As a visa veteran, travel geek and ultimate nerd for the insane wacaday nations that are unrecognised, I love the challenge of getting new visas. Whether it’s a visa for Iran, an expedited passport (pronto!) or indeed a china tourist visa, I have experience in all fields and so here are my top 5 tips for getting visas on my travels, and on yours.
Organising the visa for the Democratic Republic of Congo
1.Read ALL the details before applying
This is crucial. Whether it’s an online visa for Benin, an Embassy visa for Azerbaijan or a working visa for Saudi Arabia, the best way to ensure you get the visa is to cover all aspects of the application. I usually print out the application forms, check numerous websites and make sure I am detailed. This can still go wrong though, as I found out in Venezuela, in Algeria and recently in Rwanda when my friend’s “multiple entry visa” was reduced to a single entry…
Backpacking in Saudi Arabia at the Hotel Show on a Business Trip
2.Get MORE than what you need
If they ask for 2 passport photos, bring 4 just in case. If they say the visa costs $50 US, bring a century. If they ask for hotel details, bring them as well as your tour bookings, flights or trains. Basically give the embassies more information than they request. Once they see you have everything they need and are well organised, they can’t help but give you that visa!
How to Get a Belarus Visa in Warsaw, Poland
3.Be Patient
As much as I hate this point, it’s true sadly. Saudi Arabia took me almost 3 months to get, despite the fact I was working there for Young Pioneer Tours! Burundi took 4 weeks and yet Tajikistan took merely a few hours. However you must bide your time. And to do this, make sure you apply for the visa long in advance of your trip! Patience brings its rewards.
How to get an Ivory Coast Visa at Abidjan Airport
4.Respect the Rules
As a young backpacker I didn’t always like to respect the rules of embassies, consulates and visa companies. However, you need to respect the rules in order to secure the visa so please note this. If they ask for flight details, go and get them! If they ask you to “come back in a week” then do it.
My Visa for the Kingdom of Romkerhall
5.Be Persistent
Embassies have a habit of taking your passport and keeping it for weeks. The Algerian corrupt embassy in London infamously held onto my passport for about 3 months in 2015. I had to bribe them and the girl pocketed the cash, all this for a 17 hour transit visa and the worst country from my travels. My persistence paid off and that corrupt embassy won’t forget me. Just keep trying until you get success!
My Kaliningrad Visa
As a final note, I thought I’d share some of the many visa articles I have written and shared over the years. I also got visas for these countries but have yet to write about them – Russia, Turkmenistan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Benin, Kenya, Rwanda, DR Congo and Burundi…
- How to get a North Korea visa
- How to get a Mongolia visa in Warszawa
- How to get an Ivory Coast visa
- How to get a Bahrain visa at Muharraq Island
- How to get a Suriname visa in Venezuela
- How to get a Suriname visa in French Guyana
- How to get an Ethiopia visa at Addis Ababa Airport
- How to get an Iraq visa at Erbil Airport
- How to get an East Timor visa at Dili Airport
- How to get a Jordan visa at Amman International Airport
- How to get a Kuwait visa at Kuwait International Airport
- How to get an Iran visa in Trabzon, Turkey
- How to get a Kaliningrad Visa While Based in Gdansk, Poland
- How to get an authorisation code for an Iran visa
- How to get a China visa in Hong Kong
- How to get a China visa at Beijing Airport
- How to get a Myanmar visa in Hong Kong
- How to get a Vietnam visa in Hong Kong
- How to get a Bangladesh visa in Hong Kong
- How to get an Azerbaijan visa in Georgia
- How to get a visa for Nagorno Karabakh
- How to get a Qatar visa at Doha Airport
- How to get an Indonesia visa at Denpasar Airport
- How to get an Indonesia visa at Jakarta Airport
- How to get a Hong Kong Working Holiday Visa
- How to get a Hong Kong Working Visa
- How to Get an Australian Working Holiday Visa
- How to Get a Second Australian Working Holiday Visa
- How to get a Visa for Gorno Badakhshan in Bishkek
- How to get a Visa for Tajikistan in Bishkek
- How to get a Tanzania visa on arrival in Kilimanjaro
- How to get a Sri Lanka visa online
- How to get a Letter of Invitation for Uzbekistan
- How to get an Uzbekistan Visa in Bishkek
- How to get a Mongolia Visa in Warsaw
- How to Get a Kaliningrad Visa in Gdansk
- (Old post – not necessarily true any more – How to get a Turkish visa on arrival at Istanbul airport)
- How to get an Antarctica visa (tongue firmly in cheek)
My Indian Visa – not actually needed for the permit though!
My visa for the Republic of Uzbekistan
How to get a Tajikistan Visa in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Getting an Afghanistan Visa in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
How to Get A Bangladesh Visa in Hong Kong
Getting my visa in East Timor.
A Guide to getting a Working Visa for Hong Kong.
The sky blue cover and tourist card for North Korea.
A guide to getting an Ethiopian Visa at Addis Ababa Airport in Ethiopia.
Very nice short and sweet explanation on the visa on travel. These tips are very effective and I would love to thank you for these tips.
Hi Charlie, thanks for the comment. I am happy that you enjoyed my post. Best wishes. Jonny
When are you gonna make your own country? What will it be called…Johnnystan, JohnnyBstan, JohnnyBlairdia/JohnnyBlairica…???
Hi Lucy, Thanks for the comment. I already have my own country and right now, YOU are in it!! You are currently visiting my country, which is called DON’T STOP LIVING https://dontstopliving.net/worlds-first-ever-travel-blog-country-enter-dont-stop-living-independent-country/ . I launched this website as the world’s first ever TRAVEL BLOG COUNTRY!! So thanks for visiting and see you around! Safe travels, Jonny