The Best Travel Visa Services

Sunday, April 2nd

2023 Travel Visa Service Reviews

iVisa

• Cost: From $200 to $250 depending on chosen application processing times

iVisa was founded in 2012 on Harvard Business School's campus. Two friends, Sergio and David, were attending Harvard while pursuing their MBAs, and became the founders of iVisa. They both love to travel and would discuss the frustrations of trying to deal with government offices and heaps of paperwork that felt like a waste of time when they were trying to focus on their growing families. They wanted a streamlined process that allowed them to travel freely while avoiding lengthy forms or journeys to foreign embassies. Thus, iVisa was formed. Tens of thousands of customers have been using iVisa ever since and find their processes to be a breeze.

Helpful information

If you're applying for a travel visa for the first time, you likely have some questions about why you need it, how to get it, and how fast you'll be able to obtain one. We like the FAQ page that iVisa provides to address any concerns or confusion that travelers might have. This page goes over what an eVisa is, how long visas are valid, checking application status, when visas are typically received, and lots of other important information.

Competitive pricing

The cost to get a travel visa depends on the processing time you choose. Standard processing costs $200 (fees included) and the visa application processes in 9 days. Rush processing is $230 (fees included) and the visa application processes in 7 days. Super rush processing is the fastest option at $250 (fees included) and you will receive your visa in 5 days. We like that pricing is so straightforward and there is no question as to when your visa will go through.

3 easy steps

Using iVisa is a very simple process if you're needing an eVisa. With three easy steps you start the application and then have the visa in your hands:

1. Complete the application online and pay with either credit card or PayPal.
2. Receive documents via email. There is no need to deal with an embassy, since iVisa does this for you.
3. You'll present your passport and the documents you receive upon entry to the destination country.

Guarantee

If for some reason you submit your visa application and it gets rejected by the country you are looking to visit, iVisa has a guarantee in place that allows you to get a credit towards the next travel visa with them.

Highest recommendation

Other options for visas are eVisas on arrival, paper visas through express courier, or in-person paper visas. iVisa lists all the countries that they work with to issue travel visas. There are many, so it is easiest to just fill out where you're from and where you're going right when you get to their website. We feel confident recommending iVisa and know that they will take good care of their customers. They have received our highest rating among travel visa companies.

Passport Visas Express

• Cost: Starting from $39 depending on destination, processing times, and fees

Passport Visas Express serves customers by providing both expedited passports and express visa services. They have been in business for over 15 years assisting travelers with the documentation needed to travel abroad. They have been featured by CNN, BudgetTravel, and The Washington Post. Positive customer feedback makes Passport Visas Express a reliable and affordable way to obtain travel visas online.

Over 150 destinations

Customers can search available visa countries alphabetically, to make things simple. They have over 150 destinations that cover the globe from A-Z.

Easy application

Passport Visas Express works in three steps:

1. Order online by choosing the visa you need for your travel.
2. Send in all the necessary information requested by Passport Visas Express to process the visa (information/documentation needed is dependent on the requirements set by the destination country).
3. Receive the visa based on the processing time chosen during the initial order.

Low price

When you select the country you are visiting, the website will alert you if you don't need a travel visa to go there. The cost for visas is determined by the number of entries, validity, processing time, consular fees, and service fees. For example, if you're planning to go to the Congo and need a single entry visa that is valid for one month and processes in four days, your total cost will be $209. If you want that same visa, but instead need it for multiple entries, your cost will be $229. Changing any of the factors in the type of visa will change the overall cost. Costs and processing times vary by country, so to get your actual price, you'll need to visit the website and look at the details for your chosen destination.

Great customer feedback

Passport Visas Express receives an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. We agree with this high rating based on the comprehensive services found here. It is easy to select the country you are wanting to visit and find the pricing and visa documentation requirements. We are pleased to see that thousands of travelers have used Passport Visas Express and almost unanimously report how much they liked working with them and did not have issues with getting their visas. Passport Visas Express is a great option for obtaining travel visas and we highly recommend using their services.

