Travel Documentation
 

For anyone who may have visa queries

http://www.tdoc-icts.com/

IATA also have an excellent website with information on passport and visa requirements, health regulations as well as customs and airport information

IATA - Personalised Passport, Visa & Health travel documentation advice

I had a look but you have to fill out too much personal information before you get any results. The other one's a lot simpler to use especially if you're as thick as me.:)

I wouldn't agree. The only 'personal' information you need to plug in is everything you find on your passport - its expiry date, where you were born, where it was issued and where you are resident (its only a couple more bits than you need to put into the other site) - and as a result you get a very accurate and detailed summary of what you need visa/passport wise.

Whilst the site you found is good as a summary, when travelling internationally you can never be too safe when checking document requirements and aside from the individual governments, who better to provide that information than IATA?

Goodness me I wonder who you work for? Sounded like a bit of an advert there. :ok:

I don't work for IATA - just a lowly pax. I'm just expressing my opinion based on my past usage of that site

Okay then the t-doc one's free and it has an open forum where you can request advice from fellow lowly pax or whoever administrates the site.
Me also being lowly can't afford the $25 or whatever they're asking
Cheap and cheerful can't beat it.

The IATA Travel Centre is free to use... You just select your destination from the menu top left and click the Passport, visa and heath advice button and then you're on the next page, asking for a few more details before giving you the information.

I'm a total plank and the t-doc one's easier to use.:ugh:
I would appreciate anyone elses advice on which is the easier to use, gives reliable information and the cheapest.

It's a judgement
 

I'd say it depends on what you need. The IATA site is free, unless you don't want to reenter your passport details each and every time. You can pay $25 and avoid this.

I do know that IATA's data source is the same source used by the TIM and TIMatic (used by most airlines and GDSs). I don't know where the other site gets their info.

Results of my test: IATA 2 - TDOC 1
 

Well, I just tested them both out, with a real-life scenario. I'm an Australian passport holder, resident in Switzerland. I'm travelling to Saudi Arabia on business next week.

The IATA site asks for more details, so takes a bit longer. The TDOC site is simple and quick - but in this case gives the wrong answer, as it fails to take into account the fact that I am resident in a country other than that of my nationality. This may affect visa requirements for the destination country, and certainly affects visa requirements for the return trip.

Both sites correctly tell me I need a visa for Saudi Arabia (so 1 point each). TDOC incorrectly tells me I also need a visa to return to Switzerland if I intend to stay more than 3 months. IATA has already asked me if I have a residence permit, so knows I don't need a visa for re-entry (1 point).

So I think the TDOC site is handy and quick for those in straightforward circumstances - but then those in straightforward circumstances are less likely to need advice in the first place. If there's anything remotely complicated in the situation, I would go for the IATA site.

A case that seems not to be catered for is being resident in more than one country (which is possible).

T-DOC Website Results of test.
 

*****Many thanks for the comments regarding the ICTS T-DOC site, we have taken these comments on board and will update the site accordingly. We will inform you once these fixes have been implemented and would then appreciate your comments.******

Hoorah :D:D

erm..... mines bigger then yours??

votre bouche L'Aviateur

Just one question
 

Does anyone know where T-DOC gets their data from?

As I mention above IATA uses the same data as that used for the TIM/TIMatic (IATA is now the publisher of these as well). Meaning that a punter should get the same answer as the check-in agent behind the counter.

I'm guessing that IATA's (or TIM's) data source is their 250-odd member airlines.

ExXB you could ask on the Travelwise forum they have on the TDoc site or maybe IESJAS1 will answer you as he seems to work for them.

T-DOC
 

We receive our information from a number of sources including Government departments, Embassies, Law enforcement Authorities, our Airline customers and our extensive airport operational staff.

I would also like to highlight a function we have on T-Doc.

If you find that T-DOC gives you an alert to insufficient documentation,the site will then give you a link to the correct countries website to guide you in the right direction to solving your documentation problem.

Thanks for the information.