Travel Extras

Passport and Travel Visas

Passport

Check that your passport is valid and covers the dates of your trip for the countries you will be going to. You should have at least 6 months left on your passport by the time you get home ie if there's less that 2 years left on your passport get a new one. Check out details from the Passport Office

What are travel visas?

Many countries insist on visitors having an entry visa or travel permit, either obtained upon entry (airport, land border, sea port) or in your country of residence before you depart.

Why do I require a visa?

Some countries rely on entry visas for valuable tourism income whilst others use them as a method of security and monitoring travelers. There is no way round them either way – if you need a visa, you simply will not be allowed to enter that country without one.

Are the visas expensive?

Some are and some aren’t, it depends on both your nationality and your destination. Your consultant will be able to advise you on some of these costs and give you contact details of the relevant embassy in many cases.

Do people ever get turned down for a visa?

Not usually, however if you have a criminal record or have been ejected from any country then there may be a problem. It is best to apply well in advance in these instances so as to avoid any last minute problems.

Visas for Australia

For Australia, everyone needs a visa - a minimum requirement in a 3 month holiday visa - called an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) - they cost £15 and we can do them for you.

3 month ETA - for British Passport Holders

In order to enter Australia, you require a full British passport valid for at least 6 months after the completion of your trip, plus a pre-arranged entry authority known as an 'ETA'. Without such an authority, you will be refused entry at Australian Immigration. ETA's are available for short term Tourists or Business Travellers. They replace the traditional visa label in your passport. ETA's allow a stay of up to 3 months in Australia on each visit over a 12 month period. Roundtheworldflights.com issue ETA's within minutes either over the telephone, or by post. Administration fee of £15 per ETA. (Business visas incur an additional fee). All we require to issue your ETA are your passport details:

Passport Number

Country of Birth

Date of Birth

Passport Expiry Date

Full Name

Male / Female

Nationality

If you are entering Australia for another reason, then you will require a traditional visa in your passport available directly through the Australian High Commission.

Work Visa – 12 months
Working visas are very popular for countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada. They normally apply to people aged between 18 to 30 years but always check the current situation before visiting the country. Each year thousands of young people aged between 18 and 30 travel to Australia on the 12-month working holiday visa. Citizens of the following countries are eligible to apply: Ireland, the UK, Germany, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Malta, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, France, Italy and the Republic of Cyprus.

Visa information for New Zealand

British passport holders do not require a visa to visit New Zealand but please make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your intended date of return

USA - ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorisation

The USA is changing its entry procedures for travellers to the USA under its Visa Waiver Program and has introduced a system called ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). From 12th January 2009, all non-US citizens visiting the US will need prior authorisation to enter the country before they board the plane, to gain this authorization they must submit details to ESTA.

How do I get an ESTA?

The web address to enter details in is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

Visa Chart

This visa chart is a guideline only - you must check with the relevant embassies for up-to-date information.

Roundtheworldflights.com and Global Village take no responsibility for out-of-date information on this page.

Country	UK Passport	Irish Passport	EU Passport
Argentina	N	N	N
Australia	Y	Y	Y
Belize	N	N	N
Bolivia	N	N	N
Botswana	N	Y	N
Brazil	N	N	N
Cambodia	Y*	Y*	Y*
Canada	N	N	N
Chile	N	N	N
China	Y	Y	Y
Costa Rica	N	N	N
Croatia	N	N	N
Cuba	Y	Y	Y
Ecuador	N	N	N
Guatemala	N	N	N
Hong Kong	N	N	N
Fiji	N	N	N
India	Y	Y	Y
Indonesia	N	Y	N
Japan	Y*	Y*	Y*
Laos	Y*	Y* *	Y
Malaysia	Y*	Y*	Y*
Mexico	N	N	N
Mongolia	Y	Y	Y
Namibia	N	N	N
Nepal	Y	Y	Y
New Zealand	N	N	N
Philippines	N	N	N
Peru	N	N	N
Russia	Y	Y	Y
Singapore	N	N	N
South Africa	N	N	N
Tahiti	N	N	N
Tanzania	Y*	Y*	Y*
Thailand	N	N	N
The Cook Islands	N	N	N
Tibet	Y	Y	Y
Tonga	N	N	N
Uganda	Y	Y	Y
Uruguay	N	N	N
USA visa waiver program or ESTA (see below)	ESTA	ESTA	N/Y/ESTA
Vietnam	Y	Y	Y
Western Samoa	N	N	N
Zimbabwe	Y*	N/Y	Y*

Visa Requirements

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a valid passport and visa for your travels.

Before going on your RTW make sure you have 18 months left - if not get a new one.

Visa costs are not included in the price of RTW trips.

We can take no responsibility for any traveler who is not in possession of the correct visas.

We regret that no refund can be given if you are refused entry as a result of an incorrect visa.

We stress that the following information should be used as a guide only and all information is subject to change without notice.

You MUST double check your visa requirements with your visa service or nearest relevant Embassy or Consulate before you travel.

If your nationality is not listed please check your visa requirements with your nearest relevant Embassy or Consulate.

Key:

Y = Visa required
N = Visa not required
* Available on arrival - you may need to pay for this

Please note that in most cases where it is possible to enter a country without a visa a maximum stay (usually of at least 15 days) applies. If your visit is likely to exceed the maximum stay you may need to apply for a visa or an extension in country.

