Most expensive visa to visit a country?

[dajop]

I imagine some of the long duration visas may be quite expensive, but I was a little gobsmacked (as were some colleagues and my boss) when doing an application for a business visa to India this afternoon. Cost is around the $400 AUD mark for 6 or 12 month business visa. Wow! Strict 5 day processing only as well!

Wondered which other countries have high visa charges, and what is the most expensive?

 

[markis10]

I suppose you need to clarify the terms "expensive", is it based on validity/$ or just upfront cost, the recent changes to the Indonesian visas on arrival certainly make it expensive to consider alternate accommodation to Singapore for instance.

 

[dajop]

I suppose you need to clarify the terms "expensive", is it based on validity/$ or just upfront cost, the recent changes to the Indonesian visas on arrival certainly make it expensive to consider alternate accommodation to Singapore for instance.

Simple just the upfront cost. I don't consider the Indonesian visas particularly expensive (but they may be compared to what they used to be). In this example a single visit will cost $400 (as well 10 visits over either 6 or 12 months - You can't get one for a short single visit :!

 

[ethernet]

A visa is permission for a non-citizen to travel to a particular country.

So lets get this right - by charging different amounts for permission it is really an arrival TAX. Yes, cash strapped nations are milking visitors, and compared with 20 years ago, things are getting worse - not better. Bi-lateral no-visa agreements are
going in the wrong direction.

And somehow I think when you buy an airticket, I think some form of electronic visa is exchanged, and risk information as well.

I suggest we all agree to to call this 'Tourist Tax', because it makes no difference to illegal workers or expats who simply must come back to relatives.

For that reason, India, and Indonesia are going to miss/forgo many tourist dollars
while smarter nations like Singapore and Thailand rake in the tourist dollars.
The Indonesian Governor of the near/ little Islands below Singapore is hopping mad over the Visa price increases - they stand to suffer the most being closest to the border. A whole lot of people will loose their jobs as 'daytrippers' decide not to come.

I think Poland used to charge a fair whack, and China is not cheap either.

 

[simongr]

Lets call it a visa cost so we compare apples with apples. Otherwise in our comparisons we would have to factor in tax rebates when leaving the country (UK/Oz) or instore discounts for foreigners (US).

I agree the India visa is horrendous!

 

[dajop]

I suggest we all agree to to call this 'Tourist Tax', because it makes no difference to illegal workers or expats who simply must come back to relatives.

To be fair, this particular visa is a "Business Visa" and therefore a levy on corporations wanting to do business with India not so much a tourist tax. The tourist visa, whilst still a slug is only $75.

Also (I suspect with the rise of LCC's ex-SIN) I note Indian government are taking baby steps towards encouraging tourist traffic, Singapore being the country of most note here:

To facilitate bonafide foreign tourists who plan their tours at a short notice, Government of India has introduced “Tourist Visa-on-Arrival” for a period of one year for citizens of five countries viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore on an experimental basis w.e.f. 1.1.2010. Tourists from the said countries can also procure their visas from the Missions / Posts in the normal course.

2. The said “Tourist Visa-on-Arrival” with a maximum validity of 30 days with single entry facility shall be granted by the Immigration Officers at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata airports to start wit

 

[ozbeachbabe]

To be fair, this particular visa is a "Business Visa" and therefore a levy on corporations wanting to do business with India not so much a tourist tax. The tourist visa, whilst still a slug is only $75.

Also (I suspect with the rise of LCC's ex-SIN) I note Indian government are taking baby steps towards encouraging tourist traffic, Singapore being the country of most note here:

To facilitate bonafide foreign tourists who plan their tours at a short notice, Government of India has introduced “Tourist Visa-on-Arrival” for a period of one year for citizens of five countries viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore on an experimental basis w.e.f. 1.1.2010. Tourists from the said countries can also procure their visas from the Missions / Posts in the normal course.

2. The said “Tourist Visa-on-Arrival” with a maximum validity of 30 days with single entry facility shall be granted by the Immigration Officers at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata airports to start with

I suppose that'll open the floodgates for some Aussies going to India on hearing certain countries can get visas on arrival automatically assume that Australia is included - which it isn't.

Then the ubiquitous comment "you're joking" at checkin when told Australians need to apply for a visa beforehand from the consulate.

 

[Happy Dude]

Probably worth separating tourist from business or residency visas too, for comparing said apples.

The visas that require a letter of introduction or similar as part of the application tend to be very dear, and tend to be for short periods. The independant traveller's nightmare. The Central Asian 'stans are the worst offenders, or, to look at it another way, the best at diverting tourists.

