How this Visa Requirement Helper works (and how to use it)

Think of visa planning as a documentation project, not a single yes/no question. Most travel stress comes from not knowing what to verify (or when). This tool solves that by generating: (1) a structured checklist, (2) a simple readiness summary, and (3) a prep timeline based on your inputs. It’s designed to be quick enough for everyday use, but detailed enough to prevent the most common “airport surprises”.

• Creates a document checklist that fits your scenario: tourism vs business vs study/work vs transit.
• Flags passport validity risk (many destinations expect ~6 months validity at entry, sometimes more).
• Adds transit reminders when you connect through another country (transit visa rules can be different).
• Generates a Visa Stress Score so you can quickly sense whether this trip is “easy” or “needs planning”.
• Builds a timeline so you know what to check today vs later.

• It does not claim official visa eligibility or real-time rules.
• It does not fetch embassy databases or airline systems.
• It does not replace government/consular advice.

That’s intentional. Official rules change often and differ by passport type, residency, prior travel, and routing. A “checklist-first” approach is more evergreen and still extremely useful: it tells you what to confirm and prepares you with the typical documents border control asks for.

The score is a planning difficulty estimate, not a “visa approval probability”. It combines multiple factors into a 0–100 scale:

• Destination complexity (0–35): some destinations are typically paperwork-heavy (more forms, appointments, biometrics, longer timelines).
• Purpose complexity (0–25): tourism is often simpler; study/work often requires more proof and longer processing.
• Trip length (0–15): longer stays tend to trigger more requirements or different visa types.
• Transit risk (0–10): transiting can introduce additional rules, even if your destination is straightforward.
• Passport validity risk (0–15): if your passport is near expiry, your “stress” increases because it can block boarding or entry.

In the code, these are converted into a single number and clipped to 0–100. The result is a quick “how careful should I be?” indicator. A score of 20 doesn’t mean “no visa needed” — it means “planning is likely simpler”. A score of 80 means “start early, verify everything, and don’t assume.”

• Example A: Tourism, 7 days, no transit, passport valid 2+ years → usually low/moderate stress. You’ll still get a checklist: passport, proof of onward travel, lodging, travel insurance suggestion, and “confirm visa/ETA rules”.
• Example B: Business trip, 14 days, transit = yes, passport expires in 5 months → stress jumps. Your checklist will strongly emphasize passport validity, transit visa checks, and proof documents.
• Example C: Study/work, 90+ days → high stress by design. Long-stay visas often require extra documents: admission/work letters, proof of funds, background checks, and appointments.

• Step 1: Use the checklist as your “to verify” list, then confirm requirements on official sources for your nationality + destination.
• Step 2: Use the timeline to decide when to apply or renew documents.
• Step 3: Screenshot the result and share it with your travel companions so everyone is aligned.
• Step 4: Save your result for later (stored locally on your device).

Bottom line: this is the fastest way to turn “Do I need a visa?” into an organized plan you can execute. That’s the real travel superpower.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this an official visa checker?

  No. It’s a planning helper that generates a checklist and timeline. Always confirm requirements using official government/embassy sources.

• Why does passport validity matter so much?

  Many destinations (and airlines) require your passport to be valid for a minimum period at entry (often around 6 months). If you’re close to expiry, renewing can be the difference between traveling and getting denied boarding.

• What if I’m transiting through another country?

  Transit can introduce extra rules. Some airports/countries require a transit visa depending on nationality, route, terminal changes, or whether you pass immigration. This tool reminds you to verify that before you fly.

• Does the Visa Stress Score mean my visa will be approved?

  No. It measures planning complexity and “how early you should start” — not your approval chances.

• Can I save multiple trips?

  Yes. Use “Save Result” to store recent trips on this device (local storage). It won’t sync across devices.