However, that’s not always the case. The Costa Rica visa policy is divided into four groups:

1. The first group included visa-exempt nationals who are allowed to travel to Costa Rica with just their passport. The passport must be valid for at least one more day from the date of entry into the country.
2. The second group also includes visa-exempt nationals who are allowed to travel to Costa Rica with just their passport. However, in this case, the passport must be valid for at least three months from the date of arrival.
3. The third group includes foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Consular Visa, which must be applied for at a Costa Rica consulate in their country of residence.
4. The fourth group includes foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Restricted Visa. This type of visa has to be approved by the Commission of Restricted Visas.

This article will detail the Costa Rica visa policy by country.

Do You Need a Visa for Costa Rica?

You only need a Costa Rica visa if you are from one of the following countries:

Foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Consular Visa (Third group)

The following countries have to apply for a Costa Rica Consular Visa at a Costa Rica consulate in their country:

Foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Restricted Visa (Fourth group)

Nationals from the following countries have to apply for a Costa Rica Restricted Visa, which requires authorization form the Commission of Restricted Visas:

Who is Exempt from Costa Rica Visas?

The following nationals are exempt from holding a visa when travelling to Costa Rica:

For stays of up to 90 days

For stays of up to 30 days

Do You Need a Costa Rica Visa if You Already Have a US/Schengen visa?

Visa-required foreign nationals may be exempt from holding a Costa Rica visa if they already have a valid entry visa for one of the following countries:

• An EU member state
• A Schengen country
• USA
• Canada
• South Korea
• Japan

Additionally, foreign nationals on the third and fourth group are exempt from holding a Costa Rica visa if they have a residence permit (not less than six months) for:

• USA
• Canada
• An EU member state

Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Costa Rica?

If you are a US national, and you want to stay in Costa Rica for a period longer than 90 days, you will need a residence permit. You can get a Costa Rica residence permit in two ways:

• By applying for a provisional visa (student visa, work visa) at a Costa Rica consulate before you travel to Costa Rica or
• Enter Costa Rica as a tourist and apply after you arrive in the country at the Costa Rican Department of Immigration (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería).

This applies to all the foreign nationals included in group 1 and 2 that are allowed visa-free access to Costa Rica.

What if I Need to Apply for a Costa Rica Visa?

If you need to apply for a visa to Costa Rica, you can review the application steps and requirements here.

The post Do I Need a Visa for Costa Rica? appeared first on Visa Consulate - Visa Information For Any Country.

Who Can Apply for a Medical Visa for Australia?

To apply for the Medical Treatment Visa (Visa 602), the main reason for your trip must be to seek medical treatment in Australia. You must also fulfil all the following criteria:

• You have already made arrangements to receive medical treatment or consultation in an Australian hospital.
• You have made arrangements to pay for said treatment and consultation.
• You don’t have any medical condition which could endanger Australian public health.
• You have sufficient funds to cover your stay in Australia and that of your companions.
• You receiving treatment will not put any Australian citizen or permanent resident at a disadvantage.
• You meet all Australian character requirements.

The Australian Medical Visa allows you to stay in Australia for the time it is necessary for you to receive medical treatment. During this time, you are not allowed to work but you can take up a short-term study course of up to three months.

Who Else Can Apply for a Medical Visa?

You can apply for an Australian Medical Visa in the following instances as well:

• If you are a national of Papua New Guinea living in the Western Province, and you have to be medically evaluated to a hospital in Queensland or you are already receiving medical treatment there.
• You are accompanying a person who needs medical treatment in Australia.

Australia Medical Visa Requirements

The documents you have to submit when applying for a Medical Visa for Australia are:

• Your passport’s bio page, showing your personal details and ID picture.
• A recent passport-size picture of yourself, meeting Australia’s visa photo requirements.
• Your birth certificate.
• A written confirmation from the doctor in Australia that will be giving you medical treatment, which states the following:
  • The type of medical treatment you will be receiving.
  • That they agree to treat you.
  • That you have already arranged payment for the treatment.
  • The date you will be admitted to the hospital.
  • The time you need to be in Australia for medical treatment.
  • That no Australian citizen or permanent resident will be negatively affected by you receiving this medical treatment.
• Written approval from the hospital where you will be admitted (if it is a private hospital).
• Statements from any person or organisation which will help finance your stay or medical costs.
• If you will receive an organ transplant: Proof that there are arrangements for the travel and accommodation of the donor, and that these costs will not be a burden of Australia.
• If a minor child is travelling alone or without one of the parents/guardians: Proof of custody and travel arrangements.
• Any other documents as relevant to your circumstances.

How to Apply for an Australian Medical Visa?

