Hi, I’m planning to arrive by plane in Johannesburg and cross the Mozambique land border. For a trip of less than 30 days, do I need a visa? If so, how much does it cost? And can I get it at the border? There’s conflicting info online.

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

Hi there, Since April 2025, Namibia has been requiring a visa for many nationalities. I have a French passport and I’d like to know if the paid visa granted is for 60 or 90 days? I can’t seem to get a clear answer. Thanks! Bourlingueurs.com from Eswatini (Swaziland)

Hi everyone, I’m planning my trip to Madagascar for the fall and starting to think about getting my visa. After reading through different posts, I’m a bit unsure about the best way to go about it. Is it better to apply for an e-visa (and if so, which official website?) or just queue up on arrival? It seems there are "unofficial"—and therefore fraudulent—sites out there, and that you’ll have to queue either way (which I’m not thrilled about since I’m arriving at 11 PM). What do you think?

Heads up for anyone planning to cross the Mauritanian border at Guerguerat! From now on, the Mauritanian visa is only available via E-VISA on the internet, and processing times can be long—sometimes very long—and unpredictable. André

Hi, Currently in Laos, we’re crossing the land border into Cambodia on January 1, 2026. I’ve read that tips/bribes are everywhere. Can anyone tell me the price of the tourist visa on arrival? Thanks for the info. Mylène

Hi everyone, We’re planning to travel from Mongolia to China in July 2026 via the land border. I know there’s a visa exemption for French citizens in China, but I think I read that if you’re coming from Mongolia, you need a visa. Has anyone got any info on this? Thanks! Séverine

Hi,

Is the land border crossing from Ranong to Kawthaung in Myanmar still possible? Can you get a Myanmar visa at the border, and if so, for how long?

Thanks

Hi there, My departure is slowly approaching, and now that I’ve got my Russian visa sorted, I’m fine-tuning the rest of my trip to Tajikistan. Since the Tajik visa is no longer required for stays under 30 days (for French nationals), I’ll need to visit the Ministry of Interior (OVIR) to register within 10 days of entering the country. No big deal, though, since I had to go there anyway to apply for my GBAO permit. 😉 However, I’ve *seen* several reports from travelers (mostly motorized) mentioning that you need an entry permit for Kyrgyzstan, which has to be arranged in advance at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) in Dushanbe. Otherwise, you’re *stuck* at the Kyzyl-Art border (with no Wi-Fi, of course, to try and sort it out). The most recent report was from a year ago, so I’d love to know if this is still the case and if it’s indeed at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) where you need to go for this pre-authorization. Does anyone have any recent info on this? Thanks in advance!

Hi, I'm planning to go to Cambodia soon. Since I'm heading toward Kratie, I thought I might as well go all the way to Pakse in Laos.

So I need a visa for Cambodia, one for Laos... but then another one when I return to Cambodia (since I plan to go to Siem Reap afterward)?

The question might seem silly, but I don’t want any hassle at the Cambodian border. I might have a few days left on my first visa, but just in case...

If anyone gets what I mean, thanks! ^^

It’s currently possible for a French national to enter Belarus through any land or air border point and stay for up to 30 days, for any reason. I did this last November, driving my own car from France, entering at Terespol and Brest-Litovsk (7-hour queue on the Polish side for political reasons and 3 hours of formalities on the Belarusian side), and exiting through Lithuania (1.5 hours on the Belarusian side and 3.5 hours on the Lithuanian side for political reasons). The rest of the trip was a real pleasure...