Visa HQ

• Cost: Starting from $79 depending on destination, processing time, and embassy fees

VisaHQ is based out of Washington DC and was founded in 2003. They provide both passport services and travel visas for an extensive number of countries. They have been featured by The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, USA Today, Fox News, Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, NBC News, and Outside. They receive an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for their top-notch service.

Easy navigation

VisaHQ makes it easy to find the requirements for travel visas on their site. Customers simply select where they are traveling from and where they are traveling to. A downloadable application is to be completed by the customer and then a series of required documents is outlined. Documents typically include an original passport, passport photo, tourist voucher (invitation), and electronic copies of documents.

Reasonable cost

The cost for travel visas through VisaHQ depends on the type of visa (single, double, or multiple entry), validity, processing time, embassy fees, and service fees. The average total cost is around $250 - $300. VisaHQ can also help get travelers an invitation to some of the countries they are planning to visit. The cost for this is $50.

Easy to apply

VisaHQ makes it easy to apply for multiple visas at once without having to enter repetitive information. You can also reuse the digital photographs you upload to simplify the process as well. Something that is really helpful about VisaHQ's services is the ability to view real-time tracking and get status updates about the progress of your travel visa. This gives peace of mind to customers who are on a timeline while awaiting their travel visas.

Good customer service

Customer service is easy to contact throughout the application process. Many customers report that they like using VisaHQ because not only do visas and passports come on time after a really smooth application process, but they also get a customer service representative on the phone every time they call. We highly recommend using VisaHQ's services for obtaining a travel visa.

Travel Visa Pro

• Cost: Starting from $99 depending on destination, processing time, and embassy fees

Travel Visa Pro has been in business since 2006. Their goal is to be an industry leader in size, service, and performance. There are quite a few services offered by Travel Visa Pro.

Travel visas and passports

A drop-down menu on the homepage of the website allows customers to choose one of the following services they need help with:

• New Passport
• Passport Renewal
• Name Change
• Replace Lost or Stolen Passport
• Replace Damaged Passport
• Second Passport
• Passport for Child

For travel visas, a list of popular destinations is provided for quick reference. Otherwise, an extensive list of destinations can be viewed. From A-Z, you can be sure that Travel Visa Pro works with the country you are looking to visit.

Higher pricing

Pricing for travel visas at Travel Visa Pro is a bit more expensive than we have seen through other agencies. For example, if you want to visit Russia, you can choose a processing time of anywhere from 1-16 days. The processing time you choose makes the biggest price difference overall. The embassy fee is $198 no matter what, but if you want your visa to go through in 1-2 days, you'll be paying $849 on top of the embassy fee. On the flip side, you'll pay an additional $109 if you are willing to wait 13-16 days instead. Some destinations, like the Congo (DRC), have processing times of 10-19 days, so you can't get a visa faster even if you wanted to. We suggest looking into your travel visa right away in case you're trying to get somewhere that takes longer for paperwork to go through.

Excellent customer service

Travel Visa Pro prides themselves in their excellent customer service. Rather than running into answering services in the evenings, on weekends, or even during the day, customers will be able to reach real employees to meet their needs. Travel Visa Pro can be reached by phone, email, or even text message to help their customers obtain passports, visas, and other international documents.

The Better Business Bureau gives Travel Visa Pro an A+ rating for their services. Thousands of happy customers speak to this high rating by relaying positive experiences they have had with Travel Visa Pro. It is not uncommon to hear of customers reporting that the staff at Travel Visa Pro gave them multiple phone calls throughout the application process, found errors they helped correct in the paperwork, attention to detail, and fair pricing. We recommend using them for obtaining a travel visa if you plan in advance and are willing to pay steeper pricing if needed.

