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Preparedness self-check

Check your visitor visa readiness

Use this visitor visa preparedness self-check to review passport validity, route choice, funds, travel purpose, return plans, forms, fees, biometrics, and risk history before you apply.

This is a preparation aid, not legal advice and not an approval prediction. Tick an item only when it is true for your exact nationality, route, documents, and travel plan.

Preparedness self-check

Visitor visa preparedness check

Use this before applying or booking travel. It does not predict approval, but it shows whether the basics most visitor routes ask for are ready.

Tick an item only when every point under it is true for your exact nationality, route, documents, and travel plan.

Tick only if

  • You checked the official route finder or eligibility page for your passport country and destination.
  • You know whether you need a visa, an electronic travel authorisation, or no pre-travel permission for this trip.
  • Your route matches the real purpose of the trip, not just the fastest or cheapest option.
  • You checked transit rules if you pass through another country on the way.

Destination examples

United States
Visitors usually compare B-1/B-2 visas with ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA is not for every nationality or every travel history.
Canada
Some visitors need a visitor visa, some need an eTA, and some only need a valid passport or travel document.
Australia
Common short-stay routes include Visitor visa subclass 600, ETA, and eVisitor, depending on passport and purpose.
United Kingdom
Some visitors need a Standard Visitor visa, some need an ETA, and some can seek permission at the border.
How to choose the right visitor route

Tick only if

  • Your passport will be valid for the whole trip and for any extra period the destination or transit country requires.
  • The passport number on your visa, eTA, ETA, ESTA, ticket, and booking records will match the passport you travel with.
  • You checked whether your airline or transit airport applies a stricter document rule than the destination itself.
  • If your passport expires soon, you know whether to renew before applying because many permissions are tied to the passport number.

Destination examples

United States
Many visitors need a passport valid for at least six months beyond the stay, but some passport countries are exempt through country-specific agreements.
United Kingdom
For a Standard Visitor trip, the travel document should be valid for the whole stay.
Canada
Canada does not use one simple public six-month visitor rule for everyone. Your passport must support the stay, return travel, visa or eTA validity, and transit requirements.
Australia
The visa or electronic permission is tied to the passport used in the application. Renewing or changing passports can require an update before travel.
Passport validity rules by destination

Tick only if

  • You can describe the trip in one or two clear sentences without hiding work, study, medical treatment, or long-term plans.
  • Any business activity is allowed for visitors, such as meetings or conferences, not hands-on local employment.
  • Any study, volunteering, medical treatment, remote work, or paid activity has been checked against the official visitor rules.
  • You are not using repeat short visits as a way to live in the destination country.

Useful examples

  • Usually easier to explain: holiday, family visit, conference, short business meeting, or a clearly booked medical visit.
  • Needs careful checking: paid work, long study, caring work, repeated long visits, marriage plans, or moving personal belongings.
Visitor purposes that need extra care

Tick only if

  • You know the likely cost of flights, accommodation, food, local travel, insurance, and planned activities.
  • Recent bank records, payslips, tax records, employment income, business income, savings, or sponsor evidence support that budget.
  • If someone sponsors you, their letter, relationship to you, immigration status or residence, and financial evidence are ready.
  • Large recent deposits can be explained with documents, not just a short sentence.

Useful examples

  • Useful evidence can include bank statements, payslips, employer letters, school letters, sponsor letters, host accommodation evidence, or business records.
  • A balance alone may not be enough if the officer cannot see where the money came from or why it is available for the trip.
How to prove visitor funds clearly

Tick only if

  • You can show work, school, business, family, property, lease, caregiving, or other responsibilities after the trip.
  • Your planned stay length fits your job, school calendar, savings, and family situation.
  • You can explain previous travel, long gaps, or unemployment honestly if they affect the application.
  • You are not relying only on a return ticket; the wider story also supports returning.

Useful examples

  • Helpful evidence can include an employment letter with leave dates, school enrollment, business registration, property or lease records, family responsibilities, or confirmed appointments after return.
  • A return ticket can support a plan, but it usually does not prove by itself that the person will leave.
How to show you will leave after a visit

Tick only if

  • Your arrival date, departure date, cities, accommodation, host address, or event location are clear.
  • The length of stay matches your money, leave from work or school, and purpose.
  • You have invitation, event, conference, business meeting, family, medical, or tourism details where relevant.
  • You avoided non-refundable bookings unless the official guidance or your situation makes them sensible.

Useful examples

  • For family visits, include who you are visiting, where they live, and the relationship.
  • For events or business visits, include dates, organiser details, agenda, or registration evidence.

Tick only if

  • You know the official application website or account, the fee, photo rule, document upload rule, and appointment process.
  • You know whether biometrics, an interview, or a visa application centre appointment is required for your nationality and route.
  • Your name, passport number, birth date, travel dates, and answers are consistent across the form and documents.
  • You know how appointment delays affect your travel date before paying fees or booking travel.

Destination examples

United States
B-1/B-2 applicants usually complete DS-160, pay the visa fee, and attend an interview unless an exemption applies.
Canada
Visitor visa and eTA steps differ. Visitor visa applicants may need biometrics and a passport request after approval.
Australia
Visitor visa subclass 600 is commonly handled through ImmiAccount; ETA and eVisitor have different steps.
United Kingdom
Standard Visitor visa applicants apply online and usually book a biometrics appointment at a visa application centre.
Forms, fees, biometrics, and interviews

Tick only if

  • Every document supports a fact you wrote in the application.
  • Invitation letters include who is inviting you, their address, relationship, dates, and whether they will host or sponsor you.
  • Business, conference, school, medical, or family evidence matches the dates and purpose of travel.
  • Minor children, separated parents, guardianship, custody, or consent issues are documented when relevant.

Useful examples

  • Possible documents: invitation letter, host ID or status evidence, sponsor proof, employer leave letter, school enrollment, event registration, medical appointment, business agenda, or proof of relationship.
  • More documents are not automatically better. Strong documents explain the exact trip clearly.

Tick only if

  • You listed previous refusals, removals, overstays, visa cancellations, arrests, charges, or immigration violations honestly.
  • You have refusal letters, court records, police records, medical records, or explanations ready where relevant.
  • You understand whether the issue needs professional advice before applying.
  • You did not leave out a problem because it happened in a different country.

Useful examples

  • A past refusal is not always the end of a future application, but hiding it can create a much bigger problem.

Tick only if

  • You checked which languages the destination accepts for uploaded or paper evidence.
  • Every non-accepted-language document has a translation if the rules require one.
  • The translation includes the translator details, certification wording, stamp, or affidavit required by the destination.
  • Names, dates, document numbers, and places match the original document exactly.
Document translation and certification rules

This is a preparation tool, not legal advice, not an eligibility decision, not an approval prediction, and not a guarantee of visa or immigration approval. Always follow the official instructions for your exact nationality, route, and application location.