Need your advice—this is a bit urgent! 😅
I’m leaving in 1 month for 7 months in South America (mainly Argentina, with a quick stop in Chile and Bolivia). I still haven’t decided on:
👉 Travel insurance.
👉 The best bank card for abroad.
I’m a bit behind schedule and would really love your feedback:
👉 Which insurance do you recommend (reliability in case of trouble)?
👉 Which bank do you use while traveling to avoid fees (mainly in Argentina)? Boursorama?
👉 Any idea about fees with Western Union?
For now, I’m planning to bring as much cash as possible to avoid fees and exchange money locally. My bank (La Poste) gave me a Visa Premier for insurance/repatriation, but after reading the terms, I see it’s limited to 180 consecutive days—so 6 months, not 7.
Thanks in advance for your tips—it’ll help me make a decision quickly! :)
Hi there,
I just booked my round-trip flight ticket to visit Cuba for two months, from January to March 2025. I’ve heard about the challenges Cubans are facing and the recent changes the island has gone through—economically (like the end of the dual-currency system) and administratively (the introduction of an e-visa)...
This is my first time visiting the country, so I’m still figuring out all the administrative steps I need to take before I go.
1) Can I apply for the electronic e-visa now (still 22 €?) from home on the website evisacuba.cu?
2) I read that I need to fill out a form 48 hours before departure on the site dviajeros.mitrans.gol-.cu/inicio. Is it possible to do this now to save time?
3) I’m a bit confused about the currency. From what I understand, there’s now only the Cuban Peso. Should I exchange my euros at the airport, or wait until I arrive at the *casas particulares* in Havana that I’ve already booked and ask the owner?
Thanks in advance for your help!
I just booked my round-trip flight ticket to visit Cuba for two months, from January to March 2025. I’ve heard about the challenges Cubans are facing and the recent changes the island has gone through—economically (like the end of the dual-currency system) and administratively (the introduction of an e-visa)...
This is my first time visiting the country, so I’m still figuring out all the administrative steps I need to take before I go.
1) Can I apply for the electronic e-visa now (still 22 €?) from home on the website evisacuba.cu?
2) I read that I need to fill out a form 48 hours before departure on the site dviajeros.mitrans.gol-.cu/inicio. Is it possible to do this now to save time?
3) I’m a bit confused about the currency. From what I understand, there’s now only the Cuban Peso. Should I exchange my euros at the airport, or wait until I arrive at the *casas particulares* in Havana that I’ve already booked and ask the owner?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi,
I just had a really bad experience leaving for Thailand with Etihad Airways, along with my partner and her 11-year-old son. We were denied boarding because the child’s passport was invalid (by about 3 days), as it’s indeed required to have 6 months of validity. But come on—just 3 days over! On top of that, we were able to check in online for our round-trip flight (just the flights, no extras), entered our passport numbers and expiry dates, and even had to check in online again 30 hours before departure, where we got our boarding passes without any issues. How is it possible that no one called, warned, or even blocked us online? Instead, they waited to tell us at the airport during baggage check-in. I’ve asked the airline for a full refund of our expenses—do I have any chance? Thanks for your help
Hi there. I hold a 60-day C1 visa obtained online in early April, and I’ve been in Indonesia since April 14th.
I’d like to extend my visa, something I thought was possible online under the same conditions as when I got the visa—but oh no! I realize first that I can’t find my visa on the immigration website with the requested details (passport number, date of birth, nationality)... and also that it seems a sponsor is required for the C1 visa, not only for the extension but even for the initial visa application, which wasn’t asked of me before!!!!
So, I’m wondering how I should go about getting this extension... Has anyone gone through this experience? What solutions might there be, given I only have two weeks left to sort this out...
Thanks for your helpful feedback
Good evening,
I booked a one-month stay in an Airbnb in Thailand.
Is the booking confirmation enough for the 3-month single-entry tourist visa?
