This is a guide on common visa categories based on purpose of travel to top destinations like the US, Canada, UK, Schengen Area, Australia, and more.
It is important to know the type of visa you’ll need to apply for, based on the purpose for your travel. To know this, you must first familiarise yourself with the various types of visas.
Applying for the wrong type of visa or purpose for travel could cost you your visa issuance.Leonce Angela
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of common visa categories by purpose, including examples from popular countries like the U.S., UK, Canada, Schengen Area, Australia, and more:
🌍 1. Tourist/Visitor Visa
- Purpose: Leisure, sightseeing, visiting friends/family.
- Examples:
- USA: B-2 Visa
- UK: Standard Visitor Visa
- Schengen Area (Europe): Schengen Type C Visa
- Canada: Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa – TRV)
- Australia: Visitor Visa (subclass 600)
💼 2. Business Visa
- Purpose: Attending meetings, conferences, training; exploring business opportunities.
- Examples:
- USA: B-1 Visa
- UK: Business Visitor (part of Standard Visitor Visa)
- Canada: Business Visitor Visa
- Australia: Business Visitor stream (subclass 600)
- Schengen Area: Short-stay Schengen Visa for Business
✈️ 3. Transit Visa
- Purpose: Transit through a country to reach another destination.
- Examples:
- USA: C Visa
- UK: Transit Visa
- Schengen: Airport Transit Visa (Type A)
- Canada: Transit Visa
- Australia: Transit Visa (subclass 771)
🎓 4. Student Visa / Study visa
- Purpose: Academic or vocational study.
- Examples:
- USA: F-1 Visa (academic), M-1 Visa (vocational)
- UK: Student Visa (Tier 4 replaced)
- Canada: Study Permit
- Australia: Student Visa (subclass 500)
- Schengen Area: National Visa (Type D) for study
👷 5. Work Visa / Temporal Work Permit
- Purpose: Employment in the host country.
- Examples:
- USA: H-1B (skilled workers), L-1 (intra-company transfer), O (extraordinary ability)
- UK: Skilled Worker Visa, Global Talent Visa
- Canada: Work Permit (through LMIA or open work permits)
- Australia: Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482)
- Schengen Area: Long-stay (Type D) national work visas
🌏 6. Working Holiday Visa
- Purpose: Combine travel with temporary work (for young adults).
- Examples:
- Australia: Working Holiday (subclass 417)
- Canada: International Experience Canada (IEC)
- New Zealand: Working Holiday Visa
- UK: Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
- Japan & South Korea: Similar programs for select nationalities
❤️ 7. Family / Spouse / Partner Visa
- Purpose: Joining or living with family members or spouses.
- Examples:
- USA: K-1 (Fiancé), IR-1/CR-1 (Spouse), K-3 (Spouse waiting for immigrant petition)
- UK: Spouse/Partner Visa, Family Reunion
- Canada: Family Sponsorship Visa
- Australia: Partner Visa (subclasses 820/801 or 309/100)
- Schengen Area: Family Reunification Visa (national Type D)
🛂 8. Immigrant Visa / Permanent Residency
- Purpose: To settle and live permanently.
- Examples:
- USA: Green Card (via family, employment, lottery)
- Canada: Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class)
- Australia: Permanent Skilled Migration (subclasses 189, 190)
- UK: Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after certain visas
- EU Countries: Long-term residence permit or permanent residency
🕊️ 9. Asylum / Refugee Visa
- Purpose: Protection for those fleeing persecution/conflict.
- Examples:
- USA: Asylum (affirmative or defensive), Refugee Visa
- Canada: Refugee Protection Claim, Resettlement
- UK: Asylum claim or Humanitarian Protection
- EU: Asylum under Dublin Regulation
- Australia: Protection Visa (subclass 866)
🏛️ 10. Diplomatic / Official Visa
- Purpose: For diplomats and government representatives.
- Examples:
- USA: A-1, A-2, G series
- UK: Diplomatic Visa
- Canada: Official Visa
- Australia: Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (subclass 403)
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