Hey fellow travelers! 🙂 I’m heading to India in January with a tourist multi-entry ETA (is it still called an e-visa?). First things first, if I’ve understood correctly: I can enter and exit India as many times as I want, as long as my total stay doesn’t exceed 180 days in a full year and no single stay goes over 90 days. Okay, that’s the theory. Now, how does it work in practice? I plan to spend 3 months in India (Rajasthan, then the Ganges Valley up to Varanasi, then Sikkim), then head to Nepal for another 3 months (Kathmandu, Pokhara), and return to India for 3 more months before flying back to France. But here’s the thing—I’ve got the impression (maybe I misunderstood) that renewing the Indian visa has to be done in Kathmandu or Pokhara, and only in one of those two Nepali cities. Yet, on *Le Routard*, I thought I read that you just need to "cross the border and come back," meaning you can enter Nepal at any border point, which would be way more practical... Imagine someone who wants to spend 6 months in northern India and starts from Shimla—they’d have to travel all the way to Kathmandu, then back to Shimla, crossing a big chunk of Nepal just to renew their Indian visa. That seems pretty convoluted, especially since the northwest border with India is so far from Kathmandu. I used this example because I originally wanted to spend 6 months only in northern India, and while waiting for clear answers, I’ve planned an alternative route (the one I described at the start of this post).

Could someone explain exactly how this Nepal border crossing thing works for renewing an Indian visa (and getting another 90 days, within the 180-day annual limit, of course)? How long does it take? How much does it cost?

Can’t wait to hear from you, and thanks in advance for your valuable insights! 🙂 !

Hi Has anyone been to Rwanda recently and gotten a 3-month visa on arrival easily? Thanks

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!

Hi there,

This will be my first trip to Thailand, which will be the first stop on my Asian journey. This time, I’d like to leave with a one-way ticket so I can return to France from the last country I visit.

First and foremost, I’d like to confirm whether it’s possible to get a VOA (Visa on Arrival) when I land in Thailand without any prior steps? Is proof of onward travel (like a return ticket) required to get this visa?

If so, does it have to be a round-trip ticket from the country I’m arriving from, or can I use a flight or train ticket from Thailand to a neighboring country as proof of exit?

For Cambodia and Vietnam, is it also possible to get a VOA on the spot?

I’d also love any tips or important info you think might be useful about Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam—my planned destinations—especially regarding accommodation, transportation, points of interest, and, of course, any personal advice or experiences you’d like to share!

Thanks so much to everyone, and I wish you all an amazing 2025 filled with health, travel, and discoveries! !

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!

Hi everyone, We’re self-drivers planning a trip through Zimbabwe in 2026—our route is Johannesburg, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. We’ll have a rented 4x4. We’d like to know about any difficulties at the borders between South Africa and Zimbabwe, and between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Also, which park in Zimbabwe is the best? Thanks in advance for your replies!

JP

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.

Hi there,

Let me explain. I’m cutting it close for arriving around Chinese New Year in Guizhou. There are very few options to maximize (30 days) my stay—otherwise, it’s more like 25 days. I’ve found a "possibility," but for the return flight, the plane is scheduled at 12:50 AM, which is 50 minutes after midnight. So my question is: at what point am I considered "to have left China"? Is it when I clear customs or something else? Thanks.

Hey everyone, hope you're doing well! :) I’m planning to go back to Thailand at the start of next year—once just wasn’t enough 😅 I’ve seen that nothing’s official yet, but they’re considering reducing the visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days. If I book for 58 days like last time and they change the rules last minute, what happens? It takes forever to get a visa—I saw you have to prove you have enough funds to cover your stay. How much money do you need in your account? Thanks!

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.

Hi, I'd like to know—I'm planning to go to Taiwan and would like to make a stop in China, then another stop in China on my way back from Taiwan.

In total, I'd stay less than 30 cumulative days in China, but would I still be allowed to return after coming back from Taiwan (while still benefiting from the visa exemption)?

Thanks! ^^

Starting January 5, you’ll need to arrive at the Mauritanian border with an E.Visa. To get it, you’ll have to go to the Mauritanian website: https://anrpts.gov.mr/fr

Hello to all the Thailand regulars.

I’ve been to Thailand several times, but it was about 20 years ago…

There’s a new system in place now, it seems.

TDAC – Thailand Digital Arrival Card.

Before arriving, I apply for a TDAC, okay. If during my stay I cross the border to spend a few days in Malaysia and then re-enter Thailand, do I need to submit a new TDAC application? Do I use the same TDAC as when I first entered the country?

Or do I initially have to pay for a Thai multi-entry visa?

Thanks in advance for your insights—I can’t find the answer online.

