The digital visa application process is already possible in 41 countries

Digitization is also increasingly present in the visa world. Whereas previously, you still had to go in person to the consulate or embassy to apply for a visa and have it affixed to your passport, since 2019, electronic applications have been approved in no less than 41 countries, and more more countries are added to the list. This saves you a lot of hassle as a traveler as a request can now be submitted easily and quickly online. In this article, you will be able to read what is involved in such a digital application process for the visa.

Complete the digital application form

The first step in the visa application process is to submit your visa application using the application form corresponding to the destination concerned. If you have all the information in hand, in most cases the request should take no more than ten minutes. The form also allows you to apply for a visa for up to nine other travel companions at the same time.

In the form, you will need to fill in your contact details, your travel details, your passport details and answer questions about your background. If you cannot answer any of these substantive questions in the negative, it is not possible to apply for an e-visa. However, this does not mean that you should cancel your travel plans. In most cases, you can apply for a traditional visa. Before you can complete your request, you will be presented with a control page. Be sure to carefully check the data you entered. In some cases, it may be necessary to add a passport photo, passport scan or business card to the visa application. Make sure the photo is crisp, recent, and in color, and that in the case of a passport photo, you are not smiling on it. When all fields have been completed, payment can be made without transaction fees using almost all popular online payment methods, such as Bank Card, Visa card, Mastercard, American Express, Bancontact or PayPal.

For a number of destinations, it is wise to allow more time for the procedure. Immigration authorities in countries with stricter visa policies may ask you for additional information about your employer, an arrival and departure date, your place of residence, and a declaration of consent. Immigration services from countries like India and the Vietnam also explicitly ask for the place of arrival and departure, as not all of them are approved. Therefore, before submitting your request, always check whether you are allowed to arrive at your place of arrival with a India visa electronic.

Granting of an electronic visa

After filling out the application form and receiving approval from the immigration service on the basis of the documents and data provided, you will always receive it by email. You can then take the electronic visa with you on your trip as a printout.

However, the fact that you have been granted the visa does not necessarily mean that you will be admitted to the country. If the data does not match the data known to the immigration service or if you have not filled in the correct data, there is always a chance that your visa will be declared invalid, even if you have been granted a visa.

Types of visas

The e-visa has different names and types. For example, the electronic visa for India is available as eTourist, eBusiness, and eMedical visa. Please note that to be eligible for an electronic application, there are conditions regarding the purpose of travel and your passport. The electronic visa itself also has restrictions, such as validity and maximum length of stay. It also depends on your destination if an electronic visa is sufficient or if you still need a physical stamp in your passport. Therefore, check before your departure whether an electronic visa is an option in your situation.

If you need a visa quickly, it is possible tosubmit an urgent request by means of a supplement of € 17,50. The request will then be treated as a priority. Urgent India visa applications are approved within an average of three days.