I've just paid almost $230 for visa and tourist voucher (and service fee) for the privilege of visiting Russia for 30 days. That's not far from a tenner a day!

Others on my upcoming itinerary (all using standard processing times and delivery):
China $95 (apply by post)
Cuba $100
Mongolia $100 approx - actually this will be the most expensive on a daily basis. I'm only stopping in Ulan Batar for a few days.

 

[Travel Guru]

I did a quick scan and the 2 most expensive single entry standard tourist visas belong to Uganda and Bangladesh at $150 a piece.

Turkmenistan and Mali are $115 and $135 respectively, but they both have to go to the UK for processing, which adds another $300 to the cost if getting a courier company such as toll to handle it.

Other exxy ones on the standard single entry were Gabon at $145, Romania $128, Ghana at $140 and a handful of others over the $100 mark.

TG

 

[kamchatsky]

Well Australia charge many tourists other countries visa fees for coming to Australia, then it is expected that other countries also charges Aussies visa fees for the privilege of going to their country.

Case in point is that last year, both Russia and Hong Kong SAR government formalised an agreement where Russians and HKers (with Chinese HKSAR Passport) no longer needs visa to visit each other for tourists purposes for up to 14 days. Previously visa was required. As a result of this, there were significant increase in air traffic between Hong Kong and Moscow. In fact, CX finally start up HKG-DME as a result of this.

I would not say that it is a TAX given that lots of checks are required on the potential tourists to ensure that they are not going for the "wrong reasons".

 

[munitalP]

.. Romania $128...
TG

Off my must see countries at that price...


munitalP

 

[serfty]

For those wishing to visit the USA and may not be eligible for the free¹ "Visa Waiver Programme"/ESTA, the cost to apply in Oz is now AUD168. That's for 12 months validity, add another AUD36 for 60 months.

¹(currently free - soon to cost USD10 per 2 year ESTA)

 

[levelnine]

I know this is not a tourist visa, but to obtain a F1 (student) visa to the US costs over $500 in fees when you add up all the components: visa application fee, visa issuance fee, visa interview application fee and SEVIS fee.

 

[drewbles]

Whilst not a cost for AU passport holders, spare a thought for our friends in the UK visiting Zambia. At last check, they have to cough up £240GBP for a double. A single is a 'reasonable' £75GBP. These are payable at the port of entry in CASH only.

Totally stupid!

(see Approximate Travel Visa Costs for Zambia and Zimbabwe)

 

[haydensydney]

I was told that you don't need a visa for Cuba when flying from YYZ to HAV about 18 months ago. The CSM on the flight handed out the "visa" form to pax as we were nearing HAV... he said that charging for visa's was a clever way for Embasies abroad to make some money....

Anyway, the little visa form was exactly the same: where we had the Cuban embassies stamp, this was replaced with a "Air Canada" stamp. The pax just filled the rest of the information in hehehe.... We felt ripped off!

Check it out.

 

[haydensydney]

Off my must see countries at that price...
munitalP

Your not missing much!!
(I know - it's a broad brush statement - but it's not the most exciting country hehe)

 

[RB]

I did a quick scan and the 2 most expensive single entry standard tourist visas belong to Uganda and Bangladesh at $150 a piece.

Turkmenistan and Mali are $115 and $135 respectively, but they both have to go to the UK for processing, which adds another $300 to the cost if getting a courier company such as toll to handle it.

Other exxy ones on the standard single entry were Gabon at $145, Romania $128, Ghana at $140 and a handful of others over the $100 mark.

TG

I seem to recall that on our visit to Romania in 2008 Aussies no longer needed a visa?:?:

 

[NM]

I paid A$180 for a single-entry visa for Ukraine several years ago. The standard fee was $90 but I needed to pay the expedite fee (double) as I needed my passport for a USA trip and only had 2 days between arrive home from USA and departing to Ukraine, so had to submit application in person at the Ukraine Consulate in Sydney and pay the expedite fee and it was done in about 4 hours.

 

[dajop]

Well I got my $400 visa back tonight, and this time they only gave me 6 months, even though last time they gave me 12 and I applied/the sponsor letter this time requested 12 as well. :evil: I guess they saw the Pakistan visa in my passport.

And to top it off they didn't get it back to me until 7pm today. Which means an early morning Jetstar flight to SGN tomorrow rather than a pleasant SQ flight this evening.

 

[casper]

Off my must see countries at that price...


munitalP

Australian citizens don't need a visa for short tourist visits to Romania (from experience - was there late last year).

And while it is obviously quite a poor country (particularly for one in the EU), it is also quite beautiful in places, and has several intereting towns. Unfortunately, though, it's also hugely polluted and has lots of stray dogs wandering around.