Travel and Tourist Information

Useful information for all visitors to the Mekharian Empire

Introduction The Mekharian Empire is one of the safest and most popular nations for tourism and travel and welcomes millions of foreign visitors from all over Terra every year. However, visiting the Mekharian Empire may not be as easy as you think, and your safety may depend upon the information in this guide. If you are planning to visit the Mekharian Empire for any reason then reading this guide will tell you everything you need to know.
Planning Before traveling to the Mekharian Empire it is advisable to plan your journey well in advance, not least because this will help you avoid the embarrassment and expense of being turned away at border control. While fines for not having the correct documentation are not extortionate, those for smuggling illegal contraband are hefty and can come with a lengthy stop over in a Mekharian prison. So here are some things to remember when planning your visit.
Transport There are many ways that you can travel to the Mekharian Empire. By land you may arrive by road in an automobile, motorbike, by coach or on foot. You can also travel by train on one of the many railway lines that pass into the Mekharian Empire. By sea you can arrive by boat or in your private yacht. As many as thirty international Cruise ships dock in the Mekharian Empire every day, and this is a very popular way to see all that the Mekharian coastline and its islands have to offer. Of course you can also arrive by air, with thousands of international airlines chartered to airports in the Mekharian Empire at all times of the year. Mekharia boasts some of the busiest sectors of airspace in the world. However, you decide to travel to the Mekharian Empire though, be sure to book in advance.
Visa Most nations of Terra require you to acquire a Visa before traveling, and in this the Mekharian Empire is no different. Visas can be purchased from any Mekharian Embassy or online at visitmekharia.mek/visa. It is advisable to order your Visa no later than 6 weeks in advance of your journey as it can take up to 28 days for your Visa to arrive. The application requires you to provide a standard passport size photograph, personal contact details, medical history, a designated next of kin and your bank account details. You will also need to provide details of your transport and accommodation arrangements prior to ordering your Visa.
There are several types of Visa available, depending on the nature of your visit and the length of time you wish to stay. It is possible in some circumstances to procure a Visa to stay in the Mekharian Empire for up to a year and work permits may also be requested. It is important to purchase the correct Visa to avoid the risk of premature deportation.. The shortest tourist Visa available lasts for one month, thus allowing for travel complications. After applying for your Visa, you will receive your Mekharian Identity Card. More about this will be explained later.
Accommodation As stated above, when planning your journey to the Mekharian Empire it is necessary to prove where you are staying in the Mekharian Empire when you apply for your Visa, so if you are staying in a hotel, hostel, holiday park or at a campsite, make sure you book it early. If you plan to stay with friends or relatives, or are staying in any other form of private accommodation, then it may be necessary to provide the address and contact details of a sponsor for your visit. This must be a Mekharian citizen and have a permanent address within the Mekharian Empire. However, if you are planning to stay in multiple locations during your visit, or are only planning to travel through the Mekharian Empire en-route to other destinations, it is only necessary to provide the first location at which you are planning to stay upon arrival, wherein this location must be reached within 48 hours of arriving in the the Mekharian Empire. There is no need to provide any further accommodation details when applying for your Visa.
Luggage Whatever your transport and accommodation plans are, it is important to check your baggage allowances. Some forms of travel may restrict the amount of luggage you may take with you and the size and shape of any baggage. Flying or traveling by coach are considered the most restrictive, while private vehicles or vessels allow more freedom. Make sure to confirm any restrictions before departing. Furthermore, it is imperative to check the list of illegal and contraband items that may not be carried into the Mekharian Empire. A current list of these items is available at visitmekharia.mek/contraband, you will also find some more information below.
Health It is always advisable to check with your doctor before traveling to the Mekharian Empire. You will need to provide accurate medical details when completing your Visa application, and you may require vaccinations and additional medication before arriving in the Mekharian Empire. Details of which vaccinations you will require are included below. Furthermore, due to the Mekharian Empire's equatorial climate, during certain times of the year you may be subjected to high levels of ultraviolet sunlight for long periods of the day, and extra protection against sunburn is recommended. While all medical treatments are free to Mekharian citizens, all foreign visitors must be prepared to pay for any treatment they receive, therefore you will require the correct level of medical cover to be included on your travel insurance in order to be protected financially in the event of suffering illness or injury while staying in the Mekharian Empire.
Travel Insurance It is not a legal requirement for visitors to the Mekharian Empire to hold travel insurance of any kind. However, it is highly recommended as there can be a lot of hidden costs involved should anything go wrong during your stay. Foreign visitors are charged medical fees, legal fees and there may be considerable costs and fines involved if your journey is delayed or extended for any reason. It is possible to purchase travel insurance from any provider within your own nation, but this may not provide certain levels of cover specifically required by for travel to the Mekharian Empire. It is recommended therefore that you purchase your travel insurance directly from the Mekharian Empire, either through the Mekharian Embassy or online at visitmekharia.mek/insurance.
Licenses While travel insurance is not a legal requirement, it should be noted that Mekharian Law requires that any private vehicles, aircraft, boats and other specialist equipment being taken into the Mekharian Empire must be properly insured, and all drivers, pilots and operators must hold an appropriate valid licence. It is possible to drive your own vehicle in the Mekharian Empire using an appropriate licence from any nation for up to six months, it does not need to be a Mekharian specific licence. However, if you are remaining within the Mekharian Empire for longer than six months, it will be necessary to pass the Mekharian National Drivers License in order to continue driving legally in the Mekharian Empire. This licence is also necessary if you are planning to purchase an automobile or motorbike within the Mekharian Empire. Larger vehicles such as minibuses, lorries and coaches must also have the correct licence to match the class of vehicle. Aircraft and boating licenses are different however, as they are internationally recognised licenses common across all of Terra.