Visa Guide

The following is a brief guide to visa requirements for Tucan Travel destinations. This is intended as an indicatory chart only and as the rules change rapidly and often without notice, we may not have the most up-to-date information for every country. We therefore strongly recommend that you contact your own government's foreign travel advisory services, the embassy or consulate, your travel agent (if they have a specialist visa department) or a specialist visa service before departure to obtain the most up-to-date visa information.

Please note that obtaining a visa is your sole responsibility. If you don't have the correct visa for your destination(s) you may miss out on all or part of your tour. For many of the countries where visas are required, it is not possible to obtain the visa at the border and some visas take several weeks to obtain. You may also be required to obtain a multiple entry visa for some destinations, or a transit visa for others, so please read your tour dossier itinerary carefully.

Many countries require you to have a passport with at least 6 months validity remaining. Please check your passport before you travel to be certain you can meet this requirement. It is also advisable to bring spare passport photos with you in case these are required by authorities to process a visa application on arrival.

If you're planning to visit Russia, Tucan Travel can provide the invitation letter that you MUST have, to obtain your visa. For information about visa requirements for Russia, see the Russia Visa page.

For Schengen visa enquiries, click here. If you're travelling via the United States, please read the important notes below.

Important Notes / Legend for Visa Table

Africa immigration / border crossings

Please note that British pounds are not accepted at overland border crossings in Africa. Please make sure you have enough US dollars to pay for any visas you have to buy locally.

Argentina

Australian, Canadian and USA nationals are required to pay a reciprocity fee on entry into Argentina. This fee is set at the same amount Argentine nationals are required to pay for visas into these countries.

The fees are as follows: Canadian nationals: US$75* (single entry). USA nationals: US$140*. Australian nationals: US$140*
*or its equivalent in Argentine pesos.

The amounts listed above may change according to the reciprocal visa fee amounts set by the other countries. The reciprocity fee can be paid by Argentine pesos, US dollars, credit cards or travellers' cheques.

Cambodia

Travellers to Cambodia should obtain a visa prior to crossing the border. Visas are available for purchase online at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for the Kingdom of Cambodia at www.mfaic.gov.kh/e-visa/vindex.aspx. Visas cost between US$25 and US$42 depending on your nationality.

Chile

† Australian, Canadian and USA nationals will be required to pay a reciprocity fee on entry into Chile. This fee is set at the same amount Chilean nationals are required to pay for visas for these countries.

The fees are as follows: Canadian nationals: US$131; USA nationals: US$140; Australian nationals: US$6. This fee is only needed to be paid once for the life of a passport. 

The amounts listed above may change according to the reciprocal visa fee amounts set by the other countries.

* = Visa ONLY required if entering overland. If you are flying in to start one of our tours then the airline will provide you with a tourist card to complete and hand in to immigration.

China

If you're travelling to China, please make sure to obtain your China visa at least one month prior to your departure. If you're travelling to Tibet, please do not note this on your visa application as this can result in officials being less likely to issue your visa. Please contact us if you have any questions about this.

Guatemala

Visa ONLY required if entering overland. If you are flying in to start one of our tours then the airline will provide you with a tourist card to complete and hand in to immigration.

India

Under new rules announced by India's Ministry of Home Affairs in December 2009, anyone on a tourist visa departing India cannot return within two months, unless they meet specific conditions.

Tourists departing India will now receive a stamp in their passports indicating that they may not re-enter India for two months, regardless of their length of stay in India prior to departure. Tourists wishing to return to India before the two month period has passed will now have to visit the Indian High Commission or Consulate in the country to which they travelled or are resident and present their case for re-entry. Only those considered to have a valid case or an emergency will receive a letter granting them re-entry.  

The authorities in all the immigration check posts in India have also been authorised to allow tourists to make two or three entries, as the case may be, based on production of an itinerary and documentation (ticket bookings) proving their tourism-related travel plans. For further information you should read the frequently asked questions published on the website of the MHA: www.mha.nic.in

Indonesia

Most nationalities require a visa and can obtain a visa on arrival for a fee of US$25 for a stay of up to 30 days, provided the passport contains at least one unused visa page for the visa-on-arrival sticker. A visa can also be purchased prior to arrival.

Japan

South Africans must apply for a visa to Japan well in advance of travel. In order to apply for your visa you will require a letter of invitation from Tucan Travel / your travel agent. Please contact us or your travel agency to arrange this.

Jordan

Travellers who start their tour in Jordan will need to organise their own Jordan visa prior to travel. The local operator in Jordan will organise a group visa for clients who have entered Jordan from Syria or Egypt with a Tucan Travel group. Anyone who is travelling with us from Syria or Egypt to Jordan and intends to re-enter Jordan later, will need to obtain a multiple-entry visa prior to travel. Please see the Jordan country dossier for further information or contact us if you have any questions about this.

Kenya

We have been advised that Kenya is now strictly enforcing a blank pages, condition of entry, similar to that recently enforced in South Africa. This means that all those requiring a visa to enter Kenya must have at least two blank pages available in their passport upon arrival. Failure to meet this requirement may result in an entry visa being refused. We urge you to make sure your passport meets these conditions.

Kyrgystan

If you're travelling to Kyrgystan, visas MUST be obtained prior to arrival so please make sure to obtain your visa at least one month prior to your departure. Please contact us if you have any questions about this.

