Before you travel: a seven-point visa checklist

Run through this list before booking a non-refundable flight.

1. Do you need a visa, an authorisation, or nothing? Check the destination's official immigration site for your nationality. Rules differ by passport, not by where you live.
2. Passport validity. Six months beyond your trip covers almost every country. Check also that it has blank pages if a visa or stamp is required.
3. Transit countries. A connection through the UK needs an ETA for most nationalities, and some airports require a transit visa even if you never leave the terminal.
4. Apply early, on the official site. eVisas can take days; some authorisations take up to 72 hours. Government domains only, no "fast-track" agencies.
5. Print or save the approval. Airlines and border officers may ask to see it even when it is linked electronically to your passport.
6. Know the allowed stay and purpose. Count days for 90/180 rules. Do not work on a tourist entry.
7. Check for changes the week before you fly. Fees, exemptions and systems change with little notice, as Thailand's September 2026 switch and the UK's ETA enforcement showed.

Last reviewed: 21 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you travel.