A visa is a document that identifies the bearer as having legitimate business in the country which issued it. This is an essential counterpart to a passport, which identifies the traveler's country of origin. Having a valid visa is the only way to ensure that you will travel without legal or diplomatic hassle while abroad. To get a visa, you must visit the consulate or embassy of the country to which you wish to travel.

Visas most often must be applied for in person, although some countries allow mail-in or online applications. It can take a couple weeks for a visa application to be processed, so you are advised to apply well in advance of your travels to ensure that you have the proper paperwork. However, sometimes travel emergencies arise and you do not have enough time to wait for the paperwork to process.

Getting an Express Visa

Express visas are harder to get nowadays. Most countries have made their visa screening procedure more stringent since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Many have worked a waiting period of about 30 days into the process to make sure that all applications are being properly screened to keep spies and terrorists out of the country. Because of this, you should apply for a visa as soon as you know you will be traveling. Travelers who simply waited too long to apply may not be granted a visa in time.

Thankfully, most nations are understanding of the reality of emergency travel, and often will issue a visa on short notice for travelers in need. You often must plead your case in person at the consulate, though. Emergency visas are rarely granted, since a consulate can issue a full-validity visa on short notice. An emergency visa would only be issued to a traveler who needed to leave on a holiday on which the consulate was closed, but who did not have enough notice to apply before the office closed.