Visitor Center | What materials are needed for a visa application?

What is a visa?

A visa is an official entry-exit permit issued by a sovereign nation to foreign or domestic citizens seeking to enter, exit, or transit through its territory. It is granted by stamping or affixing a notation on the applicant’s passport or other valid travel document, authorizing them to cross the national border. Visas are typically issued by the  embassies or consulates of the destination country.

What is a tourist visa?

A tourist visa is one type of visa. It is a fast - track visa - processing method established by various countries to facilitate tourists and develop their domestic tourism resources. Generally, it has a relatively short validity period and duration of stay, and can only be used for tourism - related activities.

What are the characteristics of a tourist visa?

The purpose of the visit is tourism, and the validity and period of stay of the visa is relatively short.

What is a business visa?

A business visa is a type of visa issued to foreign nationals for the purpose of business activities, which is mainly used for the holder to travel to the destination country to engage in investment, trade, conferences, exhibitions, after-sale guidance, business negotiations, signing contracts, conducting market research, providing short-term training services and other matters. The duration of stay is generally determined by the expected length of the business activity, and the business visitor is expected to leave the country within the time specified in the visa.

What is a Schengen Visa

A visa issued under the Schengen Agreement. This agreement, named after the Schengen signing in Luxembourg, establishes a single visa policy for member countries. According to this agreement, a visa issued by one Schengen member country is considered valid in all other member countries without the need to apply for a separate visa. The countries that implement this agreement are commonly known as “Schengen countries”.

Requirements for Visa on Arrival

1.1 Traveler’s passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

1.2 Traveler’s passport should have minimum of 1–2 blank visa pages (many countries require 2 pages).

1.3 Proof of onward travel: A return ticket or confirmed flight for continuing your journey.

1.4 Proof of sufficient financial means: Cash, traveler’s checks, or an internationally accepted credit card to demonstrate you can cover travel expenses.

Differences between Visa and Passport

A passport is a legal document issued by a country to its citizens when they enter or exit the country's territory, travel abroad, or reside overseas. It serves to prove the citizenship and identity of the citizen. The word "passport" in English means a pass for ports. That is to say, a passport is a travel permit for citizens to pass through international ports. Therefore, some countries in the world also issue travel documents that can substitute for passports.

A visa is an endorsement or stamp made by the sovereign authority of a country on the passport or other travel documents held by citizens of its own country or foreign countries. This indicates permission for them to enter or exit the country's territory or pass through it. In other words, it is an endorsed certificate issued to them, serving as permission for passport holders to enter the country and an identification of their status. Generally speaking, a visa is a document issued by a country's entry - exit management agency (such as the immigration department or its embassies and consulates abroad) to approve the entry of foreign citizens. Simply put, a passport is a booklet, and a visa is affixed to this booklet. The passport is equivalent to an identity card, while the visa is equivalent to a pass.

Difference between Group Visa and Individual Visa

Tourist visas are categorized into group visa (L visa) and individual visa (G visa). 

With an individual visa, one can enter and exit the tourist destination country relatively freely. However, a group visa can only be used when traveling with a tour group.

Is a group visa only valid for traveling with a tour group?

Generally speaking, a group visa is only valid for traveling with a tour group. Nevertheless, in some areas of Southeast Asia, the regulations are not very strict, so independent travel is possible. But in regions such as Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea, those holding group visas must enter and exit with the tour group and are not allowed to leave the group during the journey.

Visa Application Issues

Visa Application Procedure

1.1 Check the visa information by yourself: Through the visa search function, you can find the visa information you need for application.

1.2 Call to check visa materials: Communicate with the visa customer service staff to understand the latest information about the visa application, such as whether there have been any recent changes in visa materials.

1.3 Visa materials/visa fees/visa agreement: Submit visa materials and visa fees in the agreed - upon manner and sign the visa agreement.

1.4 The embassy accepts the visa application: After receiving the visa materials and visa fees, we will sort out and review the visa materials on the same day, and arrange for staff to submit the visa application to the embassy on the first embassy working day thereafter.

1.5 Notify the visa result and return the passport: If the application is successful, after collecting the passport from the embassy, we will notify the visa applicant as soon as possible and return the passport and invoice to the applicant in the agreed - upon manner. If it is unsuccessful, we will notify the visa applicant immediately and return the passport to the applicant. The visa fees will not be refunded.

For more details, please consult the customer service staff of C&O Travel.