Guide to How to Make an Overseas Visa

A visa is a document that proves a person’s permission to enter a country. Unlike a passport issued by the applicant’s home country, a visa is issued by the destination country that the applicant will visit.

The form of this document also varies, depending on the country that issued it. Some are in the form of stamps, some are in the form of stickers attached to the passport, some are in the form of soft files.

For visas in the form of soft files, it is often called an eVisa. The process is done before setting foot in the destination country. The end result will not be a sticker, but a file sent via email.

Not all countries actually require this travel document. Countries labelled “visa-free” allow you to waltz in with just your passport and other identifying data.

Visa Requirements

Not all countries require visitors to have a visa before entering their territory. The following are the types of visas that can be categorized based on the need and time to obtain them.

1. Visa-free

The following countries do not require this document when you visit. You only need to be armed with a passport and other identification. But it does not rule out the possibility of the destination country asking for additional documents such as showing a return ticket.

Although visa-free, it does not mean you can stay there for long. There is always a maximum stay time limit applied by each country.

2. e-Visa

This document is created online with the final result in the form of a soft file sent via email. The applicant only needs to enter the required personal data, and then make a payment at that time via credit card.

Later, this document will be sent via email. However, when arriving at the immigration office of the destination country, the e-Visa holder must still present the required documents (mentioned on the registration website) to the local immigration officer.

3. Visa On Arrival

This type of document allows you to apply for an entry permit after arriving in the destination country. So you don’t need to go back and forth to the destination embassy located in your home country.

The validity period and maximum extension time differ from one country to another. For the on-arrival type, the stamp or sticker will be given at the immigration gate of the destination country, and this is also where the document owner must pay the visa fee.

4. Visa Before Arrival

The following countries are those that apply the rule that visas must be obtained before entering the destination country. To obtain this document, applicants can visit the embassy of the destination country, travel agent, or agency appointed by the country concerned.

Contents of Visa

How to apply for a visa – Residence permit

1. Country of Destination

This is the first data you will encounter when looking at a visa. Usually, the name of the country that issued the permit will be displayed at the very top of the document.

One visa is only valid for one country, and even then for a certain period of time. So those who like to travel to several countries must always look for ways to make repeated visas.

But now, for the travelers who like to go to Europe. With a Schengen Visa, you are free to cross various countries on the Blue Continent.

2. Biodata

This Immigration document also contains the owner’s biodata. Among other things, name, date of birth, gender, nationality, region that issued this document, passport number, and additional information.

3. Single or Multiple Entry and Validity Period

Single entry means that this document is only valid for one visit. Once you leave the country and return to your home country, you will have to apply again if you want to return to that country, even though the validity period of this document is still long.

On the other hand, for multi-entry, you are allowed to enter and exit a country without the need to apply for this document repeatedly, and it is valid until the expiry date.

The multi-entry type has been adopted by many countries such as the United States, South Korea, Canada, and many more. The multi-entry type is also a favorite for travelers aiming to go to European Union countries.

However, even if you have a multi-entry type, it doesn’t mean you can stay as you please in other countries. For the multi-entry type, there is a maximum stay time.

This is the duration of your stay in a country. If you have exceeded the maximum time, you must leave the country first and then return to the country.

For example, you have a multi-entry visa to Czech Republic with an active period of 2 years, with a maximum stay of 2 months. When you have stayed in Czech Republic for two months, you have to leave the country first.

Only a few days later, you can re-enter the country and stay there again for a maximum of 2 months and so on until the validity period ends. The advantage of multi-entry is that every time you return to Czech Republic, you don’t have to do the visa procedure all over again.

4. Visa Type (Purpose of Visit)

There are many types of visas issued by a country. Some of the types that are commonly applied for by applicants of this immigration document are:

• Temporary Family Visit
• Friend Visit
• Tourist Visit (at own expense/sponsored)
• Business Visits
• Multiple visits (business/tourism)
• Special (for the purpose of study/training/work/etc.)
• Transit
• Diplomatic/Service (state duty)

There are many other types too. Each country has a different number and variety, so be diligent in checking the website of your destination embassy.

Apply for a Visa through a Travel Agent

If you are busy or located far from the embassy of the destination country, applying for a visa through a travel agent can be a solution. However, don’t just pick a travel agent right away.

Find out first whether your embassy allows any travel agent to take care of this important document. Or only designated travel agents. If a travel agent is allowed, you just need to send some important documents to the travel agent, which are more or less as follows:

• Passport
• Application form
• Photograph (according to the format and size requested by the embassy)
• Sponsorship letter/work certificate.
• Financial proof for the last 3 months and photocopies
• Copy of family card
• Itinerary
• Proof of ticket booking.

The travel agent will usually take care of the process and collect the documents if the application has been approved. Collection by the applicant can be done at the nearest travel agent branch or sent via post to the applicant’s address.

But again, that was the general requirement for visa management via a travel agent. Sometimes, the embassy still asks for other customized information so check the embassy’s website frequently.

Now after discussing how to make a visa in general, there are several things you should pay attention to during the process of making this document. What are they?

Choose a low-season month to submit your application. The queue will be much less than the high season so the processing time can also be faster.

Each embassy has a different standard processing time, so it’s best not to delay the process so that your departure doesn’t fail.