Hi there,
1) I’d love to get some recent info on crossing this border. We’ll be entering Cambodia through Siem Reap Airport with an e-visa (electronic visa), and I’d like to know if we’ll be able to leave Cambodia through this border crossing without any issues using this type of visa.
2) I’m also looking for info (company names and schedules) on public transport options to Battambang/Pailin and then to Ben Pakkad/Chantaburi. Or, since there’ll be six of us (5 adults and 1 young child), would it be better to go for a taxi instead? If so, I’d appreciate recommendations for reliable taxi companies. Price isn’t a deal-breaker for the taxi option.
Thanks in advance!
1) I’d love to get some recent info on crossing this border. We’ll be entering Cambodia through Siem Reap Airport with an e-visa (electronic visa), and I’d like to know if we’ll be able to leave Cambodia through this border crossing without any issues using this type of visa.
2) I’m also looking for info (company names and schedules) on public transport options to Battambang/Pailin and then to Ben Pakkad/Chantaburi. Or, since there’ll be six of us (5 adults and 1 young child), would it be better to go for a taxi instead? If so, I’d appreciate recommendations for reliable taxi companies. Price isn’t a deal-breaker for the taxi option.
Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
I’m not sure what’s being said on the various European diplomatic sites, but on the Belgian one, they mention that an ESTA and/or visa aren’t a guarantee of entry. Immigration services have the final say—they could even ask to see your electronic devices like phones, tablets, or cameras. And there might be extra hassles for LGBTQIA+ travelers.
I’m not sure what’s being said on the various European diplomatic sites, but on the Belgian one, they mention that an ESTA and/or visa aren’t a guarantee of entry. Immigration services have the final say—they could even ask to see your electronic devices like phones, tablets, or cameras. And there might be extra hassles for LGBTQIA+ travelers.
Today I ended up being denied boarding at CDG. I booked the trip through a physical travel agency with no assistance for the visa application. I applied in plenty of time and got the approval. Except I put the 9th (the day I left France) as the date instead of the 10th, which is the arrival date in India. That’s what caused the denial. I’m guessing I don’t have any recourse? Thanks for your replies.
Hello,
My partner, who is Malagasy, would like to visit France (ideally in mid-August) and therefore apply for a short-stay visa (90 days).
I’ve heard that many applications are refused even when all the required documents are submitted, which is why I’m here—to get advice and guidance to be "almost" sure the application will be accepted.
I have a lot of questions, and your help would be invaluable to us.
She is 27 years old, has a passport with her current occupation listed as self-employed (she owns a "taxi-brousse" truck) and thus has a statistical card, a business license, and annual tax certificates. She started her business at the beginning of this year.
As for me, I am an adult with a disability. I receive disability benefits until May 2026. I’m in the process of professional reintegration and will start a job in a few days, likely on a fixed-term contract (CDD).
Here are my questions about the supporting documents to provide:
-Purpose of the trip/stay
Flight ticket reservation (round-trip) (the ticket should only be purchased once the visa is approved). Letter of commitment to return, written on plain paper. Any other document demonstrating potential family, economic, or material ties in the country of residence. Confirmation of a booked organized trip or any other document outlining the planned itinerary.
I’ve been told that for the flight reservation, my partner just needs to go to Air Madagascar in Antananarivo and pay around 50,000 ariary to get this reservation. Given that the French short-stay visa takes between 15 to 45 days (I might be wrong) to be processed and approved, I wonder if the reservation will still be valid if the visa is approved late. For the letter of commitment to return, I assume two sentences are enough, and what matters most are the documents proving ties to the country of residence (her economic activity). Do you think that will be sufficient? And for the planned itinerary, since this isn’t an organized trip, what document could work? A handwritten letter explaining a few planned visits?
-Proof of residence in the country of origin
For employees: original work certificate, original leave certificate, last 3 payslips (or bank statements). For retirees: pensioner’s card and last 3 pension statements. For traders or entrepreneurs: professional registration, professional card, and recent bank statements.
For liberal professions: professional registration, professional card, and recent bank statements. For unemployed applicants and students: sponsorship letter and copies of the sponsor’s financial documents.
