The Voyages Jules Verne Visa Service
The company provides a processing service for visas for most countries for nationals of the UK who have paid the visa procurement fee (see your confirmation invoice). Holders of other passports should contact the Visa Department 0845 166 7040/020 7616 1050.
Where relevant, detailed information, application forms and a set of specific requirements will be included with your invoice.
Where a passport is required for your visa(s), passengers resident outside the UK should contact the Visa Department urgently, as it may not be possible for the company to obtain such visa(s) for you.
A pre-requisite of any visa application is that you should be in possession of a full 5 or 10-year passport and, in most cases, the validity of which should be at least six months beyond your date of exit from your final country of destination.
Any enquiries on visa documentation should be addressed to our Visa Department at Voyages Jules Verne, 21 Dorset Square, London NW1 6QE.
When returning the completed forms and necessary documentation please ensure that they are sent to the above address in just one envelope. Please do not include any other documentation (such as balance of payment) that is not directly relevant to the visas as this department is managed from a different location to the main Voyages Jules Verne offices.
Holders of stateless citizen documents will always have to submit original documentation.
All visa applications submitted to the visa department should indicate the tour name and departure date that passengers are booked on. However, please do not return visa application forms until you have all necessary information, particularly if you are waiting for a new passport. In any event all details should be with the visa department at least six weeks prior to departure.
Special Notes
Travel to the United States of America
At the time of going to press Visas are not required for British Passport holders travelling to the United States with machine readable passports when travelling on airlines that use the Visa Waiver scheme. However, visas are required for many non-UK passport holders to visit the United States and also for those passengers when in transit. This is relevant to many of our South American programmes which travel through the USA.
To qualify for the Visa Waiver Programme, passports must be ‘machine readable’ (this means that the bottom area of the photo page has two lines of letters and numbers with the top line containing your full name and the bottom line your passport number and other characters). New passports issued after 26th October 2005 must contain a digital photo image to enable the holder to travel to the USA visa free. If you are in doubt, please contact our Visa Department or visit the UK Passport Service website: www.ips.gov.uk.
Under the Visa Waiver Programme, all travellers visiting or transiting the US must have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ESTA) prior to travel. This is compulsory and applications must be submitted online no later than 72 hours before departure. For further information, please visit: www.esta.cbp.dhs.gov
Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. Persons unsure about visa requirements should contact the Visa Department. Passports with ‘British Citizen’ only in their passport do not normally need a visa.
Journalists
It is advisable for journalists to obtain permissions/clearances in advance of travel for some countries e.g. Syria.
Sri Lanka
An ETA is now required for visits to Sri Lanka. An ETA is an official authorization for travel to Sri Lanka and it is issued electronically by the Sri Lankan Department of Immigration and Emigration. Foreign nationals must obtain an ETA, prior to their arrival with effect from 1st of January 2012. The ETA is issued through the on-line system. No passport copies, documents or photographs are required. There is no requirement to endorse the ETA in the passport.
If you are planning to visit Sri Lanka, you can submit your ETA application online to the Department of Immigration & Emigration at: http://www.eta.gov.lk
Laos
Visas on arrival for British Nationals - other
nationalities to check.
Israeli Stamps
Travellers to Lebanon, Libya, Iran and Syria should ensure that their passports do not contain any Israeli stamps. If your passport does contain an Israeli stamp you will be refused a visa or denied entry into that country. This includes Israeli stamps/visas and or immigration stamps for Israeli border points including other nation’s immigration stamps i.e. Taba (Egypt) border stamps. You will therefore need to have the passport reissued before applying for the visa. Please note that other countries may impose similar conditions and you will be advised accordingly.
Libya
On arrival, the Libyan authorities will refuse you entry unless there is a blank page in your passport for their entry stamp. If your passport does not have a blank page, please renew your passport prior to travel.
Morocco
Children 16 and under may travel on their parents' passport, but must have photographs included in these passports. (If photographs are not included in the passport, a copy of the birth certificate and a passport photograph signed by a professional person to confirm that the picture is a true likeness should be attached). Children over 16 must have their own passports. All British passports not endorsed ‘British citizen’ do require visas to enter Morocco. (A passport indicating that the bearer is a British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British National (Overseas) Citizen, or British Protected Person will need a visa).
Cuba
All passengers travelling to the Island of Cuba are required to have travel insurance, obtained in their country of origin, with coverage for medical expenses that may be incurred in Cuba. A copy of the Insurance Policy and/or Insurance Certificate should be available for presentation upon request when passengers complete immigration formalities on arrival. All passengers are advised to establish that their individual policies include coverage for Cuba. Passengers who have purchased VJV travel insurance with Europe Assistance do have medical coverage for Cuba (as long as pre-existing medical conditions are declared before travel).
Non UK Passport Holders
Important Note: The procedures and information contained in this booklet apply to UK passport holders. All passports issued on or after 26th October 2005 must contain a digital photo image to enable the holder to travel to the USA visa free. Holders of passports of any other nationality should check with us as entry regulations may differ.
Please Note
It is the passenger's responsibility to ensure that the appropriate documentation is received by the company within the time scale set out in the application requirements letter. Certain embassies apply penalties for processing late visa applications and these charges will be passed on if documents are received late. We strongly recommend that passports be sent by guaranteed post (Recorded Delivery). The issuing of a visa is entirely at the discretion of an embassy or consulate. An application may be declined with no clarification or explanation provided. A visa, transit visa or a visa exemption for a country does not guarantee admission to that country. The final decision rests with the competent authorities at the port of entry in the country concerned.
