling to Canada will need a Visa (or e-Visa), OR an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) - not both.
- Many travellers to Canada are Visa exempt. But, if you don't need a Visa, many visitors travellers heading to Canada by air will still need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to enter the country, if you don't, you may be denied entry.
- The eTA is an online requirement and involves completing an obligatory form for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by airplane.
Apply online for an e-Visa for India
- All foreign nationals require a visa, or e-Visa, to enter India (the only exceptions being nationals of Nepal and Bhutan).
- The Government of India has launched the e-Visa to make it easier for foreign nationals to apply for a Visa online.
- Once granted, the e-Visa is valid for 365 days from the date of arrival and permits multiple entries through designated airports.
Apply online for an E-Visa for Turkey
- In January 2024, Turkey permitted multiple major nations to enter visa-free, meaning even an e-Visa isn't required.
- For nationals who still need an e-Visa to enter Turkey, you'll be permitted to travel for up to 90 days, valid for multiple stays within a 180-day period.
- Travelers should apply for their e-Visa at least 48 hours before travel, and can do so up to 3 months in advance.
Apply online for an E-Visa for Singapore
- The Singapore e-Visa has been recently introduced by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA).
- Only citizens from certain countries can apply for the Singapore e-Visa online.
- The e-Visa will be valid for 90 days once issued, and allows the traveller to stay for a maximum stay of 30 days, per entry.
Apply online for an E-Visa for Thailand
- The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand has implemented a Thailand eVisa program to try and speed up the Visa approval process for travellers.
- Depending of your country of citizenship, eVisa regulations vary.
- The e-Visa is is intended by the goverment to allow citizens from eligible countries to easily enter Thailand for tourism purposes.
- It is necessary for tourists from certain countries to obtain a visa online before arrival in Thailand. On arrival, the e-visa grants holders a stay of up to 60 days.
Apply online for an E-Visa for Qatar
- Tourists not eligible for a Visa-free visit to Qatar can apply for an e-Visa. The Government of Qatar introduced the e-Visa in 2017, to allow eligible visitors to apply online.
- The e-Visa is valid for up to 30 days after arrival, for a single trip.
- Please note that you will need to purchase your flight tickets before applying for a Qatar e-Visa, as this information is required for the application.
Apply online for an E-Visa for Malaysia
- The government of Malaysia introduced the e-Visa program in 2016. Certain foreign nationals who are eligible are able to apply for a Visa online.
- The Malaysian e-Visa currently only available to nationals of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Serbia and Montenegro.
- Once issued, the e-Visa is valid for 90 days, and its holder is entitled to stay up to 28 days in total within Malaysia.
- Citizens of China and India can now enter Malaysia Visa-free for up to 30 days.
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E-Visas FAQs
Do I need an E-Visa?
It's easy to spend hours trying to figure out the Visa requirements for the country you are flying to! This is because there are different factors which determine whether you will require a visa, including your nationality, your arrival country, and the duration of your visit.
What is the difference between an eTA and an eVisa?
When entering certain countries, some travelers will be Visa exempt, meaning that no travel Visa is required. This will depend on the nationality of the travler and the countries they are traveling between. However, despite being Visa exempt, an eTA might still be required. Citizens from select visa required countries may also be eligible to apply for an eTA, instead of a visa, to travel into a country by air. An eTA is electronically linked to a traveller’s passport.
How long does eVisas processing take?
The e-Visa processing time will be very different depending on your chosen destination. For example, the processing time for an e-Visa for India can take up to 4 business days, whereas the processing time for an e-Visa for Sri Lanka is one business day.
When should I apply for an e-visa?
For many e-Visas, there will be a window available for applying for an e-visa before travel, based on particular dates of travel. After this window closes, it will be too late to apply for an e-Visa. The time-frame for applying for an e-Visa will depend on your nationality and your destination. For example, citizens who are eligible for an e-Visa to travel to Turkey can apply at least 48 hours before traveling, and can do so three months in advance. However, the processing time for a Visa to Turkey is only up to 6 hours, whereas it can be much longer for other destinations. It is important to be aware of the processing time for an e-Visa, and to apply with plenty of time before travel.
What do eVisas look like?
There is no standard format for a eVisa, they can look very different depending on the government which is issuing it. Sometimes an eVisa will be a simple barcode that can be scanned from a smartphone, or an eVisa may be a full-page document that will need to be printed.
What countries offer eVisas for travel?
There are many countries that require travellers to pre-obtain an eVisa, or encourage travellers to obtain an eVisa as an alternative to gaining one on arrival or through an embassy. Examples include many popular tourist destinations, such as Turkey, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Can I pay for an e visa with Paypal?
You can pay for your e-Visa using your Credit Card, Debit Card, or you can use PayPal.