For this point, she can justify her self-employed status with the statistical card, business license, and annual tax certificates. As for bank statements, she deposits her earnings in cash into her bank account—will this be an issue during the application review?
-Financial resources
Bank account statements (last 3 months). Last 3 payslips or pension statements. Foreign currency allocation certificate, whose origin must be demonstrated (recent bank statement, savings account), issued by local banks or exchange offices (minimum 32.50 € per day if staying with a private individual or 65 € per day if staying in a hotel) or presentation of an international bank card with supporting account statement.
I need help with this point because I don’t fully understand what she needs to provide as a self-employed individual, especially since she doesn’t earn 32.50 € per day. I can obviously transfer money to cover this. So, overall, what documents should be provided for this section?
-Accommodation
Confirmed hotel reservation with the hotel’s phone number and reservation number / payment confirmation for stays longer than 1 month or original hosting attestation.
For this point, do I just need to write a handwritten letter stating that I will be hosting her? Then scan it and email it to her? Is that all?
-Travel medical insurance
Insurance certificate: must specify the amount and scope of coverage (30,000 € coverage / medical expenses and repatriation).
For this, I’ll opt for AXA Schengen insurance (low-cost). Any advice is still welcome...
I have one last question about the following point:
The short-stay visa allows you to stay for a maximum of 90 days for a continuous stay or multiple stays within the Schengen area over a 180-day period.
If we decide to leave the Schengen area during the stay (to visit the United Kingdom, for example), will the 90-day visa be paused and resume once we return to the Schengen area? And if so, can we plan a return ticket beyond the 3 months by justifying an exit/entry?
Thank you in advance for all your advice and suggestions. I may have forgotten some important points—feel free to let me know.
Best regards.
She is 27 years old, has a passport with her current occupation listed as self-employed (she owns a "taxi-brousse" truck) and thus has a statistical card, a business license, and annual tax certificates. She started her business at the beginning of this year.
As for me, I am an adult with a disability. I receive disability benefits until May 2026. I’m in the process of professional reintegration and will start a job in a few days, likely on a fixed-term contract (CDD).
Here are my questions about the supporting documents to provide:
-Purpose of the trip/stay
Flight ticket reservation (round-trip) (the ticket should only be purchased once the visa is approved). Letter of commitment to return, written on plain paper. Any other document demonstrating potential family, economic, or material ties in the country of residence. Confirmation of a booked organized trip or any other document outlining the planned itinerary.
I’ve been told that for the flight reservation, my partner just needs to go to Air Madagascar in Antananarivo and pay around 50,000 ariary to get this reservation. Given that the French short-stay visa takes between 15 to 45 days (I might be wrong) to be processed and approved, I wonder if the reservation will still be valid if the visa is approved late. For the letter of commitment to return, I assume two sentences are enough, and what matters most are the documents proving ties to the country of residence (her economic activity). Do you think that will be sufficient? And for the planned itinerary, since this isn’t an organized trip, what document could work? A handwritten letter explaining a few planned visits?
-Proof of residence in the country of origin
For employees: original work certificate, original leave certificate, last 3 payslips (or bank statements). For retirees: pensioner’s card and last 3 pension statements. For traders or entrepreneurs: professional registration, professional card, and recent bank statements.
For liberal professions: professional registration, professional card, and recent bank statements. For unemployed applicants and students: sponsorship letter and copies of the sponsor’s financial documents.
For this point, she can justify her self-employed status with the statistical card, business license, and annual tax certificates. As for bank statements, she deposits her earnings in cash into her bank account—will this be an issue during the application review?
-Financial resources
Bank account statements (last 3 months). Last 3 payslips or pension statements. Foreign currency allocation certificate, whose origin must be demonstrated (recent bank statement, savings account), issued by local banks or exchange offices (minimum 32.50 € per day if staying with a private individual or 65 € per day if staying in a hotel) or presentation of an international bank card with supporting account statement.
