Key Highlights
What is a visit visa?
A visitor visa for any country is a kind of non-immigrant visa permitting you to stay in a specific country for a certain period of time.
Generally, as a temporary visitor in a country, you can either attend short-term business activities, visit family/friends, or go as a tourist. A visitor visa also allows you to visit overseas for medical treatment.
What can I do on a visit visa?
Generally, activities permitted on a visit visa include –
- Tourism
- Vacationing
- Visiting relatives
- Meeting up with friends
- Attending a business conference
- Negotiating a business contract
- Medical treatment
- Holding consultations with business associate
- Taking part in short-term training
Work or study (unless a short recreational course of study as a hobby etc.) is not allowed while in a country on a temporary visitor visa. If you enter as a tourist/visitor, you will have to apply to get your status changed or switch to another visa category before you can work or study in a foreign country.
Things to know about the visitor visa –
- Usually hassle-free
- Obtained easily
- Must have a genuine reason for specific travel purpose
- Proof of funds needed
- A visa interview might be held
- Biometrics usually required
- Might be granted for – three to six months
What are the types of visitor visas?
Different kinds of visitor visas are available, depending on the reason behind traveling to a particular country. Each of the countries have their own eligibility criteria and application process.
Visitor visas can be classified based on the reason for travel – tourism, visiting family/friends, business, or transit.
Additionally, the different types of visas available can be as per the number of entries allowed. A visit visa can be – single entry, double entry, or multiple entry.
This type of visa is required by the host country purely for visiting and tourism purposes. Rules and regulations for this type of visa are normally found on the host country’s embassy or consulate website.
Issued by the host country to allow the visitor to work legally in the country. The process of issuing this visa also differs from one country to another. Processing time for this visa can take anywhere from 10 days to 3 months.
It is required by some countries emphasizing political security. Transit Visas are required when you land in a country but want to move further within a short period. These visas are generally only good for 3 days at most.
These types of visas fall into all of the above categories. Single-entry means that you can only enter the country once. Double-entry means twice, and the multiple-entry visas allow you to enter as many times as you like during the valid period.
What is the eligibility criteria for a visit visa?
Visa to apply for: Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)
Australia subclass 600 visa lets you visit Australia as a tourist, see family and friends in Australia, or go on a cruise.
Applicants satisfying the following criteria are eligible to apply for the Australia Visitor Visa –
- Genuine intention to temporarily stay in Australia.
- Visiting for purposes other than business or medical treatment.
- Sponsored or able to support themselves during the visit.
- Satisfy the relevant public interest criteria, including that of character and health.
You will need a Canada visitor visa if you plan to travel, do business, visit family and friends, or transit through Canada. Most travelers will require a visitor visa to travel to Canada.
Transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to a final destination might also require a Canada visitor visa.
A Canada visitor visa, an official document showing that the requirements for entering the country have been duly met, is affixed in the passport of the traveler.
The Canada visitor visa can be applied for online or on paper.
The Canada Visitor Visa requires you to meet the following –
- Proof of sufficient funds as financial support during the visit.
- Be in good health.
- Not be seeking or undertaking a job during the visit.
- No criminal or immigration-related convictions.
- Visitors staying with relatives or friends need to provide invitation letters from sponsors.
- Applicants from certain countries will require a temporary residence permit.
- Be able to convince immigration officers of ties with the home country.
- Be a genuine visitor who will leave Canada at the end of their visit.
- Other requirements based on the profile may be required.
Visitor visas for the United States of America come under the ‘B’ visa category. US visitor visas available are – B-1 visa for business, B-2 visa for tourism, and B-1/B-2 visa that combines B-1 and B-2 in a single visa.
You must fulfill these general eligibility criteria for a Visitor Visa of the USA.
- Genuine intention regarding your purpose of visit which can be temporary, such as – business, tourism, or medical treatment.
- Visit to be only for a specific time.
- Demonstrate a sufficient amount of funds to cover your US stay.
- Establish ties with your home country proving that you will go back after your visit.
Visa to apply for: Standard Visitor visa
US Standard Visitor visa allows you to visit the United Kingdom for business, tourism, study courses (up to six months in duration), and other activities.
Application to be made online, followed by attending an appointment at a Visa Application Center (VAC).
Kinds of UK Standard Visitor visas available –
- Standard Visitor visa, for six months
- Standard Visitor visa for medical reasons, for 11 months
- Standard Visitor visa for academics, for 12 months
- Two-year long-term Standard Visitor visa, six months per visit
- Five-year long-term Standard Visitor visa, six months per visit
- Ten-year long-term Standard Visitor visa, six months per visit
If you wish to visit the UK, you must fulfill these eligibility criteria to receive the UK Visitor Visa –
- Intent to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your visit or trip.
- Funds to cover your stay in the UK.
- Demonstrate the proof of activities or business that you intend to do in the UK that comply with the visitor rules.
How to apply for a visitor visa for business purposes?
A visitor visa for business purposes, often called simply a business visa, has different eligibility criteria depending on the country. However, there are some documents that will generally be required.
These include –
- A valid passport.
