Electronic visa

An electronic visa (E-Visa) and an electronic travel authorization (ETA, also styled eTA) are digital travel permits commonly required in conjunction with a valid passport for entry into specific jurisdictions. These electronic travel documents have gained prominence in the modern era of digital connectivity and streamlined travel processes.

Immigration departments of most countries require electronic visa holder to provide printed confirmation receipt at port of entry.

Background

Beginning in the 2000s many countries introduced e-visas and electronic travel authorisations (ETAs) as an alternative to traditional visas. An ETA is a kind of pre-arrival registration, which may or may not be officially classified as a visa depending on the issuing jurisdiction, required for foreign travellers who are exempted from obtaining a full visa. In contrast to the procedures that typically apply in regard to proper visas, per which the traveller normally has no recourse if rejected, if an ETA is rejected the traveller can choose to apply for a visa instead. In contrast, an e-visa is simply a visa that travellers can apply for and receive online without visiting the issuing state's consular mission or visa agency.

Differences Between eVisa and eTA

Electronic Visa (eVisa) and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) are digital travel documents that enable travelers to gain entry into foreign countries. Despite their apparent similarities, these two forms of travel authorization exhibit notable distinctions:

• It is crucial to clarify that an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) should not be confused with a traditional visa. These documents serve distinct purposes and have varying eligibility criteria.
• eTAs are legally not a kind of visa, and are generally limited to travelers hailing from countries that have entered into a Visa Waiver Program with the destination country, while eVisas are typically available to a broader spectrum of countries and territories. Travellers are still able to apply for a visa if an eTA is rejected.

Issuing

• eTAs are usually assessed automatically within an hour. eTAs can usually be submitted without needing further documents.
• e-Visas are usually assessed manually which often takes several days. Furthermore, documents such as invitation from a host is usually needed.
• These rules aren't strict, and eTAs are often assessed manually in certain cases, which will cause delayed approval.

Limit and validity

• The differences between eVisas and eTAs extend to the duration of their validity and the constraints they impose on travel.
• eVisas typically carry a validity period ranging from 30 to 60 days, making them suitable for relatively short-term visits.
• Conversely, eTAs are often granted more extended periods of validity, allowing for greater flexibility in planning multiple visits over time.

Multiple entries

• Another pivotal distinction lies in the number of entries permitted by these travel documents.
• eTAs frequently enable travelers to make multiple entries into the destination country during the document's validity period, catering to those with recurring travel needs.
• Conversely, eVisas are conventionally designed for single-entry use, meaning travelers can enter the country only once during the visa's validity. eVisas, like conventional visas can normally also be multiple-entry if there is a need, such as business related or having family members there.

Usage

The following jurisdictions require certain categories of international travellers to hold an ETA or e-visa to clear border controls upon arrival, if they don't need a visa:

• Australia: Australia administers two distinct categories of ETA. The Electronic Travel Authority scheme is available to citizens of a variety of North America and Asian countries while the eVisitor scheme provides a similar facility for nationals of the European Union and the European Economic Area.
  • Electronic Travel Authority: Development of the Electronic Travel Authority system commenced in January 1996. It was first implemented in Singapore on a trial basis on 11 September 1996, for holders of Singaporean and American passports travelling on Qantas and Singapore Airlines. Implementation of online applications began in June 2001. The current ETA came into effect on 23 March 2013 replacing older ETAs (subclass 976, 977 and 956) while offering a single authorisation for both tourist and business purposes. The ETA allows the holder to visit Australia for unlimited times, up to 3 months per visit, in a 12-month period for tourism or business purposes. There is no visa application charge but a service charge of AU$20 applies for applications lodged online. At the time of travel to, and entry into, Australia, all holders of an ETA must be free from tuberculosis and must not have any criminal convictions for which the sentence or sentences (whether served or not) total 12 months or more. The ETA is currently available to passport holders of a handful of jurisdictions in Asia and North America.
  • eVisitor programme: The eVisitor scheme was established to create a reciprocal short stay travel arrangement for nationals of Australia and the European Union, while still maintaining Australia's universal visa system. In essence, while nationals of the European Union and European Economic Area are still theoretically issued visas, the burden posed by the system is so minimal as to satisfy the EU's requirement for visa reciprocity on the part of states whose nationals are accorded visa free access to the Schengen Area. The eVisitor is available to citizens of all 27 European Union member states and 9 other countries. The eVisitor is issued free of charge and allows the holder to visit Australia for unlimited times, up to 3 months per visit, in a 12-month period for tourism or business purposes. At the time of travel to, and entry into, Australia, all holders of an eVisitor must be free from tuberculosis and must not have any criminal convictions for which the sentence or sentences (whether served or not) total 12 months or more. Holders of most jurisdictions in Western Europe are eligible to enter Australia under the eVisitor programme.
• East African Community: From February 2014, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda issue an East African Tourist Visa. The visa costs 100 USD and has no restrictions on nationality. It is a non-extendable multiple-entry 90-day visa that has to be first used to enter the country that issued it. Like traditional visas, it will be assessed manually and requires some documents such as return ticket and vaccination certificate.
• Hong Kong: Indian nationals and Taiwanese nationals from the areas administered by the Republic of China as formal international travel. There are arrangements exist for travel between territories controlled by the Republic of China and territories controlled by the People's Republic of China. do not require a visa to enter Hong Kong, but must apply for a pre-arrival registration (PAR) prior to arrival. If not successful, Indian travellers may apply for a visa instead. Taiwanese people are eligible only if they were born in Taiwan or entered Hong Kong as an ROC nationals before, otherwise they should instead apply for an entry permit (a de facto visa) to enter Hong Kong using their Republic of China passport. They may alternatively enter Hong Kong using a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents issued by mainland Chinese authorities without any additional permit.
• India: India permits nationals of most jurisdictions to clear border controls using an e-visa. Travellers holding an e-Visa must arrive via 26 designated airports or 3 designated seaports.
• Kenya: From 1 January 2021, Kenya solely issues e-visas and physical visas are no longer available. Kenya issues both "East African Tourist Visa" and "Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)". Both will involve manual assessment which takes around three days, and requires some documents such as return ticket and vaccination certificate. The eTA can be single-entry or multiple-entry.
• New Zealand: New Zealand has required that visa waiver travellers (other than citizens of Australia, members of a visiting force, or individuals associated with a scientific programme or expedition in Antarctica sponsored by a party to the Antarctic Treaty) obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) since 1 October 2019.
• Canada: Travellers from visa-free countries entering Canada by air, except American nationals (including those with and without full citizenship), French citizens arriving from Saint Pierre and Miquelon and holders of United States Permanent Residence cards, must obtain an ETA prior to arrival but not if arriving by land or sea. Travellers from 14 other countries normally require a visa to enter Canada, but are eligible to apply for an ETA for entry by air if they have held a Canadian visa within the 10 years prior to applying or if they currently hold a valid non-immigrant American visa. Such travellers must still have a valid Canadian visa to enter by land or sea.
• United States: Travellers under the Visa Waiver Program are required to obtain permission through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) if arriving in America by any mode of transportation as of 2023. Travellers using a passport issued by the Government of Bermuda to a British Overseas Territories Citizen, entering as a Canadian citizen, or entering under other visa exemption arrangements (such as the Compact of Free Association) are not required to hold an ESTA clearance.
• Pakistan: Visitors from several jurisdictions may enter Pakistan for tourism without obtaining a visa in advance provided they hold an ETA.
• Seychelles: All visitor from Seychelles (except Kosovo) does not require a visa. However, they need SEBS (Seychelles Electronic Border System). It must need to be fulfilled 30 days before the entry, and pay a fee. Travellers of all ages need to do that, while Seychellois citizens and permanent residents still need the Embarkation Information Form.
• South Korea: eligible visa-free visitors must obtain Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA).
• Sri Lanka: Travellers to Sri Lanka must obtain an ETA prior to getting a visa on arrival at the entry port, except for a few countries where the ETA is exempted, and for a few countries where a visa must obtained in advance. Citizens of India, Pakistan, and other countries in the northwestern part of Asia receive discounted ETAs.
• Qatar: From 27 September 2017, citizens of all nationalities who hold valid residence permits or visas from either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America or the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council can obtain an ETA for up to 30 days. The authorization may be extended online for 30 additional days. Qatar introduced an e-Visa system on 23 June 2017. All countries except Egypt, Israel, Kosovo and Palestine that do not qualify for visa on arrival or visa free entry may apply for a tourist visa online through the eVisa system. Visas are issued within four working days if all documents are submitted and are valid for a stay period up to 30 days in Qatar.
• United Kingdom: Citizens of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE can obtain an Electronic Visa Waiver, or EVW, online to enter the United Kingdom. The Nationality and Borders Bill, before the parliament in Spring 2022, includes a proposal to introduce the Electronic Travel Authorisation system for all non-UK and Irish citizens.