I need help with this point because I don’t fully understand what she needs to provide as a self-employed individual, especially since she doesn’t earn 32.50 € per day. I can obviously transfer money to cover this. So, overall, what documents should be provided for this section?
-Accommodation
Confirmed hotel reservation with the hotel’s phone number and reservation number / payment confirmation for stays longer than 1 month or original hosting attestation.
For this point, do I just need to write a handwritten letter stating that I will be hosting her? Then scan it and email it to her? Is that all?
-Travel medical insurance
Insurance certificate: must specify the amount and scope of coverage (30,000 € coverage / medical expenses and repatriation).
For this, I’ll opt for AXA Schengen insurance (low-cost). Any advice is still welcome...
I have one last question about the following point:
The short-stay visa allows you to stay for a maximum of 90 days for a continuous stay or multiple stays within the Schengen area over a 180-day period.
If we decide to leave the Schengen area during the stay (to visit the United Kingdom, for example), will the 90-day visa be paused and resume once we return to the Schengen area? And if so, can we plan a return ticket beyond the 3 months by justifying an exit/entry?
Thank you in advance for all your advice and suggestions. I may have forgotten some important points—feel free to let me know.
Best regards.
Hi there,
I’d like to know if anyone has already applied for a private visa to Russia with an invitation from a Russian resident. I traveled earlier this year with an e-visa, but since I want to stay longer, I’ll be visiting my friend who lives in eastern Russia. For the visa application, does the invitation need to be on an official paper form issued by the Russian ministry? And most importantly, do I need to present the original for the application, or is there an electronic version that can be sent directly to the consulate in France? Thanks for any info if you’ve gone through this process before!
Best regards,
Gilles
I’d like to know if anyone has already applied for a private visa to Russia with an invitation from a Russian resident. I traveled earlier this year with an e-visa, but since I want to stay longer, I’ll be visiting my friend who lives in eastern Russia. For the visa application, does the invitation need to be on an official paper form issued by the Russian ministry? And most importantly, do I need to present the original for the application, or is there an electronic version that can be sent directly to the consulate in France? Thanks for any info if you’ve gone through this process before!
Best regards,
Gilles
Hello,
We’re leaving in November 2025 for a stay of more than 60 days in Khao Lak and need to apply for a 30-day extension on-site to be allowed to stay nearly 90 days. Should we declare the flight ticket dates (November 13, 2025, to February 9, 2026) directly on the electronic form (if it’s applied from May 1st) before leaving, at the risk of being denied entry (over 60 days), or declare 60 days and quickly apply for a 30-day extension once there? Are flight tickets checked upon arrival (Phuket) or earlier on the electronic entry request? I remember that the arrival check is quite "serious" and after 18 hours of travel, you’re pretty impressionable! Thanks for your help, Best, Bruno.
We’re leaving in November 2025 for a stay of more than 60 days in Khao Lak and need to apply for a 30-day extension on-site to be allowed to stay nearly 90 days. Should we declare the flight ticket dates (November 13, 2025, to February 9, 2026) directly on the electronic form (if it’s applied from May 1st) before leaving, at the risk of being denied entry (over 60 days), or declare 60 days and quickly apply for a 30-day extension once there? Are flight tickets checked upon arrival (Phuket) or earlier on the electronic entry request? I remember that the arrival check is quite "serious" and after 18 hours of travel, you’re pretty impressionable! Thanks for your help, Best, Bruno.
Hi everyone,
in a few months I need to bring my Thai partner to France.
I’m going to prepare the "attestation d’accueil" for 3 months.
On the form, they ask me to act as a financial guarantor for her stay—no problem for me. But on the visa application, France asks her to prove she has sufficient income to get the visa. Is it still necessary for her to prove that, given that I’m acting as her financial guarantor?
Thanks
Hi,
I want to invite a Malagasy friend and I’m surprised to learn there are procedures (that seem complicated) to follow…
It would be a short stay (max 3 months).
