Confused! Can you apply for a Visa to a country outside your home country?

Hi guys,

I'm a bit confused about Visas and hope I don't confuse you with my question!

Basically, I'm an Aussie still in Australia.

If, for example, I was in the UK travelling and working, and then wanted to go across to China to do a TEFL course, travel and secure a teaching position, could I apply for the China Visa at the embassy in England?

Or, would I have to apply for the China Visa in Australia before I depart my home country?

Seeing as OZ is soooo far away from most of the rest of the world, it'd be a drag to have to keep coming back home to Australia just so I could apply for Visas for a different country each time!

Any advice would be great - thanks! :)

Edited by: kattate

It depends. Different countries have different rules

Sometimes you can apply from the country you are travelling through, other times you need to apply through the country of your passport. It also depends on what type of visa you are applying for.

In general, you can get tourist visas in any country that has an embassy or consulate for your destination. Work permits are another story. Almost all countries require you to leave the country to get the work visa issued, and some actually require that you reeturn to your home country. I think some WHV visas work that way.

In China, you would probablly arrive on a tourist visa, find a job, and depending on where you were, get your visa coverted or leave (to Hong Kong!) to get your visa.

Visa runs are the general stock in trade. You go where you want to find a job - scope the scene out - find the job you want - jump over the border to the nearest embassy/consulate apply for the specific visa that you need and batta boom batta bing - there you go.

T'ain't hard, lots of people do it every day. USUALLY, you can be in any country other than the one where you want the visa.

Thanks guys - you've made it all very clear for me!

Appreciate it
Kat

All they've made clear to me is 'it depends' and 'maybe'. I hope that's the message you got kattate because that is indeed the reality.

There are some countries for which it is nearly impossible to obtain a visa outside the country of your passport or where you have permission to reside. For example, if you are residing in China, then you can apply for a Russian visa in China but if you do not have permission to reside in China, then you can't get a Russian visa there. So it is not just your passport that matters but whether you have legal permission to reside in a country.

Ruth