Visa policy of Galvia

The visa policy of Galvia deals with the requirements which a foreign national wishing to enter the Kingdom of Galvia must meet to obtain a, which is a permit to travel to, enter, and remain in the country. Visa exemptions are based on bilateral or multilateral agreements. Galvia has agreements with scores of countries whose citizens are either exempt from visas or can apply for a visa online (e-visa). Citizens of countries without such an agreement with Galvia must obtain a visa in advance from a Galvian diplomatic mission or visa centre. Visas are issued and administered by the Ministry of Immigration and International Development of Galvia.

Foreign citizens, while in the territory of Galvia, must comply with the legislation of Galvia, including requirements of customs, border and immigration regimes, rules of travel finance, registration, internal movement within the territory of Galvia and extensions of stay. Nothing limits the right of competent authorities of Galvia to deny entry or to shorten the period of stay in the territory of Galvia for foreign citizens.

Border-crossing points
There are several border-crossing points scattered across the Galvian international border. Most of these are land crossing points, with only a few exceptions of riverine border-crossing, and are primarily scattered along Galvia's northern border shared with Renesia and Ecoralia. Galvia's southern border is notably almost entirely closed to any form of land and riverine access, with only two exceptions along the border shared with Ochsardvia, and three with Aquizireiki.

The international border, along with all its crossing points, on Galvia's side with Vojandzeka was indefinitely closed down in 2012 following the events of the Kalvatăsz Crisis, and its security increased in January of 2023 due to the Rotewing Dome bombing incident that involved nationals from both nations, as well as Renesia. Although border-crossing restrictions with Renesia were lifted in March of 2023, the Galvian-Vojanak border remains heavily patrolled. The Izlegalian-Galvian border has remained closed down since 2005 following a military. Most sanctions on Izlegal have been since lifted, but border policies have remained unchanged for almost two decades.

Visa exemption
Nationals holding passports of the following jurisdictions may visit Galvia for tourism, business, or medical purposes with varying allowed days of stay, but never to exceed 180 days per year. With the exception of Ecoral and Renesian nationals, all visits for educational, commercial, or employment purposes require a student, commercial or working visa, respectively.

ID – May also enter with an ID card N° – Indicating the days of maximum allowed stay * – Per ONAT conventions on international visa-free travel, Ecoral and Renesian nationals are allowed stay for an indefinite amount of days

Substitute visa
Nationals of any countries for which there is a visa requirement are exempt from it for tourism or business purposes, for up to 25 days, if they are holders of a valid visa for or permanent residence in any of the following countries:

* – Permanent residency only

Visa-free transit
Nationals of any country for which there is a visa requirement travelling into Galvia are only allowed a maximum stay of 12 hours exempt from any visa requirements in the following airports:


 * Kaudze International Airport, Kaudze (IAK)
 * King Leonārs III International Airport, Antonija (KLA)
 * Queen Antonija I International Airport, Aizsargāt (QAA)
 * Queen Tekla International Airport, Uzkrājumi (QTU)
 * Sienal International Airport, Sienal (IAS)
 * Zvanas International Airport, Zvanas (IZN)

The Galvian government reserves the right to shorten the stay period or deny entry altogether, and leaves this policy at the discretion of the airport authorities, who will make a decision based on factors such as the traveller's country of origin, citizenship, nationality, or purpose for travelling.

Visa on arrival
Nationals holding an ordinary passport of the following jurisdictions may obtain a visa on arrival from any of the airport consular offices within Galvia:

Electronic visa
The (eTA) is an automated system used by the Galvian government that determines the eligibility of visitors to enter Galvia under a visa waiver program, which allows nationals of specific countries to travel to Galvia for tourism, business, or while in transit for up to 45 continuous days, and 90 days per year, without having to obtain a visa.

Nationals of the following jurisdictions are eligible for an eTA as of March of 2023:

N° – Indicating the amount of continuous days of maximum allowed stay before needing to acquire a visa.

Visa required before arrival
Nationals from the following jurisdiction can only enter the country with a visa issued directly at any of the offices or  of Galvia, as they are not eligible for visa-free transit, to issue a visa upon arrival, or the Electronic Travel Authorization system:

* – Galvian border authorities reserve the right to deny entry to nationals holders of a passport from this jurisdiction, regardless of visa status.

Visa types
All visas and to enter Galvia are issued by the Department of Immigration and Border Security as part of the Ministry of Immigration and International Development. Depending on the type of visa issued, the Galvian government has resolved to use different mechanism to expedite the document, whether physically or electronically. As of March of 2023, there are 7 types of visas (A-G), each with their own sub-type, with the latest addition being the Visa G2, created in 2017. Galvia has a federal ceiling of 350,000 visas issued annually, and the number may vary per country.

Visas issued upon arrival at any airport consular office have a cost of 200 Galvian tornis (₶), and can only be paid for in the national currency. Electronic visas, or eTAs, have a cost of ₶250 but they can be paid for in the equivalent of its original price using a foreign currency and through online transaction. Visas issued at any Galvian consulate or embassy abroad can range anywhere ₶120 to ₶750, depending on the country where the visa is being issued. The renewal of any visa in a Galvian consular office can cost up to but not more than ₶400 as of January of 2023.