Pierre

Hi there, In November, we're heading off on a 4-month trip. We'll be landing in China and plan to leave the country via a land border into Vietnam. I’ve read that China may ask for proof of exit within 30 days (flight ticket or other reservation). Since we’d be leaving by land, I’m wondering how this works in practice. Has anyone here been in this situation recently?

Did the airline ask for an exit ticket before boarding? Did Chinese authorities require proof upon arrival? Is a train/bus ticket to Vietnam sufficient? Is a cancelable or flexible reservation accepted?

Thanks for sharing your experiences! 😊

Hi there, Do I need a return ticket? Proof of insurance and a hotel reservation?? I’m French. Also, is there any control on meds and sleeping pills?? Thanks a bunch!

Good evening and best travel wishes to everyone. I’m leaving soon for a two-month road trip in Southeast Asia. Arriving in Bangkok on January 14th, returning from Ho Chi Minh City on March 13th. I don’t have an exit ticket from Thailand because I’d like to keep some flexibility in my itinerary. Do you think my return ticket from Vietnam will be enough to prove that I’ll have left Thai territory within 60 days of my entry? I hope I won’t run into any issues boarding at Roissy or at immigration once I’m in BKK. What do you think? Thanks for your help. Christine

Gosuslugi / Госуслуги is the Russian administrative portal. EBS / ЕБС is the unified biometric system.

Since 2025, foreigners (residents or not) must have a biometric profile in addition to a Gosuslugi profile to obtain SIM cards and open a bank account.

Administrative services are mostly centralized in MFCs, МФЦ (Multi-Functional Center), nicknamed "My Documents" Мои документы.

A non-resident foreigner can register with the pension fund, which provides a social security number, SNILS / СНИЛС. To do this, you must present your passport and a notarized translation at an MFC. The SNILS can be issued on the spot or within a maximum of five days. If not issued immediately, you receive a receipt, and the deadline is communicated by the administrative agent. You return to the MFC after the deadline to collect the certificate with the SNILS.

Once the SNILS is obtained, you revisit an MFC counter to register on the Gosuslugi portal. You must present your passport and notarized translation again, along with a phone number and email. The Gosuslugi portal authenticates users with three pieces of data: SNILS, email or phone number, and password. The agent creates the profile and completes the initial email and SMS confirmations on your phone.

After the Gosuslugi profile is active, you register on the biometric portal. If last year’s law centralization measures are fully implemented, you can do this at any MFC; otherwise, you go to a SBERBANK (or VTB) branch. Again, as always for foreigners, you must present your passport with its translation and show your open Gosuslugi profile on your phone. The employee records your voice (reading a series of numbers) and takes a photo of your face.

After that, you can go to a telecom agency to buy a SIM card. The staff will take your passport details with the translation and your Gosuslugi profile info. Then, they’ll take a photo with their webcam, which is verified by the online EBS biometric portal. However, procedures may vary depending on the provider (Megafon, MTS, Beeline), and some employees may not be familiar with the process.

Potential delays can be caused by network maintenance or slowdowns due to peaks in administrative activity.

I’ll illustrate this process as I experienced it in February and April 2025 in the next post. Just need to gather the photos I took on the spot.

Hello fellow travelers, I’m planning my trip to Madagascar for next March and I’m looking for info on how to get a visa and its cost for 13 days in Mada. I’ve read that you can get the visa directly at Ivato, but what’s the price for the length of my stay? Also, can you pay in euros? Thanks for your tips and advice—they’re always welcome and super helpful.

Hello,

We’re French nationals planning a tourist trip to Asia with the following itinerary:

First entry into Thailand from Paris: 3 days in Bangkok (visa exemption).

Departure to Cambodia (we have a Cambodia e-visa) then to Laos (we have a Laos e-visa) for 5 days in each country, totaling 10 days outside Thailand.

Second entry into Thailand from Laos: 8 days in Chiang Mai (visa exemption) before returning to Paris.

This means two entries into Thailand in less than a month, with a total stay of 11 days in the country.

**Can you confirm if we can do this trip under the visa exemption policy, or do we need to apply for a double-entry tourist visa?**

Thanks for your help!