Can I trust third-party visa agencies?

Only use them if you are hiring them to physically process your visa application. Do not use them for information gathering, as they are often outdated or biased toward selling you services you might not need.

What if my passport is expiring soon?

Most countries require at least 6 months of validity remaining from your date of entry. If you have less than 6 months, renew your passport before booking flights.

How to Research Visa Requirements for Any Country

Always start with your home country's official government travel advisory website. Cross-reference those findings with the destination country's embassy website and a reputable third-party aggregator like IATA to ensure you have the most current entry requirements.

Check your home government's travel portal. Visit the official government travel site for your citizenship (e.g., travel.state.gov for the U.S. or gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the UK). Search for your destination to find official summaries on entry requirements, including visa-free access, e-visas, and passport validity rules.
Use the IATA Travel Centre database. Go to the IATA Travel Centre website. Enter your citizenship, destination, and transit points. This is the same database airlines use at check-in to determine if you are allowed to board, making it the industry standard for accuracy.
Verify at the destination's embassy website. Search for the official embassy or consulate website of the destination country. Look for the 'Consular Services' or 'Visa' section. If the information differs from your government's site, follow the instructions provided by the destination country's embassy.
Check for reciprocity and blank page requirements. Ensure your passport has enough blank pages (usually 2-4) and at least 6 months of validity beyond your planned departure date. Some countries require this, and airlines will deny boarding if you don't meet it.

Can I trust third-party visa agencies?: Only use them if you are hiring them to physically process your visa application. Do not use them for information gathering, as they are often outdated or biased toward selling you services you might not need.
What if my passport is expiring soon?: Most countries require at least 6 months of validity remaining from your date of entry. If you have less than 6 months, renew your passport before booking flights.