Visas
What is a visa? A visa is an official note placed in your passport that gives you permission to enter, leave or stay in a certain country. It should also dictate the length of stay and your reason for travel.
Why is a visa necessary? Some nationalities can travel freely over certain borders, whereas others require advanced permission to enter. Wherever you travel in the world, it is always best to be aware of up-to-date visa information which may affect you, as there are changes in requirements from time to time. This makes it important to find out the latest visa information when planning travel!
While Expat Explore is unable to give visa advice due to the vast number of nationalities which our guests represent, we can help make life a little easier by providing you with the required documents for a visa application. It is a requirement of the embassies that tours are paid for in full before visa support documentation is requested and applications are made. When you have made the final payment for your booking our accounts department will send you an email stating your booking is 'Confirmed'. Please reply to this email to request your visa support documents and confirm which embassy to which you will be applying. Allow 5 working days for the documents to be sent.
Please note: Visas are each traveller’s personal responsibility, and we recommend that plenty of time is allowed for visas to be applied for.
When applying for your visa please ensure that the proper research is carried out before you apply, and that you deal directly with the embassies or certified agents with regard to acquiring correct and timely information. We cannot take responsibility for customers whose visas are rejected or expired.
Europe Tours
If you are an EU passport holder you will not require a visa to travel on the majority of our Europe tours. UK passport holders will not need a visa for short trips (up to 90 days in a 180-day period). However, there are many nationalities that may require a valid visa. Please ensure you check with the embassy of each country you will be travelling to.
Schengen Visa
The Schengen Area currently consists of 26 countries in Europe. Of these, 22 are European Union member states, plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
You can visit any of the Schengen countries for a duration of up to 90 days within a 6-month period, or visa-free if you’re a citizen of one of the countries that has visa agreements with the EU.
Four EU member states - Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus - are not yet part of the Schengen Area, although they may allow travellers with multi-entry Schengen visas to enter.
If you require a Schengen visa, please keep the following points in mind:
- You need to apply to the embassy of the country where you spend the most amount of time/nights. If there are two or more countries which have an equal number of ‘most nights’ you must apply to the embassy of the country you visit first (see our list below which tells you which embassy to apply to).
- Please Note: If you are travelling in Europe before and/or after your Expat tour, or are taking a one-way Expat tour, you may need to apply at a different embassy to the one listed. Please check which country in which you will spend the most amount of time and confirm to us which embassy you are applying to when you request your visa support documents).
- Your tour must be paid in full before we are allowed to release visa support documents.
- To request visa support documents once your tour is paid in full email us at info@expatexplore.com.
- Booking appointments can be tricky as the embassies get busy, particularly in the run-up to the peak summer travel season. Please allow plenty of time for your appointment, which must be made prior to your departure date.
- We cannot give a full refund if visas are rejected. Refund amounts will be based on the number of days remaining, prior to departure, as per our Terms & Conditions.
- If you are in the UK and are on certain visas, you are not permitted to travel on a Schengen Visa within the last 3 months prior to expiry. Please be sure to check these details.
More information on the Schengen Area and Schengen visas, including the application process, is available here.
Which embassy for which Europe tour?
Please note: If there is a number listed after your tour please see the important notes at the end of the page.
Europe Rail Tours
- Scotland Rail Express - British Embassy
- Italy Rail Express - Italian Embassy
- Amsterdam to Budapest Rail Explorer - Austrian Embassy
- Amsterdam to Barcelona Rail Explorer - French Embassy
- Rome to Amsterdam Rail Explorer - Italian Embassy
Europe Multi-Country
- Amsterdam to Budapest Rail Explorer - Austrian Embassy
- Amsterdam to Barcelona Rail Explorer - French Embassy
- Best of Europe – Italian Embassy (1)
- Best of Eastern Europe - Austrian Embassy (14)
- Best of Western Europe - French Embassy (15)
- Classic Europe - Italian Embassy (8)
- Croatian and Eastern Delights – German Embassy (2)
- Eastern Highlights – German Embassy
- Europe at Leisure - French Embassy
- Europe Escape – Italian Embassy
- Europe Explorer – French Embassy
- Europe Highlights – Italian Embassy
- Europe Jewel – Czech Embassy
- Europe Taster – French Embassy
- European Vistas - French Embassy (9)
- Great Britain – British Embassy
- Helsinki to Warsaw - Finnish or Polish Embassy (depending on time spent in each, for Schengen Visa), and Belarusian Embassy
- Northern Explorer - German Embassy (11)
- Rome to Amsterdam Rail Explorer - Italian Embassy
- Scandinavian Escape - Danish Embassy
- Ultimate Europe - Italian Embassy
- Western Adventure - Italian Embassy
Eastern Europe
- Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia - check here for more information
- Balkan Explorer - Greek Embassy (13)
- Croatia Sailing - Croatian Embassy
- Croatian and Eastern Delights – German Embassy (2)
- Eastern Adventure - Italian Embassy (7)
- Eastern Highlights – German Embassy
- Russian River Cruise - Moscow to St. Petersburg - Russian Embassy
- Scenic Europe - Italian Embassy
- Taste of Eastern Europe - German Embassy
UK & Ireland
- Best of UK & Ireland - British & Irish Embassies (10)
- Great Britain – British Embassy
- Irish Explorer – Irish Embassy (3)
- Scotland & England Explorer - British Embassy
- Scotland Rail Express - British Embassy
- Taste of England - British Embassy
Italy
- Italian Delights – Italian Embassy
- Italy at Leisure – Italian Embassy
- Italy Explorer - Italian Embassy
- Italy Rail Express - Italian Embassy
- Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily - Italian Embassy
- Taste of Italy – Italian Embassy
France, Spain & Portugal
- Highlights of Spain & Portugal - Spanish Embassy
- Spain & Portugal Explorer - Spanish Embassy
- Taste of France - French Embassy
- Taste of Spain - Spanish Embassy
Christmas & New Year
- Best of UK & Ireland Christmas & New Year - British & Irish Embassies (10)
- Christmas and New Year – French Embassy
- Eastern Highlights Christmas & New Year - German Embassy
- Europe Christmas Taster Tour - French Embassy
- Europe New Year Taster Tour - French Embassy
- Europe Christmas & New Year Escape Tour - Italian Embassy
- Europe Christmas & New Year Jewel Tour - Czech Embassy
- Europe Christmas & New Year Explorer Tour - French Embassy
Greece
- Athens, Mykonos & Santorini - Greece is in the Schengen Area. If you require a visa to enter the Schengen Area, please apply at your local Greek embassy.
