Many destinations require a visa for entry. Since visa requirements vary by country and are subject to change, we will send comprehensive information, including visa instructions and application forms, in your confirmation packet. However, for general information about visas, here are some guidelines:
For China visas, passengers should contact CITS USA. As our official China visa provider, CITS offers a special discounted processing rate for Friendly Planet passengers.
For India visas, passengers must obtain their visas through TRAVISA Outsourcing, the official visa provider for the Indian Consulate.
For other visas where it is advisable to use a service, passengers should contact CIBT, Inc., our preferred visa provider.
You may wonder why we would recommend using a fee-based visa service when it is possible to obtain a visa directly, at least in many cases. While you usually can obtain a visa directly from the consulate of the country you're visiting, it will always be much easier to arrange the visa through a service. In the case of CIBT, you usually can organize the entire process online, including completion of all forms, taking advantage of expedited processing via the Internet.
One very special feature of the CIBT Internet portal is your ability to store information on a secure server, so that you don't need to constantly complete every visa application from scratch. You simply complete a personal questionnaire one time, send your photos only once for electronic storage, and save lots of time and effort for multiple applications as well as future trips. For our frequent travelers, especially, this is a wonderful service that we are certain you will appreciate.
While there is a nominal extra cost for this service, you gain the benefit of professional, expert handling of your visa application. If there's a problem or a glitch, someone knowledgeable, with contacts in the various consulates, will be able to sort it out so that you can get your visa in a timely way.
Important Information About Visas for non-U.S. Citizens
Friendly Planet travelers who are not U.S. Citizens must check carefully to determine the visa requirements for each destination on your itinerary. The best way to find out what visas are required for your nationality is through the Embassy or Consulate of the country/countries you are visiting. Visa requirements vary depending entirely upon your country of citizenship, and it is the responsibility of each traveler to determine the visa requirements and to comply with them.
If, due to your citizenship, you require a visa to enter the country/countries on your travel itinerary, the airline you are flying will deny boarding and your tour will be disrupted if your visa is not in order. It is usually not possible to obtain a visa instantly, and travel insurance will not apply to cover your lost expenses since it is entirely your responsibility to obtain appropriate visas for your trip.
If your tour includes a cruise or multiple country program, please carefully review the entire itinerary with the Embassy or Consulate officials, including all ports of call and all countries visited, to determine what visas are required and whether you might need multiple entry visas for any portion of your tour. Please pay special attention to the routing of your flights. For example, if you are traveling to Thailand via Taipei, you will need to check with the Embassy or Consulate of BOTH Thailand and Taiwan to determine if you need visas for these countries. Since some countries require visas even for transiting through their airports, you must check requirements for every country on your itinerary, even if you are just passing through an airport en route to another country.
Please note that Friendly Planet cannot be responsible for any charges or trip interruptions or cancellations due to incorrect or missing visas. Thus, in order to avoid disappointment and unnecessary extra expenses, please take the time to check carefully and in a timely way so that you can obtain all the documentation you need for your trip.
