Passport + Visas

Each Remote is responsible for securing their own visas for each destination on their itinerary. Due to the fact that we aren't immigration professionals, and the constantly evolving nature of visa / immigration regulations, it is not possible for Remote Year to advise on the visa process. Nothing below should be construed as visa advice, immigration advice, or legal advice rendered by Remote Year or anyone employed by or associate with Remote Year.

Ensure your passport is not expired and that it is valid for at least six months after you're returning from your Remote Year travels. If you're running low on blank passport pages, it's advised to get a new passport before leaving—some countries require you to have blank passport pages when entering.

TOOLS + RESOURCES

Visa List—Data here is primarily collected from public sources like Wikipedia, embassy and national websites of different countries.

Passport Index—Pick your home country, and the site will tell you whether a visa is required for any other country. This is a good starting point, but it's not official government information, so it shouldn't be your only source of research.

• If a visa is needed for a certain country, it is advisable to then connect with the relevant embassy. For example, if you're an Indian passport holder needing a visa for Mexico, the best place to start is the Mexican Embassy to India.

Visa HQ—This online tool is similar to Passport Index, but can be used as another information source.

• Visa HQ will inform you if a tourist visa is required for particular countries and they will also offer to obtain visas for you. For those types of services, you can choose to obtain the visa yourself by working with an embassy or government agency, or enlist the help of our partners listed below.

Vietnam- Visa: check out this Vietnam Visa for Dummies guide created by one of our Remotes!

REMOTE YEAR VISA PARTNERS

1. Swift Passport Services—Smaller company with dedicated care and for US residents only.
   • Contact Swift via +1.877.917.9438 or email Laurie (laurie@swiftpassport.com) or Shannon (shannon@swiftpassport.com). Online, discount code REMYR20 ($20 discount on 2+ services) and REMYR10 ($10 discount on one service).
2. CIBT—Semi-global and larger company with more resources.
   • Contact CIBT via +1.800.929.2428 or customerservice@cibtvisas.com and find Remote Year pricing here.

1. I need to know how many days I'm in each country—where can I find my entry and exit dates for my itinerary?

You'll live in each Remote Year city on your itinerary for either 4 or 5 weeks at a time—so, 28 or 35 days. The planned entry and exit dates for your itinerary can be seen in this master Remote Year itinerary spreadsheet. If you need more details, please email welcome@remoteyear.com.

2. Can Remote Year provide me with proof of accommodation and the flight itinerary for my visa application?

Sometimes, depending on how many months in advance of your program launch date you're applying for a visa. When we are able to, we will provide you with this documentation, you'll just need to request it from us at welcome@remoteyear.com. In certain cases, it may be necessary for you to book a fully refundable hotel for proof of accommodation.

3. If someone asks, should I say I'm travelling for tourism or work? Should I obtain a tourist or work visa?

We can't specifically advise you on what to do because we aren't immigration advisors, however, we can tell you that most Remotes (and their employers) have decided to go with tourist visas. The logic behind this is that they are "working while they travel" and not "traveling for work"—the same logic that allows you to bring your laptop on vacation!