Traveling the world is not pure fun and adventure. Before you set out for your vacation, you need to plan your itinerary, book the necessary accommodations, purchase your plane tickets, pack your belongings, make the necessary arrangements for your house cat, remind your boss that you’ll be out of range for the next couple of days, etcetera. American citizens who like to shuffle around the world have no trouble going through foreign borders. But for a lot of other travelers out there especially those who are coming from developing countries, the fate of your planned holiday can sometimes rest solely on the acquisition of a visa. It doesn’t matter how much planning goes into your holiday, or the fact that you have an unlimited budget on the ready; if you can’t get a visa, you can pretty much set your sights on another destination and hope to have as much fun there.
But in recent years, other countries have started placing restrictions on their borders whose rules are applied to all travelers no matter their country of origin. Nowadays, American travelers have to pay a fee of around US 400 dollars to get the required tourist visa if they want to visit certain countries. In other countries such as Chile, authorities charge U.S. citizens an entry and exit fee every time they arrive and depart from Chilean airports. Getting a visa also requires hopeful travelers to undergo a mandatory screening test, which can tire you out if you don’t have enough patience. Also, you have to take note of your visa’s validity period; while other visas are valid for 10 years, some visas are only good for six months after being issued. One other problem is that visa fees continue to rise, which eats up more funds from your budget.
The next time you’re planning a vacation, it’s wise to check out if the country requires visas for incoming visitors. Here are ten countries that will test your patience when you apply for a visa.
1. RUSSIA (OFFICIAL NAME: RUSSIAN FEDERATION)
If you’re intrigued by the Romanovs and want to see the remnants of their regime up close and personal, get ready to buckle down and get to work. Travelers who want to get a Russian visa will have to undergo a complex process with very strict rules. Among the requirements is the letter of invitation that is written in the Russian language, which you can get through different ways. If you already have accommodation arrangements in Russia, you can request a letter of invitation from your hotel. Otherwise, you can get it from a local travel agent or Russian tour agency. Of course, no traveler can escape from having to pay the consular fee, so you’d better have some cash to burn especially if you’re traveling with your whole family; to gain entrance to the Russian Federation, have to pay around US 130 up to US 250 dollars for each person for the consular fee. Part of the visa application process is the interview with the consular agent. Applicants who want to get their hands on a visa will have to answer lengthy and extensive questions concerning health insurance and background in the military; aside from that, you’ll also be expected to share information about your current and previous employment status and your educational background.
2. CHINA (OFFICIAL NAME: PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA)
Almost every country in the world has its own mini Chinatown that you can visit any time of the year. They may serve rice 24/7 accompanied by a steaming pot of tea, but nevertheless, the Chinatown in New York is nothing compared to actually boarding on a plane and stepping on Chinese soil. Unfortunately for Americans, the process isn’t that simple; those who attended the Beijing Summer Olympics two years ago back in 2008 know this all too well. China charges a fee amounting to US 130 dollars for a visa that grants you a one-time entry to the country. They also require applicants to present themselves in person at the Chinese consulate. In the United States, there are six consulates that are open for tourists; here, you can submit the necessary forms for your visa application and also pay the appropriate fees. You might be surprised to find out that these fees actually vary depending on your country of origin. While the charge for travelers coming out of the U.S. is well over US 100 dollars, the imposed charges for other countries can be as low as US 30 dollars.
If for some reason you are unable to personally make an appearance at the consulate, you can ask the services of a visa specialist who will go to the consulate and represent in front of authorities. According to the government website, visa processing takes around four days, which isn’t too bad.
Earlier this year in April, the country lifted the ban on the entrance of HIV positive tourists to the border.
3. INDIA (OFFICIAL NAME: REPUBLIC OF INDIA)
Exotic and intriguing India is no doubt a popular attraction for tourists all over the world. However, the process of obtaining a visa to this country is quite mind boggling and to put it plainly, confusing. India gets a spot on our list because more often than not, travelers applying for a visa here find it hard to follow the application process. This year, the Indian government changed the requirements needed to apply for a visa. Unfortunately, these requirements tend to change a lot over the course of the year. Recently, the local authorities also decided to heighten their security measurements and this meant a more grueling application process for hopeful tourists. Each visa request undergoes careful scrutiny by the government to make sure they weed out questionable applications and ensure a safe and fun holiday for those who make it past the border.
Recently, the Indian government also decided to transfer all operations concerning visa applications to Travisa Outsourcing. Travelers should also keep in mind that Travisa only processes the visa requests of U.S. citizens. The private company works hand in hand with the India Visa Center to process the numerous visa applications from American citizens. Be prepared to pay around US 60 dollars up to US 150 dollars for the consular fee.
4. NORTH KOREA (OFFICIAL NAME: DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA)
Contrary to popular belief, North Korea can actually be visited by interested tourists, if you’re lucky enough to get a visa, that is. North Korea doesn’t have diplomatic relations with the United States, so don’t expect to find a U.S. embassy anywhere in North Korea; on the other hand, you won’t find a North Korean embassy anywhere on U.S. soil, either. If you still want to visit North Korea, you can get a visa by asking help from…Sweden. The Swedish Embassy does provides assistance to travelers from the United States who want to visit North Korea; tourists will be escorted by guides provided by their destination county for the duration of their trip.
