Checks Required

But to make your travel hassle free, you should check that everything is in order. You should confirm a day in advance about your travel arrangements to the airport, for getting one at the last moment may give you nervy moments. Check all your travel related documents and have a back-up for them in photocopies if possible and keep them separately. It is a good idea to reach the airport or the port in case of ferries, well advance in time. The distance between the cup and the sip may be too much at times. And most importantly, don’t forget to count your touring members to ensure that nobody is left ‘home alone’.

Get a Visa

Yes, before you venture out to a foreign land you need to have a visa. In your hectic daily life, this could be nagging and time consuming. The minute technicalities and the know-how of the travel documents may not be your cup of tea, hence taking help from any visa online immigration sites like ixpvisas.com is a great idea. You can assess you application online, and seek guidance from them. These reputed sites process thousands of visa applications each year hence you can be assured that you are in safe hands. And you will get prompt and hassle free service.

Accommodation

To ensure you have a successful trip, it is pertinent that you book a decent place for yourself well in advance. You can browse the net for relevant information on accommodation and best travel packages on offer. Booking in advance may get you benefits of special discounts. You may find travelling in off-season more beneficial as you can get cheaper accommodation and lesser rush at the tourist hot spots. Furthermore, you should choose a place where you can get public transportation with ease.

Medication

Before you travel, you can get yourself a complete medical check-up to ensure you are in the pink of your health. Discuss your travel plans with your physician and take your medications along if required. You can carry a small first-aid kit, in case of minor accidents. You can also check out whether any vaccination is required before your travel to any particular place. And if mosquitoes, flies and other insects can be a concern, having an insect repellant with you is advisable.

Travelling now-a-days is no more a grinding job, it a pleasure trip taken by people to soothe their bodies, mind, and soul. Hence, take some basic steps to ensure that your travel serves its purpose.

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In a bid to boost the travel competitiveness of the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT), along with allied agencies Bureau of Immigration and Department of Foreign Affairs, has simplified the Philippines entry requirements and visas. This means that any traveler wishing to visit the Philippines can do so without an entry visa if their contemplated length of stay is no more than 21 days. The only requirements for this type of travel are the following:

• A passport or travel document acknowledged as such with 6 months validity beyond the intended length of stay;
• Confirmed ticket for onward travel from the Philippines;
• Clearance from medical screening;
• Proof of yellow fever vaccination if arriving from an infected area.

Proof of sufficient funds is required when a traveler applies for a visa (tourist or otherwise) in Philippine embassies or consular offices in their home countries.

Visa-exempt travel of up to 21 days is only applicable for nationals whose countries of origin have diplomatic ties with the Philippines. (A complete list of these countries can be found on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs.) All other nationals are required to procure a visa even if their intended length of stay is less than 21 days. The entry requirements for visa-required travel depend on the purpose of the visit.

Visa exemption for up to 21 days only applies to visits for leisure or brief business (like prospecting for investment opportunities).

In cases of emergency, immigration officers are granted discretion to allow entry to holders of passport with at least two months validity beyond the expected length of stay.

When planning to stay longer, observe the Bureau of Immigration’s rules on granting extensions:

• Visa-exempt travelers need to apply for a visa waiver which will grant them an additional 38 days of valid stay in the country (for a total of 59 days of visa-exempt stay). They can apply for an extension valid for another two months granted that the extensions do not exceed one year.
• Visa-required nationals on the other hand can only be granted one month for every extension. Their additional length of stay should be no more than six months.

To apply for a visa extension, travelers need to fill out a form, attach a photocopy of their passport and latest arrival card, and other pertinent documents to support their request and file the application in the nearest office of the Bureau of Immigration.

If the visa expires on a legal holiday or weekend, application should be done on or before the last business day before the visa expiry date, otherwise penalties may be imposed.

For nationals that require visa to enter the country, they no longer need to appear in person before the nearest Philippine embassy or consular office in their countries of origin. Instead, they can secure entry by processing their visa with the help of their local business chamber or association or any representative legally capable to vouch their entry. The local representative can then file a request with the Bureau of Immigration. If the Bureau approves their application, they will be issued their visa upon arrival in the Philippines.

Overstaying beyond the approved number of days is a serious offense and may result to detention and deportation at the traveler’s expense.

Photo by mroach

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Entry Requirements:

A Valid Passport or Travel Document

Every person entering Malaysia should have a valid passport, with a validity date of at least six months after the date of arrival in the country; or an internationally-recognized travel document which is valid for traveling to Malaysia.

