Can I safely wait in the transit area of a destination airport for my visa to be approved?











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If I've got a flight booked to a country that requires an e-visa for entry (say Brazil, for example), and my visa hasn't been processed yet, but will most likely be processed within 24 hours of my flight's arrival, is it safe to board my flight, and then just wait in the transit area of the airport until my visa is approved? Or could I get in trouble for even arriving at the airport without a visa?



Would it be helpful to buy a cheap onward ticket for the next day, just in case I get asked any questions about why I'm waiting around in the airport?



Note: I'm making a few assumptions like 1) the airline doesn't check if I have a visa and I'm able to board the flight 2) the visa will be approved 3) I am flying with only carry-on bags 4) I already have an international SIM in my phone 5) if the visa isn't approved for any reason, I could just buy an onward flight to somewhere else.










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    up vote
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    down vote

    favorite












    If I've got a flight booked to a country that requires an e-visa for entry (say Brazil, for example), and my visa hasn't been processed yet, but will most likely be processed within 24 hours of my flight's arrival, is it safe to board my flight, and then just wait in the transit area of the airport until my visa is approved? Or could I get in trouble for even arriving at the airport without a visa?



    Would it be helpful to buy a cheap onward ticket for the next day, just in case I get asked any questions about why I'm waiting around in the airport?



    Note: I'm making a few assumptions like 1) the airline doesn't check if I have a visa and I'm able to board the flight 2) the visa will be approved 3) I am flying with only carry-on bags 4) I already have an international SIM in my phone 5) if the visa isn't approved for any reason, I could just buy an onward flight to somewhere else.










    share|improve this question


























      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      If I've got a flight booked to a country that requires an e-visa for entry (say Brazil, for example), and my visa hasn't been processed yet, but will most likely be processed within 24 hours of my flight's arrival, is it safe to board my flight, and then just wait in the transit area of the airport until my visa is approved? Or could I get in trouble for even arriving at the airport without a visa?



      Would it be helpful to buy a cheap onward ticket for the next day, just in case I get asked any questions about why I'm waiting around in the airport?



      Note: I'm making a few assumptions like 1) the airline doesn't check if I have a visa and I'm able to board the flight 2) the visa will be approved 3) I am flying with only carry-on bags 4) I already have an international SIM in my phone 5) if the visa isn't approved for any reason, I could just buy an onward flight to somewhere else.










      share|improve this question















      If I've got a flight booked to a country that requires an e-visa for entry (say Brazil, for example), and my visa hasn't been processed yet, but will most likely be processed within 24 hours of my flight's arrival, is it safe to board my flight, and then just wait in the transit area of the airport until my visa is approved? Or could I get in trouble for even arriving at the airport without a visa?



      Would it be helpful to buy a cheap onward ticket for the next day, just in case I get asked any questions about why I'm waiting around in the airport?



      Note: I'm making a few assumptions like 1) the airline doesn't check if I have a visa and I'm able to board the flight 2) the visa will be approved 3) I am flying with only carry-on bags 4) I already have an international SIM in my phone 5) if the visa isn't approved for any reason, I could just buy an onward flight to somewhere else.







      visas transit transit-visas






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      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 1 hour ago

























      asked 1 hour ago









      Jo Sprague

      25118




      25118






















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          You won't get in trouble for arriving at the airport without a visa. Instead, the airline you're flying won't let you on the plane to depart in the first place. They can check the status of electronic visas at the time you check in. They do this because the airline is responsible for transporting you back out of the country if you are refused entry. If you don't have a valid visa, and you need one, you will be refused.






          share|improve this answer





















          • I'm flying from a country that doesn't need a visa to enter Brazil, so I have a feeling they might not be checking. But if they are checking, I think buying a refundable onward flight might work.
            – Jo Sprague
            1 hour ago






          • 2




            The airline will generally use a database of visa requirements (e.g. Timatic) and will determine what documents you require based on the passport you present. So if you present a passport that requires a visa to enter Brazil, they will know you require a visa, regardless of what country you're flying from. This is generally built into the airline's IT system and is not simply something they may forget to do.
            – Zach Lipton
            56 mins ago






