What is a visa on arrival?
Definition
visa on arrival
A visa on arrival (VOA) is a tourist or short-stay visa issued at the destination country's airport, land border or port of entry, rather than at a consulate in the traveller's home country before travel. Common in many Asian, African and Middle Eastern countries for tourist visits up to 30 days.
Key facts
| Where issued | At the destination country's airport, port or land border. |
|---|---|
| Permitted stay and fee | Set separately by each country and not comparable across them. |
| Payment | At the border desk, in cash or by card depending on the country. |
| Photo required | Some routes require 1-2 printed passport-sized photos at the border desk. |
| Examples | Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Maldives, Bolivia. |
| No longer visa on arrival | Kenya and Sri Lanka now require an online authorisation obtained before you fly — an eTA for Kenya, an ETA for Sri Lanka. Arriving without one can mean being refused boarding. |
| Checked against primary sources. | |
When you need a photo for visa on arrival
About half the visa-on-arrival countries ask for 1-2 printed passport-sized photos at the border desk. Carry them in your hand-luggage. The other half (mostly e-Visa-on-arrival systems) take a webcam photo at the border counter and do not need printed copies.
VOA vs e-Visa vs visa on arrival registration
Some countries have replaced traditional VOA with e-Visa systems where the applicant applies online before travel, then collects the visa at the border. Others use a "VOA approval letter" that must be obtained online before flying.
Risks of relying on visa on arrival
A VOA can be denied at the border for security reasons, lack of onward ticket or insufficient funds. If denied, the traveller is sent back on the next flight at their own cost. Travellers from sensitive nationalities should obtain the visa through a consulate before travel even when VOA is officially available.
Frequently asked questions
01What size photo for a visa on arrival?
Most VOA routes use passport-sized photos (35 × 45 mm for Asian destinations, 2 × 2 inches for some others). Carry 2-4 copies as backup. The exact requirement is usually published on the destination country's consulate website.
02Can I do visa on arrival with just a digital photo?
Usually no. VOA desks at airports typically need physical printed photos to attach to the application form. Some e-VOA systems take a webcam photo on-site, but this is the exception.
03What countries still have visa on arrival in 2026?
Thailand (some nationalities), Cambodia, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Maldives, Bolivia and Tanzania are among them. Several countries that used to issue visas on arrival no longer do: Kenya requires an eTA obtained before travel, for everyone including babies, and Sri Lanka requires an ETA before arrival. The list keeps moving as countries switch to online systems.