Very important notes

Cambodia and Laos

Where possible we recommend that you obtain Cambodian & Laos visas in advance either in your home country or in a neighbouring country (i.e. Thailand or Vietnam). If this is not possible visas can often be obtained on arrival however if you plan to do this it is very important that you contact your nearest Cambodian / Laos Embassy or Consulate for up to date information shortly before you travel as this service is occasionally withdrawn.

China

Entry into Hong Kong from the mainland is treated as an exit from China. Anyone planning to re-enter the mainland must have a double entry visa or re-apply for a new visa in Hong Kong.

USA - ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorisation

The USA has changed its entry procedures for travellers to the USA under its Visa Waiver Program and has introduced a system called ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). From 12th January 2009, all non-US citizens visiting the US will need prior authorisation to enter the country before they board the plane, to gain this authorization they must submit details to ESTA, which must be obtained at least 72 hours prior to your arrival in the USA..

How do I get an ESTA?

The web address to enter details to is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

Passports For the USA issued on or after October 26, 2006: e-Passports

New passports issued by Visa Waiver Program countries must be e-Passports, which include an integrated computer chip capable of storing biographic information from the data page, as well as other biometric information, such as the required digital photograph of the holder. You can identify an e-Passport by the symbol (see image below).

If your passport does not have this feature, you can still travel without a visa if it is a valid passport issued:

Before October 26, 2005, and includes a machine-readable zone, or
Between October 26, 2005, and October 25, 2006, and includes a digital photograph.

If you were issued a passport on or after October 26, 2006, and it is not an e-Passport, you will need to obtain a visa from the appropriate US consulate.

Depiction of passport with Digital Image

Passports issued October 26, 2005 - October 25, 2006: Digital Photographs

Older, but still valid passports issued or renewed/extended by Visa Waiver Program countries between October 26, 2005, and October 25, 2006, must include a digital photo printed on the data page, or the traveler will be required to obtain a visa. A digital photo is one that is printed on the page, not a photo that is glued or laminated into the passport. It looks like the image at the right.

If your passport does not have this feature, you can still travel without a visa if you:

Were issued a valid passport before October 26, 2005, with a machine-readable zone, or
You have “e-Passport,” which includes an integrated computer chip capable of storing biographic information from the data page, a digitized photograph, and other biometric information.

If you are issued a passport on or after October 26, 2005, and it does not meet the requirements in either Sections A or B, you will need to obtain a visa.

Machine Readable Passport Sample

Passports issued before October 26, 2005: Machine-Readable Zones

Older, but still valid passports issued by Visa Waiver Program countries before October 26, 2005, must have a machine-readable zone. A machine-readable passport has two lines of text as letters, numbers and chevrons (<<<) at the bottom of the personal information page, along with the bearer’s picture. It looks like the image at right.

If your passport does not have this feature, you have two options:

Get a qualifying, new passport if your country of nationality is producing one, or
Get a visa.

Please contact your passport-issuing agency or your local embassy if you have questions about your country’s production of a qualifying e-Passport.

Below is the text of two of the more interesting articles about ESTA's that we have read - one from the The Guardian in November and the other from The Telegraph in December

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/14/usa

British citizens and those of other countries eligible to visit the US under its visa waiver programme will have to start applying online from January 12 for permission before travelling, it was announced last night.

The plans by the US Department of Homeland Security had been the subject of talks between the US and the European Union, which last year yielded to American pressure to supply authorities there with 19 pieces of information on passengers flying from Europe to America.

The introduction of the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) allows travellers to enter the US without a visa and stay for up to 90 days, replacing a written form that has traditionally been used.

Authorizations under ESTA will be generally valid for as long as two years, or until the applicant's passport expires.

US authorities have said that they will not "initially" collect a fee for applications made under the electronic system, but have kept open the possibility of later implementing one.

Travellers using the system must provide biographical data, including their name, birth date, and passport information, along with their destination address in the US, and answer questions regarding communicable diseases, arrests and convictions for certain crimes, as well as any past history of visa revocation or deportation, among others.

As expected, the US Department of Homeland Security also yesterday formally announced the addition of what it described as seven new "allies" to the list of countries allowed to take part in the visa waiver programme.

The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia join the UK and 26 other countries.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/3545251/US-criticised-over-internet-only-visa.html

From January 12 next year the US authorities require all travellers to fill in a form at least three days before they travel to ensure they are cleared by the US Department of Homeland Security.

Known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), it replaces the I-94 form, which is currently handed out during the flight to passengers from Britain and a number of other countries who do not require visas.

However, the form can only be filled in online and the US Embassy is making no provision for the millions of people who do not have access to the internet

When asked what these people should do, a spokesman said: "For those who don't have access to the Internet, it's best to contact a friend, family member, colleague or travel agent who is online. Any of those folks are able to fill out the ESTA form on behalf of the traveller."

According to the Office for National Statistics, around eight million homes do not have internet connection, either because they do not understand how it works, "do not need it" or cannot afford a computer.

Martin Lewis, the founder of the consumer website MoneySavingExpert described the move as "staggering".

"The USA is effectively saying that if you're not online you can't come in. It does conjure images of many people, especially the elderly, being turned away at immigration because they can't use a keyboard. Sometimes progress is backwards," he said.

Help the Aged, which has campaigned vigorously against digital exclusion, said this was another example of a leading institution that completely failed to take into account the millions of elderly people who felt alienated by the internet.