Before heading over to Southeast Asia, I spent a solid month reading and taking notes on the Canadian Government’s Travel Advisory website. I researched the different countries I want to visit, and the different countries I may inadvertently go to, compiling more than 30 pages of notes about safety precautions, entry and exit requirements, and legal differences and customs in these countries.

Safety precautions for any country in the world will change based on a variety of factors, so I will not be including that in this post. However, below you can find a list (in alphabetical order) of the visa requirements, entry fees (if any), and currency per country I plan to visit. It’s boring, but important stuff to know.

Brunei

Currency: Brunei dollar (BND) – USD traveller cheques recommended; ATMs available
Consulate: Bandar Seri Begawan, 5 Floot, Jalan McArthur Building, No. 1, Jalan McArthur; T: 673 (2) 22-00-43
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for stays up to 14 days.

Cambodia

Currency: the riel (KHR) – USD widely accepted but only new and undamaged banknotes; traveller cheques accepted but not personal cheques and credit cards
Consulate: Phnom Penh, 27-29 Street 75, Sangkat Srah Chak, Khan Daun Penh; T: +855 023 430 813
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be purchased upon arrival; valid for 30 days, may be extended once.

• $30 USD
• two recent passport-size (2″x2″) photos
• onward or return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds required

Guam

Currency: USD
Consulate: Pohnpei (See Palau)
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for US overseas territories.

Japan

Currency: yen (JPY) – credit cards accepted in major cities
Consulate: Tokyo, 3-38 Akasaka 7 – chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 107-8503; T: +81 (3) 5412 6200     –     Fukuoka, c/o Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. 1-82 Watanabe-dori 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Japan, 810-8720; T: +81 (92) 726-6348     –     Hiroshima, c/o Chugoka Electric Power Co. Inc., 4-33 Komachi, Maka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan, 730-8701; T: +81 (82) 246-0057    –     Nagoya, Nakato Marunouchi Building, 6F, 3-17-6, Marunouchi, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan, 460-0002; T: +81 (52) 972-0450     –     Osaka, c/o Tsuda Sangyo Co. Ltd., 1-8-19, Hirabayashi Minami, Suminoe-ku, Osaka, 559-8550; T: +81 (6) 6681-0250     –     Sapporo, Canadian Place, Poseidon Maruyama 2F, 26-1-3 Odori Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Japan, 064-0820
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required

• onward or return ticket, confirmed accommodation arrangements, and proof of sufficient funds

Entry Permits: maximum of 90 days; photographed and fingerprinted upon arrival

Laos

Currency: kip (LAK) – USD and Thai Baht widely accepted
Consulate: Vientiane, KM4, Thadeua Road, Watnak Village, Sisattanak District; T: +856 (0) 21 35 38 34     –     Bangkok (see Thailand)
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be obtained upon arrival.

• $42 USD
• two recent passport-size (2″x2″) photos

Entry Stamp: obtain upon arrival

Malaysia

Currency: rin ggit (MYR)
Consulate: Kuala Lumpar, 207 Jalan Tun Razak, 17 Floor, Menara Tan and Tan 50400; T: +60 3 2718 3333    –     Penang, 3007, Tingkat Perusahaan 5, Prai Industrial Park, 13600 Prai
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for stays up to 90 days
Port of Entry: required to register fingerprints

Myanmar (Burma)

Currency: kyat (MMK) – USD widely accepted but only new and undamaged banknotes; credit cards are rarely accepted and there are no ATMs; currency exchange available at Yangon International Airport
Consulate: Yangon, 65 Sule Pagoda Road, 9 Floor, Centerpoint Towers; T: +95 1 384 805     –     Bangkok (see Thailand)
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – obtain prior to arrival.

• valid for 28 days

Port of Entry: use same port to enter and exit to avoid problems with immigration (Yangon International Airport)

Indonesia

Currency: Rupiah (IDR) – carry cash when visiting remote areas
Consulate: Jakarta, World Trade Centre, 6 Floor, JI. Jend Sudirman, Kav. 29, Jakarta 12920; T: +62 21 2550 7800     –     Bali, Jalan Tantular No. 32, Renon, Denpasar; T: 62 361 241 118
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be obtained upon arrival.

• valid for visits less than 30 days
• may be required to show return or onward tickets

Departure Fee: must be paid in cash – price varies

Nepal

Currency: rupee (NPR)
Consulate: Kathmandu, 47 Lal Darbar Marg, P.O. Box 3596; T: +977 1 444 1976
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be purchased upon arrival.

• $40 USD for 30-day Visa; $100 USD for 90-day Visa
• one recent passport-size (2″x2″) photo in colour

Palau

Currency: USD – ATMs available; credit cards widely accepted
Consulate: Pohnpei, H&E Enterprises Building, Kolonia, Phonpei, Micronesia; T: 691 320 5448
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – issued upon arrival.

• valid for visits up to 30 days
• required to show return or onward tickets

Departure Fee: $50 USD

Papua New Guinea

Currency: kina (PGK) – USD traveller cheques recommended; credit cards accepted at major hotels
Consulate: Port Moresby, Godwit Road, Waigani NCD; T: +675 325 9333     –     Canberra, Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra ACT, Australia 2600; T: +61 (2) 6270-4000
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be obtained upon arrival at Jacksons International.

• onward or return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds required

Philippines

Currency: Philippine peso (PHP) – credit cards widely accepted; ATMs available in larger cities
Consulate: Manila, Floors 6-8, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City; T: +63 2 857 9000 / +63 2 857 9001     –     Cebu, RD Corporate Centre, 96 Gov. M.C. Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City 6000; T: +63 32 256 3320
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for stays up to 30 days.

• must present an onward or return ticket

Departure Fee: 750 PHP – can be paid in local current of equivalent in USD (cash only)

Thailand

Currency: baht (THB)
Consulate: Bangkok, 990 Rama IV, Abdulrahim Place, 15 Floor, 10500, P.O. Box 2090, Bangkok 10501, Thailand; T: +66 0 2646 4300     –     Chiang Mia, 151 Super Highway, Tambon, Tahsala, Arnphur Muang, Chiang Mia, 5000; T: +66 0 5385 0147 / +66 0 5324 2292
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for visits less than 30 days; may re-enter within any 6-month period from the date of first entry for a cumulative duration not exceeding 60 days.
Entry Stamp: must be obtained from an immigration officer at the point of entry

Vietnam

Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND) – credit cards accepted at major hotels; ATMs available
Consulate: Hanoi, 31 Hung Vuong St. Hanoi; T: +84 (4) 3734-5000     –     Ho Chi Minh City, 9 Floor, The Metropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi Street, District 1; T: +84 (8) 3827-9899
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – must be obtained prior to arrival; extensions may be obtained.
Entry Requirements: registration with local police upon arrival