A tourist visa is a travel authorisation that lets you enter a country for leisure, sightseeing, visiting friends or family, or other non-work purposes for a limited time. It is the most common visa category and the one most Indian travellers apply for.
By Krosz Editorial Team · Reviewed by Krosz Visa Operations · Updated 2026-09-15
Find requirements by country
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Destination
Passport
Purpose
Short leisure travel — holidays, sightseeing, visiting family or friends, and non-business activities.
Who it’s for
Travellers whose main reason to visit is tourism and who do not intend to work or settle in the destination.
How you apply
Online eVisa / ETA, embassy sticker visa, or visa-on-arrival depending on the destination and your nationality.
How Krosz helps
Krosz helps you find the right tourist route for your passport, prepare documents and submit the application. We are a private service, not a government authority.
Destinations
Only destinations where Krosz has verified data for this purpose are shown.
Overview
A tourist visa grants permission to enter and stay in a country for a limited period for leisure purposes. It is usually issued as a single or multiple-entry visa with a defined validity and a maximum stay per visit.
Tourist visas are designed for holidays, sightseeing, visiting family or friends, attending social events, or short recreational trips. They do not authorise employment, long-term study, business or residence.
How you get one depends entirely on the destination and your nationality. Some countries offer an electronic travel authorisation (eVisa or ETA) you complete online; others require a sticker visa stamped into your passport at an embassy or visa application centre; a few allow visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival for certain passports.
Exemptions depend on your nationality, destination and circumstances — always confirm for your exact case.
Activities
Sightseeing & tourism
Visiting landmarks, cities, resorts and natural attractions.
Visiting family or friends
Staying with relatives or friends for a short, non-working visit.
Recreation & events
Holidays, festivals, weddings and short recreational activities.
Short informal rest
Brief relaxation or wellness trips that are not medical treatment.
What you normally cannot do
Documents
Only documents relevant to this category. Exact requirements vary by country — confirm for your destination.
Passport
Valid for the required period beyond your travel dates, with blank pages.
Photograph
Recent photo meeting the destination's format rules.
Application form
Completed and signed online or paper application.
Travel itinerary
Return or onward flight booking showing your dates.
Accommodation
Hotel booking or host invitation for your stay.
Financial evidence
Proof you can fund your trip (bank statements, payslips).
Travel insurance
Required by some destinations for the duration of the stay.
Process
Steps may differ by destination and your circumstances.
Confirm your route
Check whether your passport needs an eVisa, ETA, sticker visa or is visa-free for the destination.
Prepare documents
Gather passport, photo, itinerary, accommodation and financial evidence.
Complete the application
Fill the online eVisa/ETA form or the embassy application.
Submit & pay the fee
Submit online, or book a VAC/embassy appointment and pay the government fee.
Government processing
The authority processes your application and issues a decision.
Receive your visa
Get an eVisa by email or a sticker stamped into your passport.
Need help with your Tourist Visa?
Tell us where you're going — a Krosz visa expert will walk you through it.
Comparison
| Point of comparison | Tourist Visa | Visit Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Leisure, holidays, sightseeing | Visiting family or friends; sometimes informal business meetings |
| Activities | Recreation and tourism only | Social visits, family stays, short non-work engagements |
| Naming | Used by most countries for leisure travel | Used by some countries to distinguish family/social visits from tourism |
| Documents | Itinerary, accommodation, funds | Often includes an invitation letter from the host |
Be prepared
Practical
FAQ
About the Tourist Visa, answered by Krosz visa experts.
A travel authorisation that lets you enter a country for leisure, sightseeing or visiting family for a limited time, without working or settling.
They are very similar. Some countries use "visit visa" for family or social visits and "tourist visa" for holidays; the permitted activities overlap heavily and the difference is mostly naming.
No. Tourist visas do not allow employment, paid work or business activity. You need a work or business visa for that.
It depends on the country. Some allow extensions for genuine reasons; many do not. Never assume you can extend — check before you travel.
Many destinations offer an eVisa or ETA you complete online. Others require an embassy or VAC appointment. It depends on your passport and the destination.
A valid passport, recent photo, completed application, travel itinerary, accommodation proof and evidence of funds — but the exact list varies by country.
Some countries require a booked itinerary, others accept a proposed plan. Confirm the rule for your destination before paying for flights.
Start at least a few weeks before travel for eVisas, and earlier for embassy visas that need appointments. Processing times vary widely.
Share your trip and a Krosz visa expert will explain the tourist visa process for your destination. No documents or payment needed at this stage.
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Krosz is a private visa & travel assistance service — not a government website, agency or embassy. Visas are granted solely by the relevant government authorities.
Krosz is a private visa assistance platform and is not affiliated with any government or embassy. Visa decisions are made by the relevant authorities. Last reviewed: 2026-09-15.
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