If you are a traveller who is planning a trip, then you must know the importance of applying for a visa. Many countries have introduced digital and easy options to obtain a visa to make traveling smooth for individuals. The best two options are the E-visa and the Visa on arrival. It is important to know the difference between the two so that you know which is faster and easier.
In this blog post, we will explain the key differences between the two to save you time and address. We have also mentioned their benefits and which one is better to choose.
A Visa on arrival is a type of visa that is obtained at the port of entry by travellers in the destination country. There is no need to apply for this type of visa before your trip; you can just get it upon arrival.
The full form of an E-visa is Electronic visa. It is a digital visa that can be applied for and obtained online by travellers before their trip. The e-visa is linked to the passport of the traveller, and the immigration authority can verify it upon arrival.
Here are the differences between the electronic visas and the Visa-on-arrival:
| Aspect | E-Visa | VOA |
|---|---|---|
| When to Apply | Apply before leaving home | Apply at the port of entry |
| Planning Needed | Preparation is needed well in advance | Preparation is not needed in advance, but carry proper documents at the time of arrival |
| Risk of delays | Delays can happen if documents are missing, or the processing time can be long | Potential delays can happen at the time of arrival (unpredictable) |
| Certainty | You know visa is granted or not before travel | If requirements are not fulfilled, you can be delayed or denied upon arrival |
| Convenience | Can be applied from anywhere; waiting at an Embassy is not required | More Spontaneous; arrival formalities can be complicated |
For Indian travellers, many countries offer these quick visa options: E-visa and VOA. Here are the examples of the countries:
Here are the countries that offer a Visa on Arrival for Indian travellers:
| Asian Countries | African Countries | Island Nations | Other Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Mauritania | Marshall Islands | Bolivia |
| Maldives | Madagascar | Palau Islands | Suriname |
| Indonesia | Tanzania | Tuvalu | Saint Lucia |
| Sri Lanka | Ethiopia | Samoa | Armenia |
| Cambodia | Guinea-Bissau | - | - |
| Laos | Sierra Leone | - | - |
| Myanmar | Zimbabwe | - | - |
| Jordan | - | - | - |
| Vietnam | - | - | - |
| Bahrain | - | - | - |
Here are the countries that offer an E-Visa for Indian travellers:
| Asian Countries | African Countries | European Countries | Other Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | Kenya | Russia | Australia |
| Malaysia | Tanzania | Georgia | New Zealand |
| Indonesia | Uganda | Moldova | United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| Japan | Zambia | Ukraine | Colombia |
| Taiwan | Ethiopia | - | Sri Lanka |
| Myanmar | Madagascar | - | - |
| Bahrain | Benin | - | - |
| Cambodia | Gabon | - | - |
| Iran | - | - | - |
| Laos | - | - | - |
| Tajikistan | - | - | - |
| Uzbekistan | - | - | - |
| Thailand | - | - | - |
Although both the e-visa and visa-on-arrival have their own advantages, e-visas might be more convenient for Indian travellers due to the following reasons:
You can choose the VOA option if you need a visa urgently or you don't prefer to apply online for a visa.
Here are a few tips for Indian Travellers that they should follow before applying for an e-visa or VOA:
Stop worrying about delays. Apply now and get Indian Counsellor Services.
Chat NowAt last, we can say that both e-visa and VOA options are good for the travellers, but e-visa can be faster and easier than VOA as it saves time and convenient. The E-visa application can be a little complicated for the applicants. In such situations, seeking expert assistance can be the best thing an individual can do.
At Visament, we have a team of professionals who have 30+ years of combined experience in E-Visa processing. We have affordable prices on our website, and 24/7 customer support is also available.
A few of the disadvantages of E-visa are: Technical difficulties, Increased risk of fraud, lack of flexibility, language barriers, and lack of personal interaction.
The VOA requirements can vary for different countries. The general needs are a valid passport, passport-sized photos, proof of sufficient funds, proof of visit purpose, or a return or onward ticket.
Yes, you can travel with your eVisa only, as it serves as an official electronic travel authorization. Make sure that you carry a printout of your eVisa along with your valid passport.
For the foreign travellers, e-visas are allowed for a maximum of two times in a calendar year.
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