Visa-on-Arrival Eligibility Checker

Visa-on-arrival FAQ

What is a visa on arrival?

A visa on arrival (VOA) is a short-stay tourist visa you obtain at the destination's airport or land border instead of applying at an embassy or online beforehand. You typically present your passport, a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation, and proof of funds, then pay the fee at a dedicated counter before passport control. Not every country offers it, and eligibility depends on your nationality — that is exactly what this checker resolves: pick your passport and destination and it returns the entry category (visa-free, visa on arrival, eTA, e-visa, or embassy visa), the fee, and the maximum stay.

How much does a visa on arrival cost?

There is no single global price — the fee is set by each destination and quoted in its local currency. For a worked example, Indonesia charges IDR 500,000 (about USD 31) for a 30-day tourist VOA, verified 2026-06-12 against the Indonesian immigration e-VOA portal. Some countries waive the fee for specific nationalities, others charge USD 25–60, and a few only accept exact cash at the counter. The result card in this tool shows the fee in local currency plus an approximate USD figure for each covered pair, with the date that entry was last checked.

Do I need a return or onward ticket for visa on arrival?

Almost always, yes. Immigration officers at VOA counters routinely ask for evidence that you will leave before your permitted stay expires — usually a return or onward flight booking — alongside proof of accommodation and sometimes proof of funds. Airlines can also deny boarding at departure if you cannot show onward travel, because they are liable for returning passengers who are refused entry. Carry a printed or offline copy; airport Wi-Fi is not guaranteed.

Can I extend a visa on arrival?

Often, but the rules differ by country and you cannot assume it. Some destinations let you extend a VOA once for a similar period at a local immigration office for an additional fee; others grant a fixed window with no extension and expect you to leave or switch to a different visa class. The maximum stay shown in the result card is the initial VOA window, not the extended total. If your trip is longer than the initial window, check the destination's immigration site for extension procedures before you fly, or apply for the correct longer-stay visa in advance.

What is the difference between visa on arrival, an eTA, and an e-visa?

All three are alternatives to an embassy appointment, but they happen at different times. A visa on arrival is purchased in person at the border. An eTA (electronic travel authorisation) is a lightweight pre-screening you complete online — often within minutes — and is linked to your passport before you fly; it is not a full visa. An e-visa is a full visa you apply for and pay online days or weeks ahead, then present on arrival. This checker labels each covered route with the correct category so you know which process applies and roughly how long it takes.

Why does the checker say a pair is not covered, and can I trust the dates?

This is a focused dataset rather than a register of every nationality, so some passport/destination combinations return "Coverage pending — confirm with consulate." That is deliberate: an honest gap is safer than a guessed answer. Each covered pair shows its own "Source last verified" date in the result card, and the worked example above is dated 2026-06-12. Visa policies change on short notice — fees are waived, exemptions are added or withdrawn — so treat every result as orientation and reconfirm against the destination's official immigration portal or your nearest consulate before booking non-refundable travel.