- Best of Greece - Greece is in the Schengen Area. If you require a visa to enter the Schengen Area, please apply at your local Greek embassy.
- Taste of Greece - Greece is in the Schengen Area. If you require a visa to enter the Schengen Area, please apply at your local Greek embassy.
USA & Canada Tours
- Eastern USA & Canada Escape - see the 'Visas & Border Crossings' section of the Pre-Departure Information for this tour - click here
- Eastern USA & Canada Escape (incl. New York) - see the 'Visas & Border Crossings' section of the Pre-Departure Information for this tour - click here
Middle East & Africa Tours
South Africa
- Cape Town And The Garden Route - South African Embassy
- Kruger Safari And The Panorama Route - South African Embassy
- South Africa Escape - South African Embassy
- Taste of South Africa - South African Embassy
Egypt
- Nile Adventure & Nile Jewel tours - Please refer to your local embassy to confirm if you require a visa in advance or are eligible to receive a visa on arrival. Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at a cost of US$25, with payment due in cash at the airport.
Israel & Jordan
- Highlights of Israel & Jordan tour - please refer to the pre-departure information for this tour for more details.
Turkey Tours
- Highlights of Turkey - most nationalities can purchase an e-visa in advance. Please double check here to confirm.
Southeast Asia Tours
Certain nationalities can obtain an e-visa, other nationalities will need to apply for a visa at their local Vietnamese and/or Cambodian Embassy. Please click the relevant link below to view more information in the Pre-Departure Information for your tour:
- Highlights of Vietnam - Pre-Departure Information
- Taste of Cambodia - Pre-Departure Information
- Vietnam & Cambodia Explorer - Pre-Departure Information
Very Important Notes
- (1) Best of Europe - Please ensure you apply for a multi-entry Schengen visa which will also enable you to enter Croatia.
- (2) Croatian & Eastern Delights - Please ensure you apply for a multi-entry Schengen visa which will also enable you to enter Croatia.
- *Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are not in the Schengen zone and visas can not be obtained at the border or on the tour. It is essential you check in advance of your tour if you require a visa for Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- (3) Irish Explorer - Please note that you will visit Northern Ireland as well as the Republic of Ireland on this tour. Schengen and UK visas are not valid for the Republic of Ireland whilst certain nationalities will require a UK visa to visit Northern Ireland.
- (7) Eastern Adventure - The embassy listed is for the tour itinerary only. If you are travelling in Europe before starting the tour this may change which embassy you will need to apply to.
- (8) Classic Europe - If you are staying in the Netherlands before and/or after the tour, you may need to apply at the Dutch embassy.
- (9) European Vistas - If you are staying in the Netherlands before and/or after the tour, you may need to apply at the Dutch embassy.
- (10) Best of UK & Ireland - Please check with your local British and Irish Embassies to confirm if you require a visa to visit the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, respectively.
- (11) Northern Explorer
- - If you require a Schengen Visa you will need to ensure you apply for and receive a multi-entry Schengen visa
- - If you are staying in Amsterdam pre and/or post-tour you may need to apply at the Dutch embassy.
- - Most nationalities require a visa to visit Russia, please check with your local Russian embassy for confirmation.
- - If you do not wish to travel to Russia or if you do not have the required Russian visa, take a look at our Russia Bypass option. This gives you two extra nights in Helsinki, ferry transportation to Tallinn and an extra night’s accommodation in Tallinn, where you would meet up with the rest of the tour. Please contact us AT LEAST 30 DAYS prior to departure and we can amend your tour arrangements. There is a small charge for this amendment - please contact us for more information.
- (13) Balkan Explorer - Please ensure you apply for a multi-entry Schengen visa which will also enable you to enter Croatia. A separate visa may be required for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia & Bulgaria.
- (14) Best of Eastern Europe - If you are extending your stay in Rome before starting the tour, you may need to apply at the Italian Embassy.
- (15) Best of Western Europe - If you are extending your stay in Rome after the tour, you may need to apply for your visa at the Italian Embassy.
- *(16) Belarus - our local suppliers will be able to process your visa whilst you are on tour. All we need from you is to download and complete this form and return to Expat Explore at least 30 days prior to departure. Please take two passport photos along with you on tour, and leave the rest to us.
- *(17) Ukraine - To see if you need to apply for a visa for Ukraine, please click here. Also, note that Ukraine allows 52 countries to apply for an electronic visa - to see a list of the 52 countries please click here.
- *(18) Moldova - Please follow this link to find out whether you need to apply for a visa prior to the start of the tour.
