Visas are valid for different lengths of time. There is no rule that governs all visas around the world since they are all issued by different countries with different visa policies.
The validity of a visa depends on a number of factors, including the following:
- The country of issue
- The type or purpose of the visa (e.g. tourist visa, business visa, etc.)
- The traveler’s selection (if applicable)
How Long Does a Visa Last?
Visas and travel authorizations last until the end of their validity period. This can vary depending on the country that issued it.
Here are some examples of the different validities of travel permits:
- US ESTA: 2 years
- Turkey e-Visa: 180 days
- Egypt e-Visa: 90 days
Some countries allow applicants to select the validity of their visa. For example, the Ethiopia eVisa can be valid for either 30 or 90 days, depending on the choice of the traveler. As a rule, the longer the validity, the higher the price of the visa.
In other cases, different travel permits are available to travelers of different nationalities. Sometimes, these have different lengths of validity, while others are the same. An example of this is the Australia eVisitor Visa and the Australian ETA, which are both valid for 1 year, but are available to different passport holders.
If a visa only permits a single entry, it will last until it is used to visit the destination country, or until it expires (whichever comes sooner).
How long can you stay in a country with a visa?
Visa validity is not necessarily the same as how long you can stay in the country.
Visa validity usually dictates how long you can use a visa to enter the destination country. There is usually a separate allowance for the length of time the holder can spend there.
For example, the US ESTA is valid for 2 years, but each visit can last a maximum of 90 days.
The Turkey e-Visa is valid for 180 days, but travelers can either stay for 30 or 90 days per visit, depending on their nationality.
Tourists with an Egypt e-Visa can stay for up to 30 days per visit during the visa’s 90-day validity period.