A visa is a document that grants a traveler permission to enter a specific country.  Not all international travel requires a visa.  Many nations have  visa-free travel based on the travelers country of origin. 

There are many types of travel visas that people use to move around the world.  However, for the purposes of our readers we will focus on the four that we are asked about most.  The most common visas questions we have are regarding the tourist visa, student visa, private visa, medical visa, athletic visa, and the artist visa. 

Tourist visas are the most common visas.  They are granted to people who are seeking leisure travel.  These visas do have some restrictions.  Travelers are not allowed to do business while on a travel visa, they would have to apply for a business visa for this purpose.  Many countries also have a list of requirements which usually includes proof of hotel reservations and departure date. 

Student visas are granted to high school exchange and university students.  Requirements for these visas vary from nation to nation, but school officials typically guide students through the process of applying for student visas. 

Private visas are granted to travelers when they are invited by a citizen for a set amount of time.  The situations that private visas are typically used are weddings and funerals. 

Medical visas are granted to travelers that need a medical procedure done in a destination country.  The high cost of medical treatment in the United States has led many people to travel to other nations with good healthcare systems for medical procedures.  Plastic surgery and dental procedures are the most common reasons travelers seek medical visas outside of the United States. 

The athletic and artist visas are specialized for professionals.  Basketball and soccer players are granted athletic visas when traveling for training or competition.  Artist visas are granted to musicians most commonly, but they can also be granted to a variety of different artists. 

Regardless of the type of visa you may need, it is important to understand the requirements of your destination country.  If a visa is needed, a traveler should gather all the required documents and take note of the processing time.  It is always a good thing to apply for a visa early, since for some nations a traveler will be denied entry without it.