She’s got her passport, I’m paying for the flight ticket, and I read that I need to get an accommodation certificate from my town hall—but what else is required after that? What other documents are needed? What are the processing times?
I’m really disappointed that in 2026, it’s still such a hassle for this kind of thing.
Hi,
I’m heading to the Algerian Sahara. I’m taking a flight from Paris to Djanet with a layover in Algiers.
Can anyone tell me how the entry visa process works?
Thanks in advance for your help!
I’m heading to the Algerian Sahara. I’m taking a flight from Paris to Djanet with a layover in Algiers.
Can anyone tell me how the entry visa process works?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hello everyone,
I’m going on a tourist trip to Canada (Quebec) on September 1st. I filled out an eTA application 10 days ago but made a mistake on my passport number. I submitted a new application and had to send a copy of my passport, which I did correctly (unfortunately, I didn’t take a screenshot as proof). The next day, my eTA was refused! I made a third application this past Saturday, August 16th, and they confirmed receipt, but it’s now Monday evening and I still haven’t heard anything! I’m starting to seriously panic. It’s absolutely impossible to get help from a real person online! The Canadian Embassy in Brussels doesn’t handle eTA applications at all! I don’t know what to do. Can anyone help me, please? Thanks in advance 😢
Hi everyone, I’d like to take a trip from France to Malaysia and Thailand like this:
Paris to Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi
Langkawi to Koh Lipe
Bangkok to Paris
I’m wondering if I’ll run into any visa issues on arrival since I won’t have an outbound flight ticket from Malaysia and I won’t have an inbound flight ticket to Thailand. If you’ve got any tips or have done this trip before, I’d really appreciate your help.
Thanks so much.
Paris to Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi
Langkawi to Koh Lipe
Bangkok to Paris
I’m wondering if I’ll run into any visa issues on arrival since I won’t have an outbound flight ticket from Malaysia and I won’t have an inbound flight ticket to Thailand. If you’ve got any tips or have done this trip before, I’d really appreciate your help.
Thanks so much.
Hi,
We're heading to Zanzibar in 6 weeks.
I've been stuck for several days on the website https://visa.immigration.go.tz/ because we need to specify whether we're employed or self-employed, but the "employer" and "profession" fields are grayed out. It's a roadblock—I can't move on to the next step.
I thought it might be a temporary bug, but that's not the case.
I've tried filling out the form on my computer using two different browsers, on my phone, but I keep getting stuck at the same step.
I emailed their contact address but haven't heard back.
Has this happened to any of you?
I don't know how to resolve this issue, especially to get our visas before our departure.
Thanks for your help.
Stéphanie
Hi there,
We’re heading to Southeast Asia for several months as a family with two teens (10 and 13). The first country we’re visiting is Cambodia. I’m having an issue with the e-visa—it won’t accept any of the documents I’m attaching. I’ve validated all four e-visas and received the registration numbers, but when I check the application, it shows no attachments. I’ve tried multiple times in different formats (PDF, JPEG, PNG), whether compressed or not, but there’s always a red cross next to the documents.
Has anyone else run into this problem?
Thanks for your help—I’m losing patience, and our departure is in 15 DAYS 😕
Magos
We’re heading to Southeast Asia for several months as a family with two teens (10 and 13). The first country we’re visiting is Cambodia. I’m having an issue with the e-visa—it won’t accept any of the documents I’m attaching. I’ve validated all four e-visas and received the registration numbers, but when I check the application, it shows no attachments. I’ve tried multiple times in different formats (PDF, JPEG, PNG), whether compressed or not, but there’s always a red cross next to the documents.
Has anyone else run into this problem?
Thanks for your help—I’m losing patience, and our departure is in 15 DAYS 😕
Magos
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Laos in February.
I tried to apply for my eVisa online, but the system keeps telling me that both my address and the address of my hotel upon arrival are invalid, without any further explanation.
I’ve modified them, shortened them several times, but nothing changes.
I sent a message to ask for clarification but haven’t received a response.
Has anyone else run into this problem? How was it resolved?