Rush My Travel Visa

• Cost: Starting from $99 depending on location, turnaround time, and fees

RushMyTravelVisa is focused on catering to travelers who need to obtain travel visas as soon as possible. They have been featured by MSNBC, The Washington Post, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal. RushMyTravelVisa has been in operation since 2007 along with their sister company, RushMyTravelPassport. These services both claim to be the leaders in expediting travel documentation to help customers avoid in-person appointments at consulates or embassies.

Hard to reach

Both the travel visa and passport companies are operated by Expedited Travel, LLC. This parent company receives a C+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, which is a red flag to us. The biggest reported issue is with customer service being hard to reach and refunds being extremely slow to process and hard to obtain in the first place. Other customers report being very satisfied with RushMyTravelVisa, so there are definitely mixed feelings about their services.

More expensive

Visa turnaround times at RushMyTravelVisa are between 5-14 days. Standard service is between 10 and 14 days, whereas rush service is 5-7 days at a higher cost. The type of visa, planned length of stay, and embassy fees all play a role in the overall price of visas at RushMyTravelVisa. You can expect to pay between $150 and $500 for travel visas here, which is more expensive than some of the competing sites we have reviewed. To find out the exact cost of your particular travel visa, you'll choose the state you are from, the country you are choosing to visit, processing time, and other entry requirements.

Requirements listed

The visa requirements differ by country. RushMyTravelVisa has a page where you can select your destination and review the specific documentation needed. Typically, travelers will need to supply a passport photo, the country's visa application form, current passport, proof of jurisdiction, and embassy/consulate fees. A checklist and application can both be downloaded to your computer from the website.

All in all, RushMyTravelVisa seems like they would provide customers what they are paying for. Their website is not as appealing or straightforward as our higher-rated sites, but they get the job done. We would like to see a higher rating from the Better Business Bureau for their services, so this is concerning to us. If customers are desperate for guaranteed, fast turnaround times for travel visas, RushMyTravelVisa is a reasonable option, otherwise we suggest using a higher-rated site.

Travisa

• Cost: Starting from $144 depending on destination, processing time, and embassy fees

Travisa was established in 1981. There is not much information about the company on their own website, but third-party sites shed more light on the company. Their goal is to submit applications for passports and visas to the correct government officials within 5 hours of receipt.

Many travel services

Travisa offers many services including:

• Travel Visas
• Passports (replacements, child passports, lost or stolen)
• Legalizations
• Translations
• Notarization
• Cruiseline Services
• Tour Operators

Outdated website

When you visit Travisa's website for a travel visa, you can expect to see nothing but a long list of countries you can scroll through. In other words, this website is boring. However, without clicking on anything, you can see if the country you are looking to visit requires a passport or visa based on whether you are going there for travel or business. If you need a visa, simply choose the destination country and you are taken to a page that outlines the visa requirements and costs for application.

Hidden pricing

Like their competitors, the cost of visas depends on the destination country, embassy fees, chosen processing time, and the length of time travelers plan to spend in the country. What we don't like is that you don't know the full cost of your visa until you have chosen to order, given your travel information, contact details, and even payment information. It is confusing to find what the embassy fees and other costs are. We would like to see more straightforward pricing here. It is important to be able to compare their pricing with other websites so that you can get the best deal.

Steps explained

Instructions are provided for the visa application once you choose the country you are visiting and for what purpose. Typically, customers will be required to fill out an application that is provided once the visa has been purchased, then send in their passport, photos, send in a letter of invitation, proof of travel arrangements, and any medical requirement proof. An address is provided for customers to send their documents in the mail.

Overall, we felt like getting all the information we needed was a bit confusing and took more work using Travisa than competing travel visa sites. We wish they had more straightforward pricing and simplified instructions. Their website is text-heavy and customers may have to search around to really understand what they need to do to get their travel visa. Although customers are generally satisfied with services at Travisa and they receive an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, we suggest using a higher-rated site.