• If a passport or travel document (recognized by the Malaysian Government) is not available, a document in lieu of passport must be obtained; application for this Document can be made at a Malaysian Representative Office (consulate/consular office in an embassy, or high commission) in the country of origin.
• Individuals who hold travel documents such as a Certificate of Identity, Permanent Residence Certificate, Laisser Passer, or Titre de Voyage must make sure that their passage to the country of origin is confirmed and guaranteed.

Visa Requirements

Foreign nationals who are required to obtain a visa to enter Malaysia should apply for, and obtain, the visa in advance from a Malaysia Representative Office in their country of origin, before they can enter Malaysia.
For a visit that will last less than three months, citizens of the following countries can obtain a free single-entry visa upon arrival at the main international airports of Malaysia, as well as the land border crossings:

• Australia
• UK
• Canada
• USA
• Other EU

You can view the list of other countries with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to check the Malaysia visa requirements for your country of origin.

Valid Return Travel Ticket and Sufficient Funds

A traveler is required to have a confirmed return travel ticket, or a travel ticket to another country, upon arrival in Malaysia. All travelers should also show proof of sufficient funds, to show capability of funding the stay in the country.

Completion of the Arrival/Departure Card

A visitor to Malaysia is required to completely fill out the Arrival/Departure Card upon arrival at any of the country’s official entry points. The Arrival/Departure Card can be obtained at the official entry points, travel agencies, or from Malaysia Representative Offices abroad. This card will be presented along with the valid passport to the Immigration officer on duty. It is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure that the travel document or passport is duly endorsed with the corresponding pass before leaving the immigration counter.

Persons Prohibited from Entering Malaysia

A traveler who is classified as a Prohibited Person under the Section 8 of Immigration Act 1959/63 of Malaysia will not be allowed entry to the country – even if that individual has a valid passport or travel document, sufficient funds, and a return travel ticket. Prohibited persons include, but are not limited to: individuals who refuse a physical inspection requested by an immigration officer; those who are physically or mentally ill; those who have forged travel documents; a threat to the Malaysian government; a family member of a prohibited person.

Obtaining and completing all the entry requirements to Malaysia will ensure that your trip starts in the smoothest, most hassle-free way possible. Having all the necessary documents and requirements can give you peace of mind, as well as enable you to concentrate on the more fun aspects of your Malaysian adventure.

Photo by mroach

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• A passport with at least 6 months validity;
• Sufficient means of supporting oneself while in Singapore;
• Confirmed proof of onward travel or return ticket;
• Valid entry visa to onward destination, if applicable;
• Completed Disembarkation/Embarkation Card;
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, if tourist arrived from an infected area.

Even a valid visa for visa-required travelers is not a guarantee for entry into Singapore. As mentioned, admission to the country is determined at the point of entry by immigration officials, so they also determine the number of days for your visit. It is important not to confuse the allowed number of days stamped on your Visit Pass, and your visa (if required) validity. Immigration officials grant anywhere from 14 to 30 days, depending on your mode of arrival (14 if by land or sea, 30 if by air).

After this, you can apply for a Visit Pass extension online or from the Visitors’ Service Center at the ICA Office for up to 90 days from your date of entry, provided that you meet the following requirements:

• Your visit pass is still valid for at least two business days;
• You have a Singaporean citizen or Singaporean Permanent Resident relative, friend or sponsor who is at least 21 years old who will file the application for extension of stay with you. This is applicable to those who wish to extend their stay for longer than 30 days.

For visa-required nationals, their applications may be sent via registered mail or submitted in person to the nearest Singaporean consular office or embassy prior to the trip.

As with any other country, overstaying in Singapore is an Immigration offence. Keep in mind that Singapore is a “Fine City,” so if caught with an expired Visit Pass, you may not only be fined, but also prosecuted. Similarly, it may be tempting to seek gainful employment in a bustling economy like Singapore, but if you only hold a Visit Pass, you are not allowed to engage in any kind of occupation or business. All non-residents are required to have a valid work pass to work legally in the country. All information can be found on the Ministry of Manpower website.

Singapore can indeed be a fine city – enjoyable even – as long as you follow immigration rules.

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Generally, nationals of these visa-exempt countries are granted 30 days’ length of stay in Thailand if they arrived by air, and 15 days if they arrived from the bordering countries. (Holders of passports issued by Brazil, Korea and Peru can stay in the country for up to 90 days.) If the point of entry is from Malaysia, the length of stay granted to tourists is 30 days (with an option to stay for 7 more days if application for extension of stay is granted).

