Applying for a visa starts with one question that most websites answer badly: what applies to me? The answer is not the same for everyone with your passport. It depends on three things together — your nationality, the country you live in, and where you are going.
Why general visa advice often misleads you
An Indian passport holder living in Dubai applies at a different centre, with different fees and sometimes different documents, than the same passport holder living in New Delhi. Blogs and forums mix these cases, and many pages are years old. Embassies change fees, centres and rules without notice.
The 5 steps to apply for a visa
- Check if you need a visa — or an online travel authorisation (such as the UK ETA) instead.
- Find where you apply — the embassy, consulate or visa centre that serves the country you live in.
- Collect the documents on the official checklist for your visa type.
- Pay the fees — the visa fee and, often, a separate visa-centre service fee.
- Book your appointment on the official booking site and give your biometrics.
Get all of it for your exact case in one report
Our Visa Guide does this research for you. Choose your nationality, the country you live in, where you are going and the visa type. We search dozens of official embassy and visa-centre sources for your exact case, and e-mail you a PDF report with:
- A clear answer: can you apply, and how (online or at a centre).
- The fees, in the official currency and in your own money.
- The steps in order, each with its official link.
- Where you go: the centre and its address.
- A tick-box documents checklist.
- Answers to the questions people in your situation ask.
This is what you will get
A real example: Indian passport, living in New Delhi, tourist visa for France. Click a page to see it full size.
One report costs $9.99. It usually takes about 5 minutes and can take up to 30. You can close the page: the report arrives by e-mail.
🧭 Get your visa guideFrequently asked questions
How do I know if I need a visa?
It depends on three things together: your passport, the country you live in and where you are going. The same passport can need a visa from one country of residence and not from another. Our Visa Guide checks your exact case on the official sites.
Where do I apply for my visa?
Most countries send you to an embassy, a consulate or a visa centre (such as VFS Global or TLScontact) for the country you live in, and some let you apply online. The report gives you the exact centre, address and official booking link for your case.
What documents do I need?
Each embassy publishes its own checklist. Your report lists the documents for your exact case as tick boxes, with the official page each one comes from.
How long does the report take?
Usually about 5 minutes and up to 30, because we search dozens of official sources. You can close the page: the full report arrives by e-mail as a PDF.
How much does it cost?
$9.99 for one report on your exact case, sent as a PDF to your e-mail.
Need a flight itinerary for your application too? Create one with CloseFlight.