ExploEntry rules
Visa-free, visa on arrival, e-visa, eTA: what each means
Five entry rules look alike but work very differently. Learn what visa-free, visa on arrival, eTA, e-visa and visa required mean, and when you need to act.
"No visa needed" can mean five different things, and "visa" can mean a stamp at the airport, a PDF you print at home or an appointment at an embassy. Knowing which one applies decides when you have to start paperwork, and whether you can simply book a flight.
Here are the five entry rules you'll meet, in plain language.
The five rules at a glance
| Rule | What it means | When you sort it out |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free | You can enter for a set number of days as a tourist, with no visa and no application | Nothing in advance, apart from checking the conditions |
| Visa on arrival | You get your visa at the border or airport, usually for a fee | On landing, so bring documents and often cash |
| eTA | An electronic travel authorisation: a quick online check linked to your passport, not a full visa | Online, before you fly, usually days ahead |
| e-visa | A full visa applied for and issued online | Online, before you fly, allow days or weeks |
| Visa required | You must get a visa from an embassy, consulate or visa centre | Well before you book non-refundable travel |
Visa-free
This is the easiest case, but it is not rule-free. Visa-free entry normally comes with conditions:
- A time limit, such as 30, 60 or 90 days. Some limits are counted per visit, and some over a rolling period. The Schengen Area, for example, allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period for many nationalities.
- A purpose. Visa-free usually covers tourism and short business visits. Working or studying generally needs a different permit.
- Passport validity. Many countries want your passport to be valid for several months beyond your stay.
- Possible questions at the border, such as proof of onward travel, accommodation or funds.
Visa on arrival
You fly in, queue at a counter, pay a fee and receive a visa on the spot. It saves paperwork, but it moves the effort to the airport, so allow for a longer wait. Fees are often payable in cash or a specific currency, and some countries only issue it at certain entry points. Your airline may also ask whether you qualify before it lets you board, so have your documents ready at check-in.
eTA, ETA and ESTA
An electronic travel authorisation sits between visa-free and a visa. You apply online, answer a few questions, pay a small fee and receive an approval linked to your passport number. Well-known examples are the ESTA for the United States, the eTA for Canada and the ETA for the United Kingdom and Australia. Approval is often quick, but it isn't guaranteed, so apply a few days ahead rather than on the way to the airport. An authorisation can stay valid for a period of months or years, so check how long yours lasts.
Always apply on the official government site. Look-alike websites charge extra for the same form and sometimes mishandle your data.
e-visa
An e-visa is a real visa, applied for online. You upload a passport scan and a photo, sometimes extra documents, pay a fee and wait. Processing can take a few days or a few weeks, so build that time into your plan. When it's approved, you usually print the document or keep it on your phone and show it on arrival. Check the details on the approval, because it can limit the entry points you can use and the number of entries.
Visa required
When a visa is required, you apply through an embassy, consulate or an approved visa centre, often in person. Expect a form, a passport photo, proof of accommodation and funds, and sometimes an interview or fingerprints. It can take weeks. Start before you book flights, and look for flexible fares until the visa is in your hands.
How long you can stay
Every rule except "visa required" comes with a number of days. A good entry-rules list shows both, so you see "Visa-free, 90 days" rather than just "Visa-free". Explo does this for every country, and it also marks the e-visa and eTA cases separately, because they need action before you travel.
Rules change, so confirm the details
Countries add, drop and rewrite entry rules often, sometimes with little notice. Treat any list, including ours, as a starting point for deciding where to go. Before you book, confirm the rule with the destination's official source. Our guide to checking visa requirements before you book walks through how to do that, step by step. To see how your passport compares overall, read how strong is your passport.