Laos

Visas can be obtained in advance of travel online. Visas cost between US$30 and US$42 depending on your nationality, if paid with US dollar notes. Paying with Thai baht will cost considerably more and border officials will not accept Lao kip at all. A US$1 "out of office hours" surcharge, and a small (possibly 10 baht) entry stamp fee, might also be charged. Visa on arrival facilities are available at the international airports at Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse, and at all border crossings except entering overland from Cambodia.

Mongolia

All passengers travelling to Mongolia will need a covering letter detailing the dates of travel within Mongolia and activities with Tucan Travel when applying for their visa. Please supply your reservations agent with the following information so Tucan Travel can compile your letter.

1. The tour departure you are booked on
2. Your name as it appears on your passport.
3. Your date of birth
4. Your nationality
5. The date you arrive into Mongolia (taking into consideration any pre tour accommodation)
6. The date you leave Mongolia (taking into consideration any post tour accommodation)

If you have arranged to travel independently in Mongolia before you join the tour please let your travel agent know as these dates will also need to be taken into consideration. For additional information please contact us.

Nicaragua & Panama

Visa obtainable at the border for a fee of US$5 to US$20.

Russia

If you're planning to visit Russia, Tucan Travel can provide the invitation letter that you MUST have, to obtain your visa. For information about visa requirements for Russia, see the Russia visa information page. For additional information please contact us.

Rwanda

Nationals of Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the European Union require visitor/tourism visas to enter Rwanda. Due to international agreements, the nationals of the following countries may visit Rwanda without visa for a period up to 90 days: USA, Germany, Canada, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, Mauritius, South Africa, Kenya, Great Britain, Sweden, Singapore, Hong Kong and Burundi.

Rwanda visas MUST be obtained a minimum of 3 days in advance of travel as visas are no longer available at the border. If you do not have a Rwandan consulate or embassy in your country you can apply for your visa online at www.migration.gov.rw under Public Forms – Online Visa Application, or click this link: http://www.migration.gov.rw/singleform.php. Don’t forget to print out your acceptance letter when it arrives and take note of the reference number.

The entry point is: Gatuna
The exit point is: Gatuna
For entry and exit dates, check your tour dossier or contact our reservations staff, who can double-check schedules for you.
Accommodation: Fatima Pastrol Centre

Syria

Although a few nationalities are sometimes able to obtain visas at the border, we strongly recommend that all nationalities obtain visas in advance of travel as visas on arrival are sometimes refused and it is impossible to predict if and when this would happen to any particular person. In particular, US nationals are definitely not able to obtain visas at the border and you will be refused entry if you arrive without one.

Turkey

^ = Visa obtained on arrival. Payment of US$15-20 required at border.
* = Visa required, must be applied for at the consulate prior to departure.

Turkmenistan

If you're planning to visit Turkmenistan, Tucan Travel can provide the invitation letter that you MUST have, to obtain your visa. The cost for the letter is EUR25 and this amount is non-refundable should you decide to cancel your tour. Please see the Central Asia Booking Form linked to your tour page for details of the information you MUST provide Tucan Travel in order for us to complete your invitation letter. For additional information please contact us.

Uzbekistan

If you're planning to visit Uzbekistan, Tucan Travel can provide the invitation letter that you MUST have, to obtain your visa. The cost for the letter is EUR25 and this amount is non-refundable should you decide to cancel your tour. Please see the Central Asia Booking Form linked to your tour page for details of the information you MUST provide Tucan Travel in order for us to complete your invitation letter. For additional information please contact us

Venezuela

If you fly in, your airline will provide you with a tourist card to complete and hand to the immigration person at border control.

Vietnam

You can get your visa on arrival at the immigration desk of the airport for US$25, but you need to bring a passport photo and an approval letter provided from a private company. The approval letter has to be obtained prior to travel and can be applied for online. It is your responsibility to check the reliability of the company. The approval letter costs US$10-15.

Overall, this can work out cheaper than applying from your embassy, however it is important to make sure the private company you use online is legitimate. Please note 1 year and 6 month visas are no longer granted in Vietnam.

Zambia

Visas are available at the border. From 26 January 2008 - UK Nationals - US$140 for single entry (was US$55), US$442 for multiple entry. USA Nationals - US$135 (was US$100) Canada Nationals - US$55 (was US$30). Other nationalities, e.g. continental Europe: US$50 for single entry (was US$20), US$80 for double entry and US$160 for multiple entry.

Important information for those travelling to or via the USA

The US Department of Homeland Security has issued a statement to remind travellers from all Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) countries that they are now required to obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) prior to travelling to the United States. This requirement, effective from January 2009, applies to all eligible citizens or nationals travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme.

The ESTA, a web-based system, determines the eligibility of a person to enter the United States prior to boarding their flight. Travellers without an approved ESTA may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a US port of entry. Visitors to the USA, and those travelling via the USA to other destinations should apply for travel authorisation at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

The citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the visa waiver programme (VWP): Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Eight of these countries joined the VWP in 2008, and their citizens and nationals have been required to comply with an ESTA since their designation as VWP participants: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Malta. For additional information on Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, visit www.cbp.gov/esta, and for more information on the Visa Waiver Programme, please visit www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/business_pleasure/vwp/.