The International Travel Visa:
You Can't Leave Home Without It

An international travel visa is usually a stamp in your passport (backpackers often collect and compare - lets see how many you collect during your trip!). It can be a simple ink stamp, or a sophisticated multicolored label that covers an entire page. Whatever its look or formate, it is your basic permission to enter a country and stay there for a certain time.

There are many different kinds - tourist, business, immigration, retirement... unless you plan on working or studying in a country, you'll be applying for a tourist or visiting visa.

A long trip through many countries means a lot of visas and getting them is definitely not the fun part of your trip. But the level of hassle you are put through to get your hands on that international travel visa will depend on the countries you want to visit.

It depends both on where you're from, and where you're going.

Getting into the US if you're from a developing country is notoriously painful (especially after September 11), while some African and Asian countries can be daunting in terms of their bureaucracies. Specialized travel agencies can help you - if you can afford them, use them! You'll find these in plain sight on the street in your basic tourist 'hubs' or jump-off cities. It's hard to walk down a street in Bangkok without seeing signs touting visas for Burma or Vietnam.

But most people will go to an embassy or a consulate to apply for a visa.

Make a list of countries you will visit. Then find out if you actually need one, what paperwork you need, and how much it will cost.

Check any of the visa services to find out whether you need an international travel visa where you're going. Or, find out from the country's embassy. Look in the yellow pages (web or print) under Embassies, then find the country you're headed to. If they have a website, chances are their international travel visa requirements should be listed. If not, just phone them.

TIP: Start your research early - some visas may take weeks or even months to obtain.

All that paperwork

Embassies will ask for your profession. If you're a writer, journalist or photographer, it might be wiser not to say so unless you plan on applying for media credentials in the country. I have in past opted for something relatively innocuous, like teacher. It may not be as honest as I'd like, but it's a better alternative than being caught in a dictatorship as an undeclared journalist - you might be considered a spy. Never take chances that might jeopardize your safety.

On one trip to Burma I couldn't get over the number of 'English teachers' all traveling at once!

For some countries, you'll need a letter of invitation to get an international travel visa. A letter from a tour operator or hotel in the country will usually be enough. If you don't know anyone in that country, it might be wise to book a couple of nights in a hotel and request a letter of invitation from them.

Once you get your visa, check it for dates. How long is it valid? Did you get it for as long as you wanted? Do you need to use it before a certain date? Avoid any surprises - don't assume it is valid from the moment you get it or use it.

TIP: If your visa is only valid for three months and you're not getting to that country for another four, there's no point in getting it so soon - it'll be out of date before you travel. Get it from another country along the way.

Check whether your visa is single-, double- or multiple-entry. Single-entry means you can get into the country once but if you leave, you can't return. Multiple-entry means that as long as the visa is valid, you can come and go.

This is important for backpackers, since you often double back into a country - because there's no other route, or the weather forces you to double back, or even security issues.

TIP: Take extra passport photos with you, about 3 for each country you plan to visit. It'll be a lot easier than trying to find an instant photo machine on the streets of Kabul when you need a visa!

Countries prefer providing an international travel visa from your country of residence - but what if your country has no embassy representing the country you're going to?

You may have to mail your passport to an embassy in a neighboring country (scary!) or get your visa en route, in a country that does have an embassy. This is my preferred way - and it also means my visa won't run out by the time I get to my destination. Beware though - some countries aren't willing to give you a visa unless you're a resident of the country in which you're making the request. You may have to work hard to convince officials there's no other way for you to get one - because there isn't an embassy in your country, for example.

This may all sound daunting at first - so this is a good place to begin trying out your 'backpacker mentality' - which includes patience. You may be in a rush today but, once you hit the road, there's every chance time will mean a lot less.