A tourist visa is a short-term travel authorization that allows individuals to visit a foreign country for leisure, sightseeing, family visits, or holidays, and it strictly prohibits work, business activities, or long-term study. Generally, applicants must have a valid passport (usually with at least six months’ validity), a completed visa application, recent passport-size photographs, a travel itinerary, hotel reservations or accommodation proof, and return or onward travel tickets. Most countries also require proof of sufficient funds to cover expenses during the stay and evidence of strong ties to the home country such as employment, business ownership, property, or family connections to ensure return after the visit. Additional requirements may include travel or medical insurance, a sponsor or invitation letter (if staying with relatives or friends), and biometric data. Tourist visas are typically issued for short stays (often 14–90 days), may be single or multiple entry, and overstaying or violating visa conditions can lead to fines, deportation, or future visa refusal, so travelers should always follow the rules and confirm details with the destination country’s embassy or immigration authority before traveling.