          • 1




            Buying an additional refundable flight out of Brazil wouldn't work either, because Timatic will tell them that you can only transit without a visa if you have "a connecting flight booked on the same ticket in transit." As stated on a Brazilian government site, you need a transit visa if you have separate airline tickets in Brazil.
            – Zach Lipton
            53 mins ago












          • @ZachLipton why don't you combine your comments into an answer; it responds and expands on Greg's (and ping me so I can upvote, and delete this comment).
            – Giorgio
            33 mins ago













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          1 Answer
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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

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          active

          oldest

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          active

          oldest

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          up vote
          5
          down vote













          You won't get in trouble for arriving at the airport without a visa. Instead, the airline you're flying won't let you on the plane to depart in the first place. They can check the status of electronic visas at the time you check in. They do this because the airline is responsible for transporting you back out of the country if you are refused entry. If you don't have a valid visa, and you need one, you will be refused.






          share|improve this answer





















          • I'm flying from a country that doesn't need a visa to enter Brazil, so I have a feeling they might not be checking. But if they are checking, I think buying a refundable onward flight might work.
            – Jo Sprague
            1 hour ago






          • 2




            The airline will generally use a database of visa requirements (e.g. Timatic) and will determine what documents you require based on the passport you present. So if you present a passport that requires a visa to enter Brazil, they will know you require a visa, regardless of what country you're flying from. This is generally built into the airline's IT system and is not simply something they may forget to do.
            – Zach Lipton
            56 mins ago






          • 1




            Buying an additional refundable flight out of Brazil wouldn't work either, because Timatic will tell them that you can only transit without a visa if you have "a connecting flight booked on the same ticket in transit." As stated on a Brazilian government site, you need a transit visa if you have separate airline tickets in Brazil.
            – Zach Lipton
            53 mins ago












          • @ZachLipton why don't you combine your comments into an answer; it responds and expands on Greg's (and ping me so I can upvote, and delete this comment).
            – Giorgio
            33 mins ago

















          up vote
          5
          down vote













          You won't get in trouble for arriving at the airport without a visa. Instead, the airline you're flying won't let you on the plane to depart in the first place. They can check the status of electronic visas at the time you check in. They do this because the airline is responsible for transporting you back out of the country if you are refused entry. If you don't have a valid visa, and you need one, you will be refused.






          share|improve this answer





















          • I'm flying from a country that doesn't need a visa to enter Brazil, so I have a feeling they might not be checking. But if they are checking, I think buying a refundable onward flight might work.
            – Jo Sprague
            1 hour ago






          • 2




            The airline will generally use a database of visa requirements (e.g. Timatic) and will determine what documents you require based on the passport you present. So if you present a passport that requires a visa to enter Brazil, they will know you require a visa, regardless of what country you're flying from. This is generally built into the airline's IT system and is not simply something they may forget to do.
            – Zach Lipton
            56 mins ago






          • 1




            Buying an additional refundable flight out of Brazil wouldn't work either, because Timatic will tell them that you can only transit without a visa if you have "a connecting flight booked on the same ticket in transit." As stated on a Brazilian government site, you need a transit visa if you have separate airline tickets in Brazil.
            – Zach Lipton
            53 mins ago












          • @ZachLipton why don't you combine your comments into an answer; it responds and expands on Greg's (and ping me so I can upvote, and delete this comment).
            – Giorgio
            33 mins ago















          up vote
          5
          down vote










          up vote
          5
          down vote









          You won't get in trouble for arriving at the airport without a visa. Instead, the airline you're flying won't let you on the plane to depart in the first place. They can check the status of electronic visas at the time you check in. They do this because the airline is responsible for transporting you back out of the country if you are refused entry. If you don't have a valid visa, and you need one, you will be refused.






          share|improve this answer












          You won't get in trouble for arriving at the airport without a visa. Instead, the airline you're flying won't let you on the plane to depart in the first place. They can check the status of electronic visas at the time you check in. They do this because the airline is responsible for transporting you back out of the country if you are refused entry. If you don't have a valid visa, and you need one, you will be refused.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 1 hour ago









