In order to impose a thorough control on their borders, most countries have devised several different kinds of visas, each suited to a particular kind of travelling need.
Just as the purpose for travelling across continents are varied as the number of people travelling, so too are the visas they can apply for. Every country in the world has its own set of visas it issues, to track the movement of travellers to and from that particular country.
Here are a few different kinds of visa and which individuals are eligible for them:
Visitor’s Visa
The simplest kind of visa is the visitor’s visa, which entitles a tourist to entry and movement within the country. Such visas might be easier to acquire, but have time bound restrictions – like length of stay and number of visits allowed.
Immigration granted
Photo Credit
Transit Visa
Even more transient are transit visas, which are typically issued for a few days at the most. These can be availed of only at select airports by travellers from particular countries only. Countries that usually form hub links to other destinations issue transit visas, to nominally improve tourism.
Long Stay Visas
When the purpose of your travel is a professional or academic assignment, a long-stay visa is in order. There are several sub categories within these as well, ranging from student visas to worker permits. While such visas provide expatriates residency rights in their destination countries, it doesn’t entitle them to state benefits.
Work that permit
Immigrant Visas
Immigrant visas are issued to newcomers who are still in the process of applying for a permanent residency. Some of these are circumstantial, like a spouse visa or a marriage visa being handed to a newly-wed foreign partner of an existing resident.
Diplomatic Visas
For tiny elite who holds diplomatic passports, a diplomatic visa is sought. These are highly prestigious acquisitions, which might even include some of the top businessmen and other leading figures in the world.
Power of diplomacy
Photo Credit
Those are the basic visa types. Depending on the country you visit, you might be introduced to even newer and peculiar forms of immigration documentation. It’s actually one of the intricacies of travelling most learn to enjoy.