Some trips don’t fall apart because of a major incident. They fall apart because of the small things. A form that’s been missed, a new passport, a wrong digit. We looked at this year’s Trustpilot reviews and the same small number of things kept coming up, again and again at check-in and occasionally right up to the gate.
The best part is that every story ends with a trip that actually went ahead. Here are the five mistakes that nearly derailed travel plans this year, what happened next, and how you can avoid them.
1. Not realizing a visa was needed at all
This was the error we saw most in 2026. People would book flights and hotels, pack their bags, and only find out at the airport that they needed a visa.
Roman (US) came to Indonesia without a visa and was stuck at the airport for three hours. He contacted our support team, and our agent, Miguel, supported him through the whole process until he was finally able to leave the airport. In Roman’s words, Miguel was “very helpful and very kind, especially as I didn’t initially realize that you need a visa to go to Indonesia.”
Siobhana (UK) had a very similar experience: “I nearly missed my flight as I didn’t realize we needed a visa.” Her verdict was that the service “saved my holiday”. Wafaa (Saudi Arabia) had a bit more time to apply. She found out one week before her flight, applied, and it all went smoothly.
Our expert advice is to check your travel document requirements when you book, rather than the week before you travel. The rules depend on your nationality and destination, and they do change. Use our visa checker to work out what you need and then check with your airline.
2. Leaving it until the last hour
Some people knew they needed a travel document. They just ran out of time to get one.
Selina (UK) needed a Kenya visa with just one hour to spare and applied via iVisa. She got her visa in that one hour and “managed to get on the flight”. Gerhard (CH) did it even better with his UK ETA. His confirmation came through “right at the last second before check-in closed.”
Christopher (TH) just forgot to apply for their India visas. We did the applications and the visas came through in 24 hours. “You saved us” he wrote.
Our expert advice would be to apply as soon as your trip is booked. You can request several travel documents well in advance, which gives you breathing room to handle anything that might come up. If you’re already tight on time, then go for Rush or Super Rush processing so your application is processed and submitted as quickly as possible. Approval times are still going to be down to the government so it’s always better to apply as early as you can.
3. Traveling on a new passport with an old travel authorization
This trips up many experienced travelers. Many e-travel authorizations are linked to the passport you applied with. The UK ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires (whichever comes first), so if you get a new passport, you’ll need a new ETA.
Tracey (US) realized she “needed a new ETA to go with my new passport” and got it sorted via iVisa in under an hour. Kim (US) discovered at check-in that her previous ETA had expired and applied on the spot for a new one, which came through in about 15 minutes. The review title says it all really: “Saved my trip!”
Our expert advice: If you’ve recently renewed your passport, then check every travel authorization you hold (ETA, ESTA, eTA) to see which passport it’s linked to. Also check the expiry dates. An authorization you obtained two years ago may well not be valid for this trip.
4. Getting the small details wrong
A wrong date. An old passport number. A photo that doesn’t meet the rules. They may seem minor, but on a government form, any one of them can hold up or even stop an application.
David (UK) entered the wrong date and had it “corrected within minutes.” Angela, also from the UK, had her photo flagged. Our team explained exactly what needed to change; she retook it, and her visa followed within the hour.
Our expert advice: Copy details straight from the passport you will travel with, and double-check travel dates against your booking. Follow your destination’s photo requirements closely. Our experts check every iVisa application for common mistakes like these before we submit it, to minimize the chance of delays.
5. Forgetting the arrival card
Your visa is sorted, your passport is valid, and then the airline asks for an arrival card. Many destinations require travelers to complete a digital arrival form before landing, and it is an easy step to miss.
Stephanie (US) was heading to Aruba when she realized, “I completely forgot to do the procedure!” She applied through iVisa and had the ED cards for her group in 15 minutes.
Our expert advice: When you check visa requirements, also look for arrival cards and health declarations. They are often separate from the visa and have their own submission window. Add them to your pre-trip checklist alongside your passport and booking.
Run through this list as soon as you book, and again a week before you fly
When something slips anyway
Mistakes happen, even to seasoned travelers. If you spot a problem late, iVisa can help you apply, review your application for errors, and submit it, with 24/7 support in 14+ languages via chat, WhatsApp, and email. Rush and Super Rush processing are available for most travel documents when time is tight.
We can’t change how long a government takes to decide, and no service can guarantee approval. What we can do is check your application for common mistakes before we submit it, to minimize the chance of delays. That is a big part of why 99% of our applicants are approved.
Check what you need for your next trip or download the iVisa app to track your application in real time.
