Types of visas

Countries offer different visas depending on the purpose of an individual’s visit.

Some common visa types are listed below:

Tourist visa

This visa is designed for individuals visiting for sightseeing, holidays and tourism. Tourist visas normally have a duration of no more than six months, and in some cases may be as short as a few weeks.

You can use our map and online database to check whether you require a tourist visa.

Transit visa

Transit visas may be required when an individual needs to travel through one country to reach another. For example, a Chinese citizen travelling from Beijing to Lagos via London will need both a Nigerian visa and a UK transit visa. Transit visas do not allow individuals to stay in a country for tourism purposes.

Some countries also make the distinction between airside transit and landside transit. In other words, a visa may be required if a passenger leaves an airport, stays overnight in a hotel and takes a flight the next morning. However, if a passenger has a connecting flight and does not need to pass border control then a visa may not be required.

Business visa

Business visas are typically required for those who wish to take part in commercial activities overseas, such as conducting business meetings, providing training for employees or attending conferences. Business visas differ from employment visas. A person cannot obtain employment in a foreign country with a business visa.

Employment visa

Employment or work visas may be required for those who wish to be employed in a foreign country. These are notoriously difficult to obtain. Those countries that do allow foreign employees may limit the total number of visas granted each year. In many cases the only way to get an employment visa is to have a skilled occupation and a job offer from a local company.

Other visas

There is a myriad of other visa types, and these vary from country to country.

Some other common visa types include:

• Student visa
• Journalist visa
• Medical visa
• Missionary visa
• Diplomatic visa