Business and commercial visas
Business and commercial visas (Visa A) may be obtained by those entering the country with the purpose of purchasing, selling, or partaking in any other form of economic and/or commercial business or transaction within Galvia. Depending on the purpose, the government will grant the traveller varying types of visas, with varying terms and conditions, and a maximum allowed days of stay.


 * Visa A1: Issued for those entering the country to purchase from or sell to any Galvian company or individual (declared during the visa application process). Maximum allowed stay: 30 days
 * Visa A2: Issued for those entering the country with the purpose of looking for employment within Galvia. Visas A2 allow for a maximum stay of up to 90 days on the condition that the applicant enters the country with an amount of money equivalent to the minimum necessary to afford the lowest living standard. As of March of 2023, this amount is of ₶3,500 per month.

Tourist visas
Tourist visas (Visa B) are the most commonly issued visas, at nearly 175,000 expedited annually. They can only be obtained upon arrival by nationals of a handful of selected countries, and are issued for travellers looking to enter Galvia for leisure purposes or as part of a layover.


 * Visa B1: Also referred to as Transit visa, they are issued for nationals of any country for which there is a visa requirement that need to do a layover as part of a longer long-haul flight. They have a duration of up to 2 days (48 hours) but do not grant the applicant permission to leave the airport if not for medical or legal emergencies. They have a cost of ₶25 per hour spent at the airport.
 * Visa B2: Simply referred to as Tourist visas, they are issued for foreign nationals looking to stay past their maximum allowed of visa-free days as a tourist. They have a maximum duration of 180 days, and a cost of ₶1,000.

Nationals bearing passports from the following countries are exempt from needing Visas type B: Renesia and  Ecoralia

The maximum allowed stay for nationals applying for a Visa B2 and bearing passports from the following nations is shorter (30 days), with a possibility of or denied entry at the government's discretion:

Student and working visas
Student and working visas (Visa C) may be obtained by foreign nationals looking to enroll in a Galvian, be employed or do research work in Galvia for an extended period of time. Renesian and Ecoral nationals are exempt from requiring a visa to study or work in Galvia, and may enter and remain in the country for the duration of their studies or employment with simply an or.


 * Visa C1: Simply referred to as a student visa. Visas type C1 are issued for foreign nationals looking to carry out their studies in any Galvian institution, and may only be granted after the institution has accepted the applicant. Student visas have a cost of ₶30, making them the most financially accessible visas, however, all international students must pay an annual fee, that can range from ₶1,000 to 7,500, to the institution they choose to attend. Visas C1 last for as long as the applicant remains enrolled in the academic institution declared during the visa application process.

For nationals of the following member states of the Alutran Cultural Community this visa is free of cost, however, they are not exempt from the academic fees:

As of March of 2023, all carriers of a Vojanak passport or citizenship are non-eligible for a student visa.


 * Visa C2: Working visas are issued for foreign nationals entering Galvia with a job offering and a sponsor. A visa sponsor is the person legally responsible for their foreign employer. Sponsors legally attest for applicants, and can be subject to a fine of up to ₶500,000 (in certain cases, ) in the event the applicant is in any way legally penalized. Working visas have a cost raging from ₶450 to ₶850 that can vary depending on the country from which the visa is being requested, and last 365 days. The renewal of working visas is less costly, at ₶150, and employers on working visas are legally protected from being fired before their visa has expired and without less than a month's notice. If a working visa carrier is fired, they are allowed to renew their visa for an extra 3 months, free of charge, if they wish to continue seeking work in Galvia.

Nationals from the following countries are non-eligible for working visas:

* – Exceptions may be made if the applicant is also carrier of a Visa F1 (Refugee visa)


 * Visa C3: Research visas. Visas type C3 are issued for people with scientific or medical permits looking to undergo any form of scientific research (either solo or hired by a research institution within Galvia) in the country. These visas are granted on two special conditions:
 * If hired by a Galvian-based research institution of any type, all work must be submitted to the institution via monthly reports;
 * If the applicant is entering the country to do solo research, they must undergo inspection and submit copies of 85% of their work before exiting the country

Research visas have a cost of ₶600 and their duration will depend on whether or not the applicant is hired by a research institution. For those doing solo work, the visa's maximum duration is of 180 days.

Diplomatic and military visas
Diplomatic and military visas (Visa D) are issued for employers of any foreign diplomatic mission in Galvia, consular workers, ambassadors, or foreign off-duty military personnel. Type D visas can be accessed on the condition that a Galvian diplomatic mission to the home country of the applicant exists, and vice-versa. As of 2023, only diplomatic visits from Izlegal and  Vojandzeka are not permitted.


 * Visa D1: Issued for foreign consular workers and ambassadors. Visas type D1 are free of charge and last until the end of the diplomatic visit.
 * Visa D2: Issued for foreign military personnel. Visas type D2 have a cost of ₶325 and may only be obtained by off-duty military. Holders of a D2 visa are legally required, if applicable, to report all weapons upon entry and surrender them to the border security offices to be returned during exit. Trying to enter or exit Galvia with any banned weapon (at the discretion of the Ministry of Immigration and International Development) is considered illegal and will be judged at a military tribunal.

