Frequently asked questions
Is Portal Checks a government website?
No. Portal Checks is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with any government, and we do not use government logos, flags or seals.
Can I get my money back if I paid an unofficial site?
Sometimes, but it is not guaranteed. Overpriced third-party sites are often not doing anything illegal if they do go on to process your application, which makes a refund harder to claim than for outright fraud. Contact your card issuer promptly and explain that the site presented itself as official; see our guide on what to do for the full steps.
How do I know if an ETA or visa site is legitimate?
Check that the address matches the government portal listed on our country pages, and that the total price is shown clearly before you enter payment details. Reviews on consumer sites have reported unofficial ETA sites hiding the true cost until after payment, and some copy a government logo or crest to look official.
Do you process applications or take payments?
No. We only point you to the official portal, where you apply and pay the government directly. Never pay us for an application.
How do you decide a link is official?
A link is listed when a government site or an embassy notice names it as the official portal, or the address is the government's own. Each entry shows its source. Read more in How we verify.
Why isn't my country listed?
We add countries in batches and check each against government or embassy sources first. Use the feedback form on the home page to ask for one.
Is an ETA the same as a visa?
No. An ETA is a pre-travel authorisation for people who do not need a visa. See our guide to the differences.
Why do fees here differ from other sites?
We show the government fee where we could confirm it and say where we could not. Other sites often add service fees, or show old figures after a fee has changed.
How early should I apply?
It varies. Kenya asks for at least 3 days, Egypt at least seven, and Thailand's arrival card can only be filed within 3 days of arrival. Check the country's page and the portal.
What if I already have an authorisation and get a new passport?
Many authorisations are linked to your passport, including the UK ETA and Egypt's e-visa, so a new passport usually means a new application. Confirm on the portal.
The official portal is down. What should I do?
Wait and retry rather than using an unofficial site. Some portals, such as Egypt's and Tanzania's, have had outages, and governments have published workarounds or guidance during them.
I paid an unofficial site. What now?
Read what to do if you paid an unofficial site.
How does this site make money?
It may show advertising or affiliate links in future. Any such content will be labelled and kept separate from the official links, and our privacy policy and cookie policy will be updated before it happens.
Do you collect my personal data or use cookies?
We do not set cookies or use analytics at the moment, and the link checker runs in your browser. See the privacy policy for details.
How do I report a mistake?
Use the feedback form on the home page or the contact page. We will recheck the entry.