To get a visa that will grant you access to North Korea, you have to get on a plane to Beijing and visit the North Korean embassy there (this of course means that you already have a Chinese visa on your hands). However, this process is a bit tricky because there are lots of stories going around that visas are not generally issued to American citizens unless they are part of a delegation that has a scheduled visit to the country. If you do manage to acquire a visa, you can only visit select cities that are serviced by few Chinese airlines, or those that are within the local train route. Air Koryo which is a North Korean airline, also flies tourists in and out of the country; some of their destinations include popular places such as Bangkok, Prague, Macao and also Zurich.
5. CONGO (OFFICIAL NAME: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO)
Similar to Russia, Congo also requires tourists who want to enter the country to submit an invitation that has been notarized by local authorities. To get a visa, you also need an International Certificate of Immunization, proof that you have been to the doctor and was administered a vaccination for yellow fever. To get a visa, you have to pay an application fee which costs around US 100 dollars. The visa processing time is quite short; travelers can get their brand new visa within three days after submitting the requirements. However, you will only be granted a visa that is valid for one month; you can also use this visa once to enter the country, so if you plan on visiting multiple countries in Africa, we suggest you plan your trip carefully.
There is a warning to travelers issued by the United State Department that says travelers often experience difficulties upon arrival at the airport and also other points of entry. Some travelers have been experienced temporary detention at airports; others have had their passports confiscated; and there are also some travelers who claim to have been charged unofficial and unnecessary fees by local immigration officers and security personnel.
6. SAUDI ARABIA (OFFICIAL NAME: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA)
Saudi Arabia has one of the strictest visa regulations of the countries that can be found in the Gulf region. The country issues different types of visas depending on the nature and purpose of your visit. For example, they issue special visas for family holidays or visit, and also for those who are going on religious pilgrimages.
Saudi Arabia also issues visas to tour groups approved by the government; if you’re a traveler who plans on spending a couple of days in Saudi Arabia, you can try calling any of these travel agencies and ask them to sponsor your visa application. If you happen to have a layover in Saudi Arabia, or perhaps passing through the country, you also have to apply for a transit visa, which is separate from your tourist visa. Be reminded that the transit visa applies to those passing through for 18 hours or more; or less than 72 hours.
Women travelers also have to be mindful of the strict rules imposed by local authorities such as having to be met by a sponsor upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia. For women travelers in transit, you also have to be accompanied by any male relative while you’re here.
7. ANGOLA (OFFICIAL NAME: REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA)
Another destination in Africa, Angola enjoys a quiet popularity among travelers who are looking for an alternative to the places that always make it on guide books and travel magazines. This country sits along the African coast and is home to a number of beaches with clear, blue waters and empty sandbars. They also have national parks where you can relax and be one with nature; and much to the surprise of others who think Africa is all wildlife and deserted plains, Angola’s thriving capital has an atmosphere buzzing with energy. Angola is also popular to travelers interested in seeing wild animals on safaris; the country borders Namibia, which offers exciting safaris to interested tourists.
The trouble with applying for a passport to Angola is that the waiting period varies all the time. Officially, travelers are supposed to get their visas within nine working days after your visa application has been approved by the local government. However, your approval time alone can take up to weeks and for others, months passed by before they got an approval from the Angolan government. Amazingly enough, other fortunate travelers experience a speedy process of just three days to get their visa. The consular fees will cost your around US 141 for each person. Aside from presenting two invitations, you also have to provide a proof that you’ve undergone immunization. Travelers are also expected to present proof of financial support if they want to be granted access inside the country.
8. CUBA (OFFICIAL NAME: REPUBLIC OF CUBA)
American citizens who plan on going to Cuba will have to study the United States position on visits to Cuba before making any solid plans to visit the country. The U.S. Dept. of Treasury has to issue a license for travelers going to Cuba for any transactions made related to their travels; however, this doesn’t mean that they are officially licensing tourist travel to the country. The U.S. State Department issues licenses for travelers visiting a family member, those who want to study abroad, and for those traveling for religious purposes. You can hop on a flight to Cuba from Canada, the Bahamas, or Jamaica. One thing U.S. travelers should remember is not to let local authorities stamp your passport, and just get the Cuban visa upon your arrival.
9. BRAZIL (OFFICIAL NAME: FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL)
Getting access to this top tourist destination requires lots of patience, lots of cash in the bank, and attention to detail especially for American travelers. Generally, the requirements for obtaining a visa for Brazil vary depending on your country of origin. While other applicants can take as short as three days to go through the entire application process, other applicants will have to wait a bit longer, by as much as 20 working days. Hopeful tourists will also be required to submit their passports and have them signed; in some cases, tourists are also prohibited from smiling in their photographs.
Brazil has many consulates located in the United States alone. If you’re applying for a visa, don’t expect a uniform application process for these consulates. Methods may vary among their offices, and application processing times aren’t standard, either.
10. IRAN (OFFICIAL NAME: ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN)
Access to the country can be gained through the help of the Swiss Embassy located in Tehran, or the Pakistan Embassy located in Washington, D.C. These embassies provide assistance in obtaining tourist visas through their Iranian Interests Section. The process isn’t easy, but if you’re dead set on going to Iran, the process of getting a visa starts by asking help from an Iranian representative to petition you for travel to the Foreign Ministry. The fee costs US 104 dollars and once you’re granted a visa, you can be subject to detention and possibly interrogated. There are reports of travelers who have been imprisoned for various charges that they are unaware of; some say that this has happened to U.S. citizens of different professions such academics, journalists, and even scientists who went to Iran for business and leisure purposes. Charges range from espionage to posing as a threat to their local regime.
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