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 · Published 2026-09-15 · Updated 2026-09-15
Purpose
Short leisure travel — holidays, sightseeing, visiting family or friends, and non-business activities.
Who is it for?
Travellers whose main reason to visit is tourism and who do not intend to work or settle in the destination.
Typical application method
Online eVisa / ETA, embassy sticker visa, or visa-on-arrival depending on the destination and your nationality.
Can Krosz help?
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.
Krosz does not publish fabricated processing times, fees, validity or stay durations. Country-specific figures appear only when pulled from Krosz's verified visa database.
Tell us where you're planning to travel and our team can help you understand the application process.
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, the destination and your circumstances — always confirm for your exact combination.
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 are shown. 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
A category-specific application timeline. 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.
Krosz tool
Tell us where you want to travel and your passport. We'll route you to the right Krosz visa page.
Destinations
Only destinations where Krosz has verified data for this purpose are shown. We never claim every country offers a visa with the same name.
Krosz does not currently process this visa category for specific destinations.
Contact the relevant embassy or authority for the country you plan to visit, or for guidance.
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
General, educational reasons relevant to this category. We never publish invented refusal rates.
Practical
FAQ
Tell us where you're planning to travel and our team can help you understand the application process.
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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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