Visa info

China: Visa Rules Tightened for Olympics Period

Date: May 8th, 2008 |

The Foreign Ministry acknowledged that it has tightened visa rules after weeks of denials from immigration officials, now requiring invitation letters, hotel reservations and proof of roundtrip air tickets for some travelers. There have been reports of foreigners, especially students, being forced out of Beijing, and other travelers and foreign embassy officials having trouble getting [read more]

Libya: Tourists Must Carry $1,000

Date: January 10th, 2008 |

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A policy that took effect Nov. 11 requires tourists to Libya to have their passports translated into Arabic before arrival, and another policy put in place Jan. 7 requires that all tourists carry at least $1,000 or its equivalent in convertible currency or be denied entry. Anyone coming on official business, to study, to visit [read more]

Cambodia and Thailand: One Visa Good for Both Countries

Date: December 19th, 2007 |

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Foreign ministers from both countries signed an agreement Dec. 17 to allow foreign tourists to enter either country on a single visa. The move is an effort to streamline tourism to the region and if it proves successful may also be adopted by Laos, Vietnam and Burma (Myanmar). If that occurs a traveler could visit [read more]

Bolivia: U.S. Citizens Will Need Visas Dec. 1; Demonstrations in Sucre

Date: September 12th, 2007 |

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Beginning Dec. 1, Bolivia will require U.S. citizens to obtain a visa to enter the country at a cost of $134 for 30 days. President Evo Morales called the new policy “a matter of reciprocity” because the U.S. charges Bolivians $100 for a visa plus $14 to process the application. U.S. tourists will also be [read more]

Bolivia: U.S. Travelers Now Need Visas

Date: January 3rd, 2007 |

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U.S. citizens now must obtain a visa to enter Bolivia. The law went into effect Jan. 1 after being approved during a cabinet meeting that day. It was called “a matter of reciprocity” by President Evo Morales because Bolivians must get visas to travel to the U.S., at a cost of $100. Morales also called [read more]

Brazil: Government to Require Special Permits to Visit the Amazon

Date: May 1st, 2008 |

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The government intends to send Congress a bill within months that will require all foreign visitors to the Brazilian Amazon to obtain a permit to be there or face a whopping fine of 100,000 reals ($60,000). The bill will apply to all foreigners, whether tourists, businesspeople or employees of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Conservative politicians are [read more]

India: Visa Applications Must Be Made Online

Date: December 26th, 2007 |

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Getting a visa to visit India now requires an application filled out online. The new regulation began Oct. 1 and is intended to streamline the application process. Once filled out, the form must be printed and mailed with other papers, including proof of state residence such as a copy of a driver’s license or utility [read more]

Libya: Passport Rules Changed without Notice, Foreigners Refused Entry

Date: November 15th, 2007 |

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Without warning, Libya changed passport rules for foreign tourists Nov. 11, denying entry to foreigners not carrying an Arabic translation of their passports regardless of whether they had appropriate visas. Planeloads of European tourists were turned back after landing and 18 French citizens were stranded overnight before being allowed to leave Nov. 12. None [read more]

Caribbean: Passports Needed to Return to U.S.

Date: January 18th, 2007 |

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Beginning Jan. 23, Americans flying into the U.S. from Caribbean islands, Mexico or Canada will have to arrive with a passport to be allowed entry. Prior to that, traveling with only a driver’s license will be adequate. The change came about as a security measure mandated by the U.S. Homeland Security and State departments. The [read more]

Caribbean: Island Nations May Ban U.S. Citizens without Passports

Date: October 10th, 2006 |

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Caribbean island nations are considering banning Americans without passports in response to recent amendments to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passed by the U.S. Congress. The initiative requires all Americans traveling to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean to have a valid U.S. passport and goes into effect Jan. 8, 2007. The recent amendments, however, delay [read more]