You have to apply for a Medical Visa for Australia online, through an ImmiAccount. The process is as follows:

1. Organize your health examinations and appointments. You must contact the nearest Australian Embassy to check whether you need any health examinations and how to arrange them. See the office responsible for your country here.
2. Gather the required documents. You need several documents, such as a letter from your doctor, approval from the hospital, proof of funding, etc. See the full list of required documents below.
3. Create an ImmiAccount. You must register through your ImmiAccount (here), the portal responsible for receiving all Australian visa applications.
4. Complete the online application. Once registered, you have to select the type of visa you are applying for and answer the questions you are presented with.
5. Attach electronic copies of the required documents. After completing the application questions, you have to attach electronic copies of all the required documents. The documents must be in PDF format.
6. Wait to hear back. You will receive an email confirmation of your visa along with the visa grant number, the dates when it is valid, and any visa conditions.
7. Travel to Australia. Once you receive your visa confirmation, print out the confirmation email and bring it with you when you travel. Keep an electronic copy as well. Your visa has been saved on an online database, which the immigration officers can check using your passport number.

Can I Apply If I Am Already in Australia?

Ye, you can submit a Medical Visa application even if you are already in Australia. You have to apply through the ImmiAccount but, unlike when applying from abroad, in this case, you would also have to pay a visa fee.

Who Issues Medical Visas for Australia?

The authority in charge of processing your Medical Visa is the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Regardless of how you submit your application (yourself through the ImmiAccount or through a visa application agency), it is always forwarded to the Department of Home Affairs.

How Long Does a Medical Visa Take to Process?

Most applications for a Medical Visa for Australia are processed within one month. Some can take less time (a few days to a couple of weeks) and others can take up to two months, depending on each specific case.

The situation that impact the processing time for your visa includes:

• Whether you complete the application form correctly.
• Whether you attach all the documents requested.
• Whether the Department of Home Affairs requests additional documents.
• Whether it takes a long time to verify the information you provided.

How Much Does the Australian Medical Visa Cost?

If you apply for a Medical Visa from outside Australia, then the application is free of charge. If you are already in Australia when you apply, the visa processing fee is AUD 320.

How Long Can I Stay in Australia With a Medical Visa?

The Australian Medical Visa is a temporary visa and it is issued only for the time it takes for you to finish your medical treatment.

Can I Extend My Medical Visa in Australia?

You cannot extend your current Medical Visa, but you can apply for a new one through the ImmiAccount, using the first process as when you first applied. This, technically, serves as a visa extension as it allows you to remain in Australia longer without leaving the country.

Make sure to apply at least two weeks before your current visa expires and remember that if you apply for a new visa when in Australia, you will have to pay an AUD 315 fee.

Note: If your visa has a “Visa condition 8503 – No Further Stay” then you will not be able to extend your visa and stay longer in Australia.

How Can I Check My Australian Visa?

You can check your visa validity and conditions through the VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) system. Once you receive your email with the visa confirmation, you will be able to register in VEVO and check the visa status, using one of the following:

• Your ImmiCard.
• The visa grant number (included in the email).
• Transaction Reference Number – (you get this when you start your visa application.

Can I Bring My Family Members?

Yes, your family members can apply alongside you for the Medical Visa and your applications will be processed together. In this case, the following documents also have to be attached to the application:

• Family Register Document
• Your family member’s passport bio page and ID Card copy.
• Documents proving they have accommodation and can sustain themselves financially while in Australia.

If you are not family with the person accompanying you (they may be a close friend or partner), they may also apply to accompany you. The person accompanying you – either a family member or friend – should come with you if they will provide you with assistance, moral support, arrange your accommodation and transport, etc.

Do I Need Health Insurance for a Medical Visa in Australia?

Yes, it is recommended that you purchase adequate health insurance to cover you for any unexpected medical conditions that may arise. As a medical tourist, however, it is unlikely that any health insurance company in Australia will cover the costs of your treatment, but you should still get an insurance plan for other unexpected circumstances.

Do I Have to Go to an Australian Embassy?

No, you do not need to go to an Australian Embassy to receive a Medical Visa. You submit the application online and will receive the decision via email. The visa is then saved on an online database, which can be accessed through your passport number when you travel to Australia.

You can check your visa status and conditions through the VEVO account.

In rare cases, the Department of Home Affairs may ask you to visit an Embassy if they believe your visa application requires further processing.

What If My Visa is Denied?

If your Australian Medical Visa is denied, you will usually receive an email explaining the reason for denial, whether you can appeal the decision (and how long you have to do so), or if you must appear at an Embassy for further processing.

The post Australian Medical Treatment Visa appeared first on Visa Consulate - Visa Information For Any Country.

The UAE has a relatively new boosting economy. As such, the hospitals there are more modern than a lot of those in the West. This, coupled with government-led initiatives to facilitate the process of obtaining a visa, it has led to a rise in the number of medical tourists which the UAE has received in recent years.

UAE hospitals offer an array of medical and cosmetic surgeries in their private and public sector hospitals and medical facility complexes.

Foreigners wishing to receive medical treatment in the UAE, and who are from visa-required countries, have to get a Patient Entry Permit from one of the visa-issuing authorities in the UAE.

How Can I Get a UAE Medical Treatment Visa?