Thanks in advance, and happy New Year! 🙂
Thanks in advance, and happy New Year! 🙂
Hi there,
We’re planning our trip and want to spend 3 MONTHS in Madagascar, but we’re getting really conflicting info about visas.
Apparently, it’s not possible to get one at the airport.
We contacted the consulate in Marseille… and they don’t know either.
The phone number for the embassy in Paris is no longer in service…
Anyway… help!
If anyone’s gotten a 3-month visa, could you shed some light on this for us?
Thanks so much.
Hi,
I’m planning to travel to China very soon, and I read in this article that getting a visa is really complicated. Can anyone confirm? Thanks so much. Nicolas
I’m planning to travel to China very soon, and I read in this article that getting a visa is really complicated. Can anyone confirm? Thanks so much. Nicolas
Hello,
We’ll soon be moving to Madagascar long-term.
As a French national, I need to obtain a short-stay visa that can be converted to a long-stay one. To do this, I have to send the required documents to the Madagascar embassy in Paris.
No issues with that procedure so far.
If I get this visa, once I arrive in Madagascar, I’ll need to provide the same documents to the Ministry of the Interior in Anosy. I’m trying to find an email address or website for the Ministry to check which documents I need to submit (I think they ask for additional ones).
If you have any info on this, I’d appreciate your replies.
Best regards,
M. Buisson Eric
Hi everyone,
For an Egypt e-visa application, they ask online:
Country you’re traveling from
Now, if you’re French but leaving from Italy, for example, what do you put?
Has anyone been in this situation before?
Thanks
India is introducing an electronic arrival card for foreign travelers. The measure is effective for all travelers starting October 1st.
India is now adopting the electronic arrival card. Presenting this "e-Arrival Card" is now mandatory for all arrivals in India as of October 1, 2025. This formality replaces the paper card previously filled out on the plane or upon arrival. India aims to streamline traveler tracking. The requirement applies to travelers of all nationalities, both adults and minors, for all entry points into India. It’s an additional mandatory formality alongside the e-Visa or visa. The e-Arrival Card must be completed online within three days prior to arrival in the country. Available in English only, it’s free and can be done on the official Indian authorities' website. The document is valid only for the declared arrival day. "This means you’ll need to complete it for each new arrival," clarifies RapideVisa, an agency specializing in visa services. Travelers must provide standard information to obtain the document (passport number, purpose of stay, countries visited in the 6 days before arrival, etc.).
Once completed, a document with a QR code to present to authorities upon arrival is generated. With this new system, India aims to facilitate traveler tracking and reduce congestion at airport counters. Nearly 19 million international visitors traveled to India in 2023. Among them, 189,000 were French.
Source: https://www.lechotouristique.com/article/inde-une-nouvelle-formalite-obligatoire-pour-voyager
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WaPqVyUmuY
India is now adopting the electronic arrival card. Presenting this "e-Arrival Card" is now mandatory for all arrivals in India as of October 1, 2025. This formality replaces the paper card previously filled out on the plane or upon arrival. India aims to streamline traveler tracking. The requirement applies to travelers of all nationalities, both adults and minors, for all entry points into India. It’s an additional mandatory formality alongside the e-Visa or visa. The e-Arrival Card must be completed online within three days prior to arrival in the country. Available in English only, it’s free and can be done on the official Indian authorities' website. The document is valid only for the declared arrival day. "This means you’ll need to complete it for each new arrival," clarifies RapideVisa, an agency specializing in visa services. Travelers must provide standard information to obtain the document (passport number, purpose of stay, countries visited in the 6 days before arrival, etc.).
Once completed, a document with a QR code to present to authorities upon arrival is generated. With this new system, India aims to facilitate traveler tracking and reduce congestion at airport counters. Nearly 19 million international visitors traveled to India in 2023. Among them, 189,000 were French.
Source: https://www.lechotouristique.com/article/inde-une-nouvelle-formalite-obligatoire-pour-voyager
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WaPqVyUmuY
I'm looking for any recent info (2024) on entering Myanmar from Ranong in Thailand, as well as the journey up to Mawlamyine. Are there any restricted areas?
