Westhill Consulting Career & Employment
Australia has much more information on its blog section on its website.
If this is your first proper backpacking stint then you may not be aware
how much of a headache visas can be! When you reach the border of each country
you need a visa to enter, some countries will simply stamp a visa into your
passport on the border for free (this is called a VOA ‘Visa on Arrivall), and
then on you go. Other countries may charge you a fortune while the most
difficult b*stards will refuse you entry and you have to organise your visa
before you arrive at the border! Warning do not overstay.
Check out the South East Asian countries below and get an idea of what
you need to sort it all out:
Thailand: South
East Asia’s most popular destination. Thailand offers VOA (visas on arrival) by
both land and air arrivals. If you fly in, you receive a free 30 day visa. If
you arrive by land, you receive a free 14 day visa. If you want a longer visa
(60 days) you can apply at Thai embassies in any other country, it’ll cost you
around $30. This is possible from your home country or from neighbouring
countries in the region (Laos, Malaysia etc)
Laos: VOA by
both plane and land crossings – 30 days standard. The visa costs between
$30 and $40 USD.
Vietnam: VOA
NOT available. You MUST organize your visa before you arrive. This can be done in
your home country (around $60, 4 working days) or in countries that neighbour
Vietnam ($40, 3 working days). Gunagzhou, China Phnom Penn, Cambodia
Vientienne, Laos and Bangkok, Thailand all offer relatively simple processes to
get your visa to Vietnam. Don’t forget to sort this out before you go, you will
be refused entry without.
Cambodia: VOA by
both plane and land crossings – 30 days tourist visa. The visa costs around $20
but expect to be charged more by corrupt officials.
NOTE: an e-visa is now possible, but $25. You need to scan a passport
photo, pay the money and receive the PDF file in 3 working days. Print out two
copies and bring it to the border. E visas are only usable at the Thai
crossings at Poipet and Koh Kong (Trat) and the Vietnamese crossings at Moc
Bai.
Burma (Myanmar): VOA
not available, you MUST organiz your visa before you arrive. If you’re going to
Burma for a visa run, just to re-enter Thailand, you don’t need to prepare a
visa in advance. If you plan to travel around Burma, you need to get a visa
from a Burmese embassy before you fly (impossible to enter by land and travel).
In Bangkok, it’s possible to get the visa in the same day – apply in the
morning, and received in the afternoon. All visas are valid for 90 days, and
last for a stay of 30 days, they cost around $30.
Malaysia: VOA by
both plane and land crossings. Most countries get a 90 day visa for free. Malaysia
are very easy going with their visa processes.
Singapore: VOA by
both plane and land crossings. EU and US passport holders get 90 days, most
other countries receive 14/30 days visas. Visas are free.
Indonesia: Jakartahas the main immigration office.This
can be a little complicated. VOA is available through most land and air ports.
Often they require an onward ticket (so travel with a print out of a
provisional ‘onward booking’ read:fake). Generally speaking, common border
crossings offer VOA (Kailmantan, boat from Singapore etc), the visas cost
around $25 for 30 days. Check your route first, before you decided whether to
get the visa in advance or not.
East Timor: VOA
for land and boat crossings but NOT for land crossings. If you’re arriving from
West Timor (like me) get your visa in Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur ($40, 30 days).
Brunei: VOA
for pretty much everyone, arriving by land or plane. Ranges from 14-90 days and
is free.
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