          Greg Hewgill

          24.5k16494




          24.5k16494












          • I'm flying from a country that doesn't need a visa to enter Brazil, so I have a feeling they might not be checking. But if they are checking, I think buying a refundable onward flight might work.
            – Jo Sprague
            1 hour ago






          • 2




            The airline will generally use a database of visa requirements (e.g. Timatic) and will determine what documents you require based on the passport you present. So if you present a passport that requires a visa to enter Brazil, they will know you require a visa, regardless of what country you're flying from. This is generally built into the airline's IT system and is not simply something they may forget to do.
            – Zach Lipton
            56 mins ago






          • 1




            Buying an additional refundable flight out of Brazil wouldn't work either, because Timatic will tell them that you can only transit without a visa if you have "a connecting flight booked on the same ticket in transit." As stated on a Brazilian government site, you need a transit visa if you have separate airline tickets in Brazil.
            – Zach Lipton
            53 mins ago












          • @ZachLipton why don't you combine your comments into an answer; it responds and expands on Greg's (and ping me so I can upvote, and delete this comment).
            – Giorgio
            33 mins ago




















          • I'm flying from a country that doesn't need a visa to enter Brazil, so I have a feeling they might not be checking. But if they are checking, I think buying a refundable onward flight might work.
            – Jo Sprague
            1 hour ago






          • 2




            The airline will generally use a database of visa requirements (e.g. Timatic) and will determine what documents you require based on the passport you present. So if you present a passport that requires a visa to enter Brazil, they will know you require a visa, regardless of what country you're flying from. This is generally built into the airline's IT system and is not simply something they may forget to do.
            – Zach Lipton
            56 mins ago






          • 1




            Buying an additional refundable flight out of Brazil wouldn't work either, because Timatic will tell them that you can only transit without a visa if you have "a connecting flight booked on the same ticket in transit." As stated on a Brazilian government site, you need a transit visa if you have separate airline tickets in Brazil.
            – Zach Lipton
            53 mins ago












          • @ZachLipton why don't you combine your comments into an answer; it responds and expands on Greg's (and ping me so I can upvote, and delete this comment).
            – Giorgio
            33 mins ago


















          I'm flying from a country that doesn't need a visa to enter Brazil, so I have a feeling they might not be checking. But if they are checking, I think buying a refundable onward flight might work.
          – Jo Sprague
          1 hour ago




          I'm flying from a country that doesn't need a visa to enter Brazil, so I have a feeling they might not be checking. But if they are checking, I think buying a refundable onward flight might work.
          – Jo Sprague
          1 hour ago




          2




          2




          The airline will generally use a database of visa requirements (e.g. Timatic) and will determine what documents you require based on the passport you present. So if you present a passport that requires a visa to enter Brazil, they will know you require a visa, regardless of what country you're flying from. This is generally built into the airline's IT system and is not simply something they may forget to do.
          – Zach Lipton
          56 mins ago




          The airline will generally use a database of visa requirements (e.g. Timatic) and will determine what documents you require based on the passport you present. So if you present a passport that requires a visa to enter Brazil, they will know you require a visa, regardless of what country you're flying from. This is generally built into the airline's IT system and is not simply something they may forget to do.
          – Zach Lipton
          56 mins ago




          1




          1




          Buying an additional refundable flight out of Brazil wouldn't work either, because Timatic will tell them that you can only transit without a visa if you have "a connecting flight booked on the same ticket in transit." As stated on a Brazilian government site, you need a transit visa if you have separate airline tickets in Brazil.
          – Zach Lipton
          53 mins ago






          Buying an additional refundable flight out of Brazil wouldn't work either, because Timatic will tell them that you can only transit without a visa if you have "a connecting flight booked on the same ticket in transit." As stated on a Brazilian government site, you need a transit visa if you have separate airline tickets in Brazil.
          – Zach Lipton
          53 mins ago














          @ZachLipton why don't you combine your comments into an answer; it responds and expands on Greg's (and ping me so I can upvote, and delete this comment).
          – Giorgio
          33 mins ago






          @ZachLipton why don't you combine your comments into an answer; it responds and expands on Greg's (and ping me so I can upvote, and delete this comment).
          – Giorgio
          33 mins ago




















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