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Confession: I have always wanted to do a year long round the world trip (RWT), but just thinking about the number of visas I’d have to apply for (as an Indian passport holder), has stopped me from even trying to plan it out.
Some of the issues:
1) Indians need a visa to go EVERYWHERE (except Jamaica!). Some Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia will give it to you on the spot — but most other places you need to sort it out in advance.
2) You can only apply for the visa from your country of residence.
3) You normally have to state when the exact number of days you are planning to stay in a particular place. I refuse to plan it like that for a year!
4) Visa requirements always ask for proof of where I’m going to stay AND to-fro flight tickets, which means I need to pre-book all hostels and flights. Again, for a year, I refuse to even try to sort that out.
5) Visa’s can take anything from a day to a month to come through.
In other words, I don’t think I’m ever going to do a round the world trip unless I manage to change my nationality. To do that, I have two options — 1) live in Spain for 10 more years and qualify for nationality, 2) get married to a Spaniard. Neither of those options are particularly appealing.
As far as I see it, living abroad and seeing the world bit by bit is my only bet to be able to travel for an extended period of time. I’m lucky to be a resident of India, UAE and Europe — but it still doesn’t aid an impulsive travel itch nor long term cross continent travel.
There are two things I’d like to put out there basis this post:
1) If you are a Westerner and not traveling the world, you are crazy not to take advantage of your passport. You can go anywhere, anytime, for upto three months!
2) Are there any Asian passport holders out there who have done a RWT? How did you manage it?
May 26th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
If you are travelling long-term anyway I would start with the visa for the first country you are going to go and arrange the next visa on-site.
Pro: You stay flexible with your next destination.
Con: You have to spent several days in the city where you are applying for the next visa and maybe have to hassle with language barriers as neither the visiting countries language nor the country you are in might speak your mother tongue.
But if you wanna do it without planning ahead this will be the only possibility I guess. And – without having it done by myself – knowing a lot of pals who did it, it does no t seem to be a big deal.
May 26th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I am taking advantage of the access I have to many countries thanks to my passport. However, there are issues for westerners as well. I would like to go to Russia on my RTW but Russia requires me to get a visa in my country of residence at most 90 days before I go to Russia. That won’t be my situation. I will certainly try to get one but it may not be successful.
As for the flights to-fro, why not buy refundable tickets? A hassle for sure, but it all depends on how much you want to take a RTW trip.
Is the lack of spontaneity all that’s keeping you from going?
May 26th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
You might be able to apply for visas outside your home country if you can provide recent bank statements. That way embassies can be certain that there are enough funds to support your stay. You could also try to get letters of invitation from residents. I guess that many governments are afraid that Asians come to their country to work and not to travel, so anything you can do to avert that suspicion works in your favor. I know it’s completely unfair, but there’s not much you can do about it.
You shouldn’t let bureaucracy get in the way of what you want to do. There’s always a way. You just have to want it enough…
May 29th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Um, I think it is usually referred to as RTW not RWT ticket.
I do think it is unfortunate that it is made for difficult for those from India and sorry I have no advice. One does see a lot of Indians traveling though.
I do wholeheartedly agree that those who don’t have to worry about visas much, should take advantage of travel. Too bad so many do not realize how easy and cheap it can be to vagabond…even for a family on an open ended world tour.
May 31st, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Every passport has varying degrees of travel flexibility – including those of western countries. Danish passports, for example, have more travel flexibility than every other European country. Even British citizens need Visas to travel to India, & they can also take a long time to be issued. And so on…
In terms of advice, I’m not sure, but there may be some way to use India’s Commonwealth membership to your advantage, potentially giving you improved flexibility in your travelling for a lot of countries. Though I expect it’s probably an obscure method otherwise more people would be utilising it if it were easy to find. Embassies probably don’t spell it out for you (thought best place to start asking) – but if you can afford it, a visa broker may be able to advise. Perhaps best to find one who’s an expert in British and Commonwealth visas.