Visa requirements checker

Choose your passport and where you are going: see whether you need a visa, how long you can stay, the official website to apply and the passport validity rule. Below is the list of documents consulates and airlines usually ask for.

My passport Travelling to

We are not a government website. The rules come from Travel Buddy, a visa requirements database updated daily; confirm them on the official website or with the embassy before you travel.

Documents usually asked for a visa

Every consulate publishes its own list, and it is the one that counts. These documents are on most of them.

3–6 monthsoften asked

Passport

Valid for the whole trip. Many countries want it valid for 3 or 6 months after you leave and with blank pages: the result above shows the rule of your destination.
Formand photo

Application form and photo

Filled in on the official website or at the visa centre, with a recent photo to the size it asks for.
Flightreturn or onward

Flight reservation with a real PNR

Consulates usually ask for a reservation, not a paid ticket. Ours is a real reservation in your name with an airline booking code (PNR) that can be checked on the airline's website, usually ready in about 5 minutes. How long the airline holds it depends on the airline and the date.

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Onwardout of the country

Proof of onward travel

Airlines and border officers often want to see that you will leave: a flight to another country or back home. The same real reservation with a PNR, for the way out.

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Hotelwhere you stay

Hotel confirmation

Confirmation of accommodation (not a paid booking): the hotel, its address, your dates and guest names in one PDF.

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Fundsbank statements

Proof of funds

Bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months, or a sponsor letter. Border officers of visa-free countries may ask too.
Insurancemedical

Travel medical insurance

Required for some visas: the Schengen visa asks for at least €30,000 of medical cover.
Tiesreason to return

Employment and ties at home

An employer letter with your leave dates, payslips, a business registration, a university letter: whatever shows that you will come back.
Letterfree

Cover letter

One page on the purpose of the trip, the dates, the flights and where you will stay. Free.

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How to check visa requirements

Choose your passport

The country that issued your passport, not the one where you live. With two passports, check both: the rules can differ.

Choose your destination

Check every country of the trip. A few countries ask for a transit visa even for a connection at their airport.

Confirm and prepare

Open the official link in the result to confirm the rule, then gather the documents from the list above.

Applying for a Schengen visa?

The documents every Schengen consulate asks for, from the EU Visa Code and the EU lists of supporting documents.

Passport, photo, form and the €90 fee
Travel medical insurance of at least €30,000
What applicants from India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and the Philippines add

Schengen visa documents checklist

Checked on 20.10.2026

“Reservation of or return or round ticket”

Visa Code, Annex II: documents that show you intend to leave the Schengen Area

Official sources

Confirm the rules with the government of your destination. These pages answer for the most asked destinations.

Schengen Area European Commission: visa policy Which nationalities need a visa for the Schengen Area, and the visa rules.
United Kingdom GOV.UK: Check if you need a UK visa The UK government checker by nationality and purpose of the trip.
United States U.S. Department of State: U.S. visas Visitor visas and the Visa Waiver Program.
Canada Canada.ca: What you need to enter Canada Visa or eTA by passport.
Australia Australian Department of Home Affairs: Visa finder Visitor visas, ETA and eVisitor.
Any country The embassy or consulate of your destination In your country of residence: its website lists the documents it wants, the fees and where to apply.

Frequently asked questions

Where do the visa rules come from?

From Travel Buddy, a visa requirements database that covers 200 passports and 211 destinations and is updated daily. Its links lead to the official government websites. We keep each answer for up to 24 hours. Rules change without notice, so always confirm them on the official website of the destination or with its embassy before you book or travel.

What do visa-free, visa on arrival, eVisa and eTA mean?

Visa-free: you can enter with your passport for the stay shown. Visa on arrival: you get the visa at the airport or border, usually for a fee. eVisa: you apply and pay online before the trip and travel with the approval. eTA: a short online travel authorisation for visa-free travellers, also before the trip. Visa required: you apply at an embassy, consulate or visa centre before you travel.

Do I need a flight ticket to apply for a visa?

Usually not a paid ticket. Consulates ask for a flight reservation or itinerary: the Schengen Visa Code lists a "reservation of or return or round ticket", and many consulates advise not to buy tickets before the visa decision. A flight reservation with a real PNR shows your dates and can be checked on the airline's website.

Is a hotel confirmation the same as a paid hotel booking?

No. Our hotel confirmation is a confirmation of accommodation with the hotel, address, dates and guest names; it is not a paid booking. Some consulates also accept a booking with free cancellation, a rental contract or an invitation from your host. Check the list of documents of your consulate.

How long before the trip should I apply?

It depends on the country. For a Schengen visa you can apply up to 6 months before the trip and, as a rule, no later than 15 days before it; a decision usually takes up to 15 days. See the Schengen visa documents page.

The result looks wrong. What should I do?

Follow the official link in the result or contact the embassy of the destination: their answer is the one that counts. Then tell us at keyflightio@gmail.com which passport and destination you checked, so we can pass it on to the data provider.