Hi
Has anyone been to Rwanda recently and gotten a 3-month visa on arrival easily?
Thanks
Hi there,
I just got back to France and realized I don’t have a stamp in my French passport. Is it normal that at Suvarnabhumi Airport customs didn’t stamp my passport?
I’m really worried because I have to go back in a month and I don’t know what to expect when I arrive at Thai customs. I’m afraid of the consequences, like a fine or worse—being blacklisted from entering Thailand.
Has anyone else had this happen? And if it’s not normal, what can I do to avoid any problems?
Hey Fellow Travelers,
I was caught off guard when the Malagasy consulate in Scandinavia informed me they don’t issue entry visas for Madagascar—what’s the point of a consulate, I wonder! They advised me to apply at the Malagasy embassy in London. So, I started filling out the online form, but the price for the visa made me do a double-take: nearly 200 €!
But apparently, you can also get it on arrival! Has anyone tried this before? I’d love to know if the process takes a long time (I’ll be landing in Nosy Be, exhausted after nearly 15 hours of travel), what the cost is, and—since corruption isn’t just a word—whether you absolutely have to grease the palm of the official(s). This is because I almost took the next flight back when I arrived in a country I won’t name. Even though all my documents were in order—passport, visa, vaccinations, hotel reservation—the immigration officer initially refused to stamp my passport. I later found out I was supposed to slip at least $10 into the document when presenting it... Thanks! /d
I was caught off guard when the Malagasy consulate in Scandinavia informed me they don’t issue entry visas for Madagascar—what’s the point of a consulate, I wonder! They advised me to apply at the Malagasy embassy in London. So, I started filling out the online form, but the price for the visa made me do a double-take: nearly 200 €!
But apparently, you can also get it on arrival! Has anyone tried this before? I’d love to know if the process takes a long time (I’ll be landing in Nosy Be, exhausted after nearly 15 hours of travel), what the cost is, and—since corruption isn’t just a word—whether you absolutely have to grease the palm of the official(s). This is because I almost took the next flight back when I arrived in a country I won’t name. Even though all my documents were in order—passport, visa, vaccinations, hotel reservation—the immigration officer initially refused to stamp my passport. I later found out I was supposed to slip at least $10 into the document when presenting it... Thanks! /d
Hey everyone! A small group of us are heading to Gabon for a research mission. Everyone got their visa without any issues through the e-visa site, and it only took a few days.
Except for a friend and me. We applied early, and three weeks later, still no news. And we leave in a week...
A colleague on-site tried to help us, but no updates so far.
My questions:
- Has this ever happened to you? - What are the solutions? (I’ve already tried calling, but it doesn’t work. The email contact form doesn’t work either. The Gabonese embassy isn’t functional, and they gave me a number that never answers and where you can’t even leave a message anymore.) - Can this be resolved easily at the airport? - Am I totally screwed?
Clean record, and I haven’t been to any sketchy countries. Brand-new passport...
Thanks in advance for your help! !
Except for a friend and me. We applied early, and three weeks later, still no news. And we leave in a week...
A colleague on-site tried to help us, but no updates so far.
My questions:
- Has this ever happened to you? - What are the solutions? (I’ve already tried calling, but it doesn’t work. The email contact form doesn’t work either. The Gabonese embassy isn’t functional, and they gave me a number that never answers and where you can’t even leave a message anymore.) - Can this be resolved easily at the airport? - Am I totally screwed?
Clean record, and I haven’t been to any sketchy countries. Brand-new passport...
Thanks in advance for your help! !
Hello, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!
We’re heading back in October for a trip through Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
I have a question: for our route, we’ll need to cross the Zambia and Zimbabwe borders twice each. From experience, I know we won’t have any issues with Botswana.
But for the other two countries, I can’t find a clear answer.
All your tips are welcome!
Thanks for your replies
Thanks for your replies