As of 2023, military personnel from the following countries are non-eligible for a visa:

Official visas
Official visas (Visa E) are only expedited for foreign, , royalty, and religious leaders. Despite being referred to as visas, they are issued differently than those for other categories. Visas type E aren't a page attached to the physical passport, but instead a seal, similar to entry and exit stamps on regular passports, to testify to the official's arrival in Galvia and eventual departure. Official visas aren't subcategorized, are free of charge, and have no expiration. Holders of visas type E can only be invited into and removed from the country at the request of the Galvian head of state or government. Only holders of passports from Lower Tar-dinuu are ineligible for a visa type E.

Refugee and humanitarian visas
Refugee and humanitarian visas (Visa F) are issued for foreign nationals that might be eligible under the status of "refugee" or "humanitarian worker", based on the criteria published by the Ministry of Immigration and International Development. They are free of cost and their duration might vary depending on the subcategory and the necessities of the visa applicant.


 * Visa F1: Refugee visa. This visa is free of charge and its duration is undetermined and varies from person to person, depending on their application. As of March of 2023, foreign nationals from these jurisdictions are eligible for a refugee visa, regardless on whether or not they meet the necessary criteria:

According to the Ministry of Immigration and International Development, foreign citizens might be considered asylum seekers and approved for a Visa F1 if:
 * They find themselves as subject of direct persecution in their home country for political, racial, religious, or cultural reasons;
 * They are nationals of a country categorized as being under a (by World Forum standards);
 * More than 45% of the population of their home country is categorized as living in ;
 * More than 65% of the population of their home country is categorized as living in ;
 * Or they are victims to rapid effects.

In all of these cases applicants under the age of 18 are immediately approved for a visa, regardless of nationality, whereas those 18 years old and over are approved or denied at the discretion of the Department of Immigration and Border Security.


 * Visa F2: Humanitarian visas are issued for foreign nationals that qualify as a "humanitarian worker". This categorization includes: all World Forum humanitarian assistance workers (with the exception of peackeepers, who are only eligible for Visas D2), non-profit sanitary and health workers of an, non-profit environmental activists part of an NGO, non-profit academic workers and volunteers, and non-profit legal workers and volunteers (such as attorneys specialized in international law, translators, and interpreters). Humanitarian visas are free of cost and have a maximum duration of 365 days, after which they can only be renewed at a cost of ₶220.

Cultural visa
Cultural visas (Visa G) are expedited for workers of the entertainment industry. They have a cost of ₶500, and a fee of up to 5% of all produced revenue made while in Galvia, and can be divided into two sub-categories:


 * Visa G1: Issued for anyone qualified as part of the (singers, dancers, theatre performers, stage managers, etc.) or  (actors and actresses, film directors, producers, etc.), as well as writers, journalists and artists seeking to exercise their profession in Galvia, either temporarily or for an extended period of time. They allow for a maximum stay of 365 days and their renewal is of ₶350.
 * For musicians touring through Galvia, a fee of 3.5% of the produced revenue from total ticket and merchandise sales while in the country is mandatory.


 * Visa G2: Also referred to as Sport visas, they are issued for all athletes or coaches of foreign nationalities entering Galvia to compete for either an isolated game or a series of games within a continuous sports tournament. Their duration is of up to 3 days after the last match or event the athlete is scheduled for, according to their visa application.
 * The sports team playing in Galvia must pay a fee of 5% of the produced revenue for total ticket and merchandise sales while in the country.

Nationals from any Grand Martial Championship Association (GMCA) member state are exempt from requiring a Visa G2:

Denied entry
Entry into Galvia might be denied at the discretion of the Department of Immigration and Border Security based on specific criteria. If those barred from entry are found within the country, the government reserves the right to fine, deport, emprision, or execute the offender.

Terrorism
Foreign nationals identified as "" by the Galvian government or the World Forum are immediately prohibited from entering the country, regardless of nationality. Depending on their nationality, they might be deported to their home country or brought before a Galvian criminal court.

International crime
Foreign nationals identified as "wanted criminals" by any other country or the World Forum are immediately prohibited from entering Galvia, regardless of nationality. As of March of 2023, the Galvian government reserves the right to judge international criminals find within Galvian territory by their own federal criminal courts. However, Galvia holds mutual agreements to deport criminals native to the following jurisdictions:

Nationality
Although the Galvian government does not deny entry explicitly based on nationality of visa applicants, nationals from the following jurisdictions have a statistically higher chance of being rejected from obtaining any visa to enter Galvia (specific individual cases might vary):

Illegal border-crossing
Though considered a federal crime, illegally crossing into Galvia might be permitted at the discretion of the Department of Immigration and Border Security depending on factors such as the offender's age, nationality, motive for entry, point of entry, family, health and financial status. Most cases of illegal border-crossing result in a fine of up to ₶200 and deportation, with the exception of nationals crossing into Galvia from Izlegal or  Vojandzeka, all of whom are to be tried at a federal court of law.