Map of states with ETA or eVisa facilities

  States granting eVisas universally

  States granting eVisas to select nationalities

  States without eVisa facilities but requiring ETAs from some visa exempt visitors or visitors eligible for a visa on arrival

  States that plan to introduce eVisas or ETAs in the future

  States without ETA and eVisa facilities

An electronic visa (e-Visa or eVisa) or Electronic travel authorization (or ETA) is stored in a computer and is linked to the passport number so no label, sticker, or stamp is placed in the passport before travel. The application is done over the internet, and the receipt acts as a visa, which can be printed or stored on a mobile device.

These lists are not exhaustive. Some countries may have more detailed classifications of some of these categories reflecting the nuances of their respective geographies, social conditions, economies, international treaties, etc.

Country	Mode	Universal eligibility	VoA alternative	Ref.
Angola	Pre-approval	X	X
Antigua and Barbuda	eVisa	✓	X
Armenia	eVisa	X	✓
Argentina	eVisa (called ETA)	X	X
Ascension Island	eVisa	✓	X
Australia	ETA	X	X
Azerbaijan	eVisa	X	partial
Bahrain	eVisa	X	partial
Benin	eVisa	✓	X
Cambodia	eVisa	X	✓
Djibouti	eVisa	✓	✓
Egypt	eVisa	X	partial
Ethiopia	eVisa	✓	partial
Gabon	eVisa	✓	partial
Georgia	eVisa	X	X
Guinea	eVisa	✓	X
Guinea-Bissau	Pre-approval	✓	✓
Hong Kong	ETA/eVisa	✓	X
India	eVisa	X	partial
Iran	eVisa	X	✓
Ivory Coast	eVisa	✓	X
Japan	eVisa	X	✓
Kenya	eVisa	X	✓
Kuwait	eVisa	X	✓
Kyrgyzstan	eVisa	✓	partial
Laos	eVisa	X	✓
Lesotho	eVisa	✓	X
Madagascar	eVisa	✓	✓
Malawi	eVisa	✓	✓
Malaysia	eVisa	X	✓
Mexico	ETA	X	X
Mongolia	Pre-approval	X	partial
Montserrat	eVisa	✓	X
Morocco	eVisa/ETA	X	partial
Myanmar	eVisa	X	partial
New Zealand	ETA	X	X
Nigeria	eVisa	X	partial
Oman	eVisa	X	✓
Pakistan	ETA	X	X
Papua New Guinea	eVisa	X	✓
Qatar	eVisa	✓	✓
Russia	eVisa	X	X
Rwanda	eVisa	✓	✓
Saint Helena	eVisa	✓	X
Saint Kitts and Nevis	eVisa	✓	X
São Tomé and Príncipe	eVisa	✓	X
Saudi Arabia	eVisa	X	✓
Singapore	eVisa	X	X
South Sudan	eVisa	✓	X
Sri Lanka	ETA	X	✓
Seychelles	ETA	✓	X
Suriname	eVisa	✓	X
Syria	eVisa	X	X
Taiwan	eVisa	X	partial
Tajikistan	eVisa	X	X
Tanzania	eVisa	✓	✓
Thailand	eVisa/Pre-approval	X	✓	/
Turkey	eVisa	X	X
Uganda	eVisa	X	✓
Ukraine	eVisa	X	X
United Kingdom	EVW	X	X
Uzbekistan	eVisa	X	X
Vietnam	eVisa	X	X
Zambia	eVisa	✓	partial
Zimbabwe	eVisa	✓	partial

Russia maintains an eVisa program for visitors from certain countries arriving to Russian Far East, Saint Petersburg, Leningrad Region and Kaliningrad Region. And will introduce a single electronic visa from 1 January 2021.

Future introduction

Authorities of Brazil, Belarus, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Liberia, South Africa, and Tunisia have announced plans to introduce electronic visas in the future.

• The European Union is planning to introduce the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for visa-exempt nationals intending to come to the European Union or the Schengen Area (including EFTA countries) from 2024. For non-visa-exempt nationals, the EU plans to introduce a unified digital visa system starting in 2026.

• The United Kingdom is rolling out eVisas to replace all physical immigration documents, such as biometric residence permits and visa vignettes on passports. The process was started in 2024, with most visas going electronic in 2025 As this will only apply to visa-required visitors, this is separate to the established ETA system for visa-waived visitors.

• The United States Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs is developing and trialling an electronic visa system called Digital Visa Authorization (DVA), envisioned to eventually replace traditional sticker visas on passports. In 2023, this was trialled with K-1 visas issued at the Embassy of the United States, Dublin, Ireland. As this will only apply to visa-required visitors, this is separate to the established ESTA system for visa-waived visitors.