eVisa vs visa: key differences explained

Visa on arrival is obtained at your destination’s entry point, while an eVisa is applied for online before traveling, with the eVisa generally being more convenient and less risky.

Advanced technology has facilitated sophisticated and advanced forms of visas used by immigration officials to track and document foreign visits. While consular visas remain available in embassies, countries also offer visas on arrival and electronic visas (eVisa).

What is Visa on arrival?

As the name suggests, you receive this type of visa at your destination country’s point of entry. In other words, you don’t have to apply for a visa before the trip, making it an option for emergencies and cross-country travel. Currently, Thailand has an eVisa on Arrival. Which involved applying online and receiving the visa once you arrive. So there are different variations of the visa on arrival being implemented.

What is an e-Visa?

These are electronic or online visas that you can obtain via the internet. With the eVisa application process, you won’t have to visit the embassy to get a visa. All you need is a reliable internet connection and an internet-enabled device. A popular destination that has championed the eVisa is India. Tourism in India has increased drastically because of this new eVisa system.

The difference between Visa on arrival and eVisa

The main difference lies in the application process. You apply for the visa on arrival once you reach your destination and eVisa before you travel. Note that applying for your visa on arrival may require you to wait at the airport, port, or border point for a few minutes, if not hours, as the immigration officials scrutinize every visitor’s documents.

On the other hand, the eVisa application is fast and reliable as it only requires you to access the embassy’s website and fill in the electronic form. You may need to print a confirmation slip to present at the entry point. However, if your destination country has eVisa systems electronically linked, you will only need to submit your passport at the entry point.

If you have to choose between the two types of visas, it’s advisable to go for an eVisa. It would be very disappointing to travel all the way to be denied a visa on arrival for reasons such as incorrect application information or missing documents.

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