Visa-exempt tourists, however, are required to comply with the following documents and other requirements:

• A passport with at least six month validity;
• A forward or return trip ticket;
• At least 10,000 Baht for each person or 20,000 Baht for a family;
• Yellow fever, smallpox and cholera vaccination if tourist arrived from or traveled through countries identified as infected areas of these diseases.

Re-entry for visa-exempt tourists is granted within 6 months from date of first entry. They can stay for no more than 90 accumulated days.

Re-entering Thailand can be done several ways. First, if visa-exempt tourists are nearing the end of their 30-day stay but want to stay longer, they can leave Thailand temporarily and visit neighboring countries so when they return, they can be granted permission to stay (not a visa) for another 30 days (if they crossed the border by air; otherwise, only 15 days will be granted if border crossing was done overland).

This process can be done again – twice at most – until tourists reach the accumulated 90 days. Border crossing for this purpose does not require a minimum number of days away from Thailand before being granted re-entry. In some cases, travelers spend just enough time in another country’s border before heading back to Thailand.

Those who have already accumulated 90 days of visa-exempt stay should leave Thailand for at least 90 days before they can be permitted to re-enter (and repeat the cycle).

Since tourist visas are not issued in Thailand except for visa on arrival or VOA granted to visa-required nationals, visa-exempt travelers who were only granted permission to stay can make a visa run to Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos where there are Thai embassies that accept applications for a 60-day tourist visa (which can be extended for up to 30 days). Travelers who want to maximize their vacation in the country may apply for an extension of stay from any Immigration office throughout Thailand before their 60 days expire.

Application for extension can be made in person, by a representative or by registered mail. Travelers can apply for an extension of stay at every port of entry except at the Suvarnabhumi Airport Checkpoint. Extended stays are granted at the discretion of the immigration official.

For lucky applicants who were granted a tourist visa with double entry, they can opt to do another border crossing before their 60-day length of stay and 30-day extension is up. On their re-entry to Thailand, their second 60-day tourist visa takes effect, with the option to extend their stay for another 30 days. Altogether, a tourist visa holder granted with double entry can enjoy up to 180 days of stay in Thailand.

Visa runs are also done for purposes other than tourism. Depending on circumstances, a traveler may apply for a 90-day single-entry non-immigrant ‘B’ visa, or a one-year multiple-entry non-immigrant ‘B’ visa.

Visa run services have mushroomed around border crossings to address this special need of tourists. This means that anyone wishing to renew their permission to stay or get a tourist visa can do so quite easily. For those who would rather not endure the long road trip to the border, direct flights out of Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phuket are available daily.

It is crucial to keep in mind that crossing a border renders the visa, except the multiple-entry type, null and void. If a tourist is granted a 60-day visa but want to visit Laos within those 60 days, he or she should obtain a reentry permit before leaving Thailand. Failure to do so would require another visa application in the bordering countries.

Thailand is one country with constant need for English as a Second Language teachers. If you intend to work as such, you need to secure a non-immigrant visa “B” and work permit, ideally processed on your behalf by your prospective employer.

Thailand is also expatriate haven for retirees. If you are at least 50 years old and can produce documents that show you have savings of at least 800,000 Baht or a monthly income of no less than 65,000 Baht, you may be granted with non-immigrant “O-A” visa valid for one year stay. Working while issued with this type of visa is strictly prohibited.

For nationals of countries who are required to enter Thailand with a tourist visa, they may opt for the following:

• Apply for a tourist visa at the nearest Thailand consulate for a stay of no longer than 30 days (or 60 days if visa was approved at a Thailand embassy). Length of stay can be extended up to 30 days, at the discretion of immigration officials;
• Secure visa on arrival (VOA) and stay in Thailand for no more than 15 days. Requirements for entry for this type of visa are the following: Passport with at least 6 months validity; a fully paid ticket usable within 15 days from the date of entry; and 10,000 Baht for individual or 20,000 Baht for a family. Extension of stay is not granted for VOA unless there are circumstances that impede travel, such as illness.

Generally, it is cheaper to arrange for a tourist visa at one’s home country than it is to get VOA approved in Thailand, especially when the expected length of stay is longer than 30 days.

The penalty for overstaying in Thailand is 500 Baht a day.

With so many places to see in Thailand, 30 days may not be enough, so it always pays to be vigilant of your length of stay or status of your visa if you plan to stay behind or keep coming back.

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