- Travel itinerary that includes flight details and accommodation.
- Academic credentials.
- Business and professional credentials.
- Evidence of your plan to return to the home country.
- Proof of adequate financial resources.
- Evidence of adequate insurance and medical examination.
- Requisite application form duly filled and signed.
- Copy of the fee paid for the visa application.
What is the processing time for a visitor visa?
What Documents are Required for a Tourist/Visitor Visa?
What is the standard procedure to get a visitor visa?
How much does a visitor visa cost?
Processing time for tourist visas
Visitor Visas to the Most Popular Countries
Some of the most common countries that offer visitor visas:
- Australia
- Canada
- USA
- United Kingdom
The different types of visit visas for Australia are as follows:
Visitor visa (subclass 600):
- The visitor visa or subclass 600 visa is either for general visits or business purposes and is valid for up to three, six, or 12 months.
- There are separate streams under subclass 600 visa of Australia – the family sponsored stream, the business visitor stream, the approved destination status stream, and the frequent traveler stream.
Medical Treatment visa (subclass 602):
The purpose of the medical treatment visa is to allow people of any country to visit Australia. This may be for either of the following purposes:
- Medical treatments or consultations
- For supporting someone who needs a medical treatment that holds or has applied for this particular visa
- For donating an organ
Investor Retirement visa (subclass 405):
The investor retirement visa is for people who are self-funded retirees without any dependents and who are willing to spend the rest of their lives in Australia.
Special Program visa (subclass 416):
Usually, subclass 416 Australia visa is given in situations where a special program sponsor, which is approved, has sent an invitation to you to participate in that particular program.
The purpose of this visa is for enhancing international relations and the exchange of cultures between the community of Australia and the rest of the world.
Transit visa (subclass 771):
The Transit Visa or the subclass 771 visa is for you and your dependent children while you are on transit through Australia and is valid for up to 72 hours.
There are two ways in which the applicant can apply for the Canadian Visitor Visa. One way is via the online portal, and the other is through the paper-based process.
You can go to Canada as a temporary visitor for visiting family and friends, for holiday, or for business purposes.
The B-1 and B-2 Visas of the USA allows you to travel to the United States of America. While the B-1 Visa is for business purposes, the B 2 Visa is either for a casual trip or medical treatment in the USA.
B-visa holders can engage in the following activities when they are in the US:
- Vacation
- Tourism
- Visit friends or family
- Take part in social events
- Seek medical treatment
- Participate in sports or music events
- Enrol in short term courses
The application process for the B-2 visa
- Submit the Form DS-160
- Pay the visa fees
- Give biometrics at the Visa Application Center (VAC)
- Schedule the tourist visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate
- Attend the visa interview
The US Tourist Visa (B-1/B-2) is a non-immigrant US Visa. Its validity period ranges from one month to 10 years and allows single, double or multiple entries to the US.
The period of stay which is a maximum of six months is recorded by the Customs and Border Protection officer.
The UK visit visa is an online visa with an appointment at VFS to submit your documents. The process typically takes 3-4 weeks and once the visa is issued you can stay up to six months in the UK.
The UK visit visa is for:
- Visiting friends and family
- Leisure and tourism
- For medical reasons
- Other non-business activities
You can stay for up to six months on this visa. You can extend your stay if you have come to the UK for private medical treatment by paying additional charges.
You can also extend your stay if you are in the country to attend an academic program.
Why Choose Ahad Global pathways?
We can guide you through the visa application process, helping you –
- Assess the type of visa to apply for
- Fast-track the visa procedure
- Get the documentation required
- Fill up the forms, as required
- Collect the supporting documentation
- Review the list of documents
- Verify with the document checklist
- Submit your visa application
- By providing complete business visa application support
- Preparing for you visa interview, if required
- Follow-up with the Consulate and keeping track of updates
Irrespective of whichever country you wish to visit for whatever reason, we are here to guide you with all the necessary information and shall assist you in the application procedures.
Other Important FAQs
Depends upon the country you are visiting. Generally, a visitor visa can only be extended for a limited period, and only for inevitable reasons.
Generally, a tourist visa is given for sightseeing. A visit visa, however, refers to a visa that is given for many purposes, including short-term business meetings, medical treatments, and others.
Most countries nowadays allow you to apply online. You may however have to attend a visa interview in the case of some countries.
Visit visas are dependent on several factors including the ones mentioned below.
- You must have submitted all the required supporting documents along with the application
- Your response time to requests for additional information
- Time taken by the authorities to complete the required checks
- Time taken to receive additional information pertaining to your health, character and national security
Decisions to accept or refuse your visa application are based on the information you provide. Make your visa application well in advance of your travel date.
Don’t make any travel arrangements until your visa is granted.
- You cannot work on this visa in the host country
- This visa only allows you to travel and stay
The visitor visa is typically issued for a period between three months to one year.
Business visas are issued for the following reasons –
- Government or general business enquiries.
- Government visits.
- Business negotiations.
- Attending seminars & conferences.
- Job interview.
- Professional examinations.
However, check out with the country you plan to visit.
