The landing visa is like the red-haired stepchild of the visa world.
Basically, it is the visa that almost no one knows about, or the visa on arrival aka landing visa. Here is what to expect getting a visa on arrival and and how it can quietly save a trip when things don't go according to plan.
Most landing visas allow travelers to enter a country upon arrival rather than applying in advance. The visa is issued at the airport or border checkpoint when you land, typically for tourism or transit purposes.
Though visa-on-arrival is not available everywhere, many countries offer this underrated option for travelers who find themselves without pre-approval, or well…, simply messed up emojisweat.
Many countries offer visa-on-arrival options, though it is hard to say the exact number (this page says 28 countries, but double-check those facts especoally in the age of AI!).
It does depend on nationality and country, and like all things in life, the same rules don't apply to everyone.
(Landing visas usually do not permit employment or any type of work.)
Here are the times you may need a visa on arrival
The first time I ever used a visa on arrival was back in 2013.
I was crossing the mainland Chinese border on a bus when my passport magically disappeared (cough. got stolen). The fun part? I was about to embark on a flight to Vietnam two days later, and the visa, well, was in the passport, meaning, I no longer had a passport or visa.
Luckily, the passport issue was saved by a quick trip to the consulate, and after securing an emergency passport, the next step was getting an emergency visa. (This was also the only time I ever brought a police report to the airport.)
Exactly eight years later, to the same country-some countries and airports are cursed for me!-I realized I had simply forgotten to get a visa while I was traveling through a two-week, multi-country tour.
However, the airline would not let me check in for my flight without a proper visa. Though this time it was my fault, I also needed to figure out how to get a visa in less than 12 hours.
Do expect things will happen that you can't foresee
Traveling is literally an adventure in of itself.
In quick summary, in regards to landing visas, don't be surprised if you are asked to (1) present an invitation letter, (2) a release waiver must be signed and (3) the visa must be paid in cash once you arrive and/or any variation of the three.
On a recent flight to Vietnam in April, I was expected to have a visa before boarding, though I didn't have it quite at that time yet (that happened somewhere mid-air).
Once I produced an invitation letter, the gate agent checked me in. (I also had to sign a waiver saying that if I was denied entry, I'd be liable for the return flight back.)
In some countries, there may be a physical cash and a specific currency requirement once you arrive, so be prepared. The actual visa processing will happen on arrival, and oftentimes, there will be a separate immigration desk for this, like in the case of Da Nang Airport.
Sometimes, in some instances, but not all the time, it can be cheaper than a regular visa.
Expect to spend more time at the airport for a visa-on-arrival
Though the landing visa may save a lot of time without having to deal with the initial paperwork, it does somewhat slow down the process at the gate and customs, so allot for that.
In my experience, we're talking about an additional hour or two, so it's not something time-intensive.
But you know, that's a lot better than getting denied and having to change an entire flight, no?