You do not have to visit a UAE embassy or consulate in your country in order to get a Medical Treatment Visa. As with all other types of visas for the UAE, it is your sponsor (ie. the hospital where you will receive medical treatment) that’s in charge of arranging your visa/patient entry permit. To be allowed to sponsor your visit, the hospital has to be licensed and registered in the UAE.

Your sponsor applies through one of the visa-issuing authorities in the UAE.

Applying for a Medical Visa for Dubai

To get you a patient entry permit for Dubai, your sponsor applies through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai.

Applying for a Medical Visa for Abu Dhabi and the other Emirates

If you will receive medical treatment in a hospital in Abu Dhabi, or another of UAE’s seven emirates, then your sponsor applies for the visa through the eChanel platforms of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA).

What Documents Do I Need for a UAE Medical Treatment Visa?

The documents which are required when you apply for a Medical Treatment Visa for the UAE include:

• A copy of your passport
• A letter from your hospital explaining the reason behind your visit
• Proof of financial solvency
• Proof of your medical insurance that covers your entire stay in the UAE

What is the Validity of a UAE Patient Entry Permit?

A medical treatment visa (UAE Patient Entry Permit) allows the holder to remain in the country for a period of up to 90 days, from the day of entry. Once the visa is issued, you have to enter the UAE within 60 days.

There are two types of UAE Patient Entry Permits:

• Single-entry, which allows the holder to only enter the UAE once and stay for a maximum of 90 days
• Multiple-entry, which allows the holder multiple entries in the UAE for up to 90 days

Can you Extend a UAE Patient Entry Permit?

Yes, you can. Your sponsor can apply to extend your UAE Patient Entry Permit only once and only if they can provide proof you need further medical treatment (ie. a certified medical report).

UAE Patient Companion Entry Permit

If you are accompanying a patient who needs medical assistance in the UAE, you must have a UAE Patient Companion Entry Permit. It is the hospital that applies for your entry permit as well.

Additionally, you and the patient have to enter the country together.

To apply for a UAE Patient Companion Entry Permit, your sponsor submits:

• Photocopies of your passport
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of financial solvency

What is the Validity of a Patient Companion Entry Permit?

The validity of a Patient Companion Entry Permit is the same as for a Medical Visa/Patient Entry Permit: It must be used within 60 days, and once you enter the country, you can remain for up to 90 days.

The visa can be issued for single-, or multiple-entries and can be extended only once, provided that the patient really needs further treatment as well as you presence in the country.

Who Needs to Get a UAE Medical Treatment Visa/Patient Companion Entry Permit?

Because the UAE Medical Treatment Visa and the Patient Companion Visa are simply entry permits (not Residence Visas), nationals of certain countries are allowed to enter visa-free or they can obtain a visa on arrival. The UAE government allows nationals of the following countries visa-free travel for short periods of time.

Visa-free stay for up to 180 days

Nationals of Mexico may enter the UEA without a visa for up to 180 days.

Visa-free stay for up to 90 days

Nationals of the following countries may enter the UAE without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180 day period:

• EU member states (excluding the UK and Ireland)
• Honduras
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Montenegro
• Norway
• Russia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Switzerland

Nationals of the following countries may enter the UAE without a visa for up to 90 days.

• Argentina
• Barbados
• Brazil
• Chile
• Nauru
• Paraguay
• Serbia
• Solomon Islands
• Seychelles
• Uruguay

Visa-free stay for up to 30 days

Nationals of the following countries may enter the UAE without a visa for up to 30 days:

• China
• Japan
• Macau
• Ukraine

Eligible for UAE Visa On Arrival

Citizens of the countries listed below may obtain a UAE Visa On Arrival, valid for either 30 or 90 days, depending on the country:

• Andorra (valid for 30 days)
• Australia (valid for 30 days)
• Bahamas (valid for 90 days)
• Brunei (valid for 30 days)
• Canada (valid for 30 days)
• Costa Rica (valid for 90 days)
• El Salvador (valid for 90 days)
• Hong Kong (valid for 30 days)
• Ireland (valid for 30 days)
• Kazakhstan (valid for 30 days)
• Malaysia (valid for 30 days)
• Maldives (valid for 90 days)
• Mauritius (valid for 30 days)
• Monaco (valid for 30 days)
• Mongolia (valid for 30 days)
• New Zealand (valid for 30 days)
• San Marino (valid for 30 days)
• Singapore (valid for 30 days)
• South Korea (valid for 90 days)
• United Kingdom (valid for 30 days)
• United States (valid for 30 days)
• Vatican City (valid for 30 days)

Note:

Nationals of the following countries (other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council) have freedom of movement and may enter the UAE with simply their passport or ID:

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Saudi Arabia

Non-native residents of GCC countries are not exempt from UAE visas, but they can apply through a facilitated online process if they’re traveling with a GCC national.

There is some conflicting information online in regards to whether certain nationals are allowed to travel visa-free or not, namely Grenada, the Solomon Islands, Nauru, Liberia, and Mongolia.

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