After hastily throwing together a trip to India & Sri Lanka prompted by last week’s US Airways promo I have now turned my attention to the formalities.  Both countries require visas of Australians, Americans, Canadians and most Europeans.   A full list can be found on the new story.  HT:  The Wandering Aramean

I spent this morning filling out applications for me and my husband.  Sri Lanka was easy.  A short application that was approved less than 5 minutes after submitting it.  The approval went to my spam folder but I eventually found it.

India is more difficult.  This isn’t our first trip but the visas Australians get a visa valid for 6 months, double entry and there must be a gap of 2 months between entries.  Our last visa issued and used in 2011 was long expired.  I filled out the apps for both of us, uploaded passport photos and printed it out.  India wants to know EVERYTHING about us, our parents, religion, employment, what countries we’ve been in the last 10 years –  I ran out of room!  Thankfully there is an Indian visa centre in Brisbane so we don’t have to mail our passports off.

So my prediction of when this new visa on arrival will happen?  The day after I lodge our visa applications and pay the fee!