Will I need a visa? How do I find out?

If you want to travel to another country to visit, study, work, or for business, you will need to check out the visa requirements for that specific country. Only the country that you plan to visit can provide up-to-date information about their requirements. Contact the embassy or consulate of the country you intend to visit, or find their website online. The entry requirements for people visiting the country for the purpose of travel or a holiday will be much lighter than for those intending to work or do business. However, the length of time that you will be allowed to remain in the country will be limited. Short holiday stays often don’t require a visa at all.

Obtaining a visa involves filling in forms, providing a passport photo, and usually paying a fee. There may be other requirements that you need to meet, such as providing a medical certificate, proving that you have sufficient monthly income to meet your living costs during your stay, possession of a valid return ticket and a passport that will not expire until after your visa ends. The time taken to obtain a visa varies depending on the country. Make sure you find out well in advance of your travels and leave plenty of time to apply. You may need to send off your passport if applying by post so leave plenty of time for your application.

If you are desperate and have left it to the last minute, you can usually get one pretty quickly if you turn up at the embassy in person. The Foreign Office website has a list of contact details for foreign embassies in the UK, some of which have websites with information about visa requirements.

EU citizens travelling within the EU

If you have a valid passport/identity card from any EU or EEA member state you won’t need a visa to enter or work in any other European country for a period of up to 3 months (6 months for the UK), after which you need to obtain a Residence permit. However, if you are travelling in the rest of the world outside the EU you may well need to apply for an entry visa from the country’s consulate or embassy.

USA visa requirements for work & travel

There are several types of visas for temporary visitors to the USA. The type of visa needed is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel. The USA offers a Visa Waiver Program to 27 countries, allowing the citizens of those countries to visit the USA for tourist purposes for up to 90 days without requiring a visa, if they meet certain requirements. If the purpose of your visit is work or study, then you will need a visa. Immigration laws into the US are tough and it can be a real hassle to organise a working visa by yourself. Some organisations, eg BUNAC, will help you through the application process. Alternatively, if you can get a firm offer of a job with an American employer before you go, they could help you to do the necessary paperwork at their end.

Travel & work in Australia & New Zealand

If you are aged between 18-31 you can obtain an Australian Working Holiday Visa which will allow you to travel in Australia and undertake temporary employment (up to 6 months max per employer). Or you can apply for a Tourist visa which is valid for 12 months and allows multiple entry.

You can get a Working Holiday visa for New Zealand and stay for either 12 or 23 months if you are aged between 18-31.