Most requested

Tourist Visa: what it is, who needs it & documents

Short leisure trips, visiting friends and family, or holidays. The most common visa type with the widest provider coverage.

Typical processing: 1–7 days for e-visas, 2–4 weeks for sticker visas

What is a tourist visa?

A tourist visa (sometimes called a visitor visa) lets you enter a country for leisure — holidays, sightseeing, or visiting friends and family. Many countries now issue tourist visas online as an e-visa or electronic travel authorisation, while others still need a sticker visa from an embassy or an authorised application centre.

Stay length and number of entries are set by the destination government and printed on the visa or approval.
Some destinations offer visa on arrival or visa-free entry to certain passports — check the official portal for your nationality.
Immigration officers can still refuse entry at the border even with a valid visa.

Who needs it

Travellers whose passport is not visa-exempt for the destination
Anyone visiting friends or relatives for a short stay
Holidaymakers on short trips that do not involve paid work or study

Not for: Paid work, long-term study or settling in the country — those need a different category.

Typical documents

A common starting list — the official checklist for your destination always takes priority.

Passport (6+ months validity)
Photo
Return tickets
Hotel bookings
Bank statements

Build your document checklist

Destinations with tourist visa providers

Destination guides where at least one listed provider files this category for Indian passport holders.

Providers that support tourist visas

26 providers list this category. Fees are sample catalogue figures — confirm the live price on the provider's site.

See all providers

Frequently asked questions

Can I work on a tourist visa?

Generally no. Tourist visas are for leisure and family visits; paid work usually needs a work visa or permit. The exact rules are set by each destination government — confirm on its official portal.

How early should I apply for a tourist visa?

E-visas are often processed within days, but sticker visas can take several weeks, longer in peak season. Check the processing time on the official portal and apply well before your travel date.

Is an e-visa the same as a tourist visa?

An e-visa is a way of issuing a visa electronically. Many tourist visas are e-visas, but some destinations issue business or transit e-visas too. The category (tourist, business…) and the format (e-visa, sticker) are separate questions.

Do I need a visa service to apply?

No. You can always apply directly on the official government portal or at the embassy. Private services charge a fee for help with forms and document checks; they cannot speed up a government decision or guarantee approval.

Which visa providers handle tourist visas?

26 providers in the VisaScout catalogue list tourist visas among their services, including iVisa, VisaHQ, CIBTvisas. Coverage varies by destination and passport — compare them on VisaScout, then apply on the provider's own site or directly on the official portal.