Visa requirements for United States citizens

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Visa requirements for United States citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states that are imposed on citizens of the United States.

As of 2024, holders of a United States passport may travel to 186 countries and territories without a travel visa, or with a visa on arrival. The United States passport ranks[Note 1] 8th in terms of travel freedom, according to the Henley Passport Index.[1] It is also ranked 8th by the Global Passport Power Rank.[2]

Visa requirements map

[edit]
Visa requirements for United States citizens holding ordinary passports
  United States and its territories
  Freedom of movement
  Visa not required / ETA
  Visa on arrival
  eVisa
  Visa available both on arrival or online
  Visa required
  Travel restricted (either by local law or US regulations)

Visa requirements

[edit]

General visa requirements of sovereign countries towards United States citizens:

Country / Region Visa requirement Allowed stay Notes (excluding departure fees) Reciprocity
 Afghanistan Visa required[3][4][5]
  • Visitors born in Afghanistan do not require a visa.[4]
  • All visitors are fingerprinted, and are required to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs upon arrival.[4]
  • The U.S. government forced all Afghan diplomatic missions in the U.S. to close in March 2022. Applicants must now obtain a visa from a mission in another country.[6][7][5]
  • The Taliban accepts visas issued by diplomatic missions not under its control, except the embassies in Austria and the United Kingdom.[8][9]
 Yes
 Albania Visa not required[10] 1 year
No
 Algeria Visa required/Conditional Visa Exemption[11]
  • Application for a tourist visa to Algeria must be accompanied by a certificate of accommodation.[citation needed]
  • Persons may be denied entry if entering with a passport containing visas or stamps issued by Israel.[citation needed]
  • Visa can be obtained on arrival for certain cities in the southern region of the country if travel is booked through a local travel agency.[citation needed]
  • Visa exemption for stays of up to 30 days for those arriving by sea on government sponsored tours.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Andorra Visa not required[12] 3 months[13][14] Yes
 Angola Visa not required[15][16] 30 days No
 Antigua and Barbuda Visa not required[17] 6 months[18]
  • Stringent application of rules regarding proof of sufficient funds, return ticket and accommodation.[citation needed]
 No
 Argentina Visa not required[19] 90 days
  • Extendable up to 180 days.
  • Visitors are fingerprinted (Right thumb fingerprint) and photographed upon entry.[20]
 No
 Armenia Visa not required[21][22] 180 days No
 Australia Electronic Travel Authority[23][24] 90 days
  • 90 days on each visit in 12-month period if granted.
  • May enter using SmartGate.[25]
 Yes
 Austria Visa not required[26] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
  • Residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) for stays of longer than 90 days obtainable after arrival under certain conditions.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Azerbaijan eVisa /
Visa on arrival (conditional)[27][28] 		30 days
  • Travelers departing from New York can obtain a visa at the airport upon arrival in Baku, however no airline currently operates this route. Visa can be obtained on arrival in certain emergency situations.[29]
  • If staying in Azerbaijan for more than ten days, visitors must register at the State Migration Service within three days of arrival.[30][31]
  • Applicants of Armenian ancestry or with Armenian visas in their passport may be denied a visa.[32]
  • Travellers with a visa or evidence of travel to the now-defunct Republic of Artsakh (stamps) are permanently denied entry.[33][may be outdated as of September 2023]
 No
 Bahamas Visa not required[34][35] 8 months
  • Passport Card or Enhanced Drivers License valid for Sea Travel.[citation needed]
 No
 Bahrain eVisa / Visa on arrival[36] 14 days[37] No
 Bangladesh Visa on arrival[38][39] 30 days[40]
  • Visa on arrival is available at Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet international airports, pre arrival visa required if arriving by sea or by land border crossing.[citation needed]
  • No visa required for Bangladeshi Americans and their spouse and children with a copy of a former Bangladeshi passport, a Dual Nationality Certificate, NVR, a Bangladeshi NID, or a digital birth registration certificate.[41]
 No
 Barbados Visa not required[42][43] 6 months[44] No
 Belarus Visa required[45][46] Yes
 Belgium Visa not required[47] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area[48]
  • Residence permit (Titre de séjour/Verblijfstitel/Aufenthaltstitel) obtainable after arrival for stays longer than 90 days under certain conditions.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Belize Visa not required[49] 180 days[50]
  • Mandatory Car Disinfection at border. If you fail to do so, you will be sent back to go through this procedure. A fee does apply.[citation needed]
 No
 Benin eVisa[51][52] 30 days No
 Bhutan eVisa[54][55]
  • “Sustainable Development Fee” of US$100 per day for almost all visitors to Bhutan.[56]
  • Tour guide required for all travelers except in city of Thimpu and Paro. Even in these cities, tourists are not permitted to enter any tourist attraction without a guide. They are only allowed to walk and shop around these cities without a guide.[citation needed]
 Yes/No
 Bolivia Online Visa / Visa on arrival[57][58] 30 days[59]
  • No Fee if visa obtained prior to arrival (consular visa).[60]
  • 160 dollar fee payable by US dollars that must be clean, and not wrinkled or torn or local currency if obtaining at border[citation needed]
 No
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa not required[61][62] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 6-month period.
  • Registration with the local police within 24 hours of arrival is mandatory.[63]
 No
 Botswana Visa not required[64][65] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 1-year period.[66]
 No
 Brazil Visa not required / eVisa[67][68] 90 days
  • Brazilian authorities have announced that United States citizens will require a visa beginning April 10, 2025. United States citizens will be able to obtain visas online.[69]
 No
 Brunei Visa not required[70][71] 90 days Yes
 Bulgaria Visa not required[72][73] 90 days No
 Burkina Faso eVisa / Visa on arrival[75][76] 1 month No
 Burundi Visa on arrival[78] 1 month No
 Cambodia eVisa / Visa on arrival[80][81][82] 30 days
  • Visa is also obtainable online.
  • All visitors are fingerprinted upon arrival and departure.[83]
 No
 Cameroon eVisa[84][85][86] —
 Canada Visa not required[88][89] 6 months
  • Anyone with a criminal record (including misdemeanors or alcohol-related driving offenses in the US) may not be able to enter Canada without first obtaining an approval for rehabilitation[90] or a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP).[91]
  • Passport Card, NEXUS card, or Enhanced Drivers License valid for Land and Sea Travel.[citation needed]
  • US citizens exempt from obtaining Canada ETA and are in fact barred from doing so.[citation needed]
  • Green Card Holders exempt as well.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Cape Verde EASE[92][93] 30 days
  • Must register online at least five days prior to arrival.[94]
 No
 Central African Republic Visa required[95][96] —
 Chad Visa required[98]
  • Passengers with an entry authorisation issued by the authorities of Chad can obtain a visa on arrival.
  • International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis required only if arriving from a high risk country as defined by the WHO.[2]
  • Registration within 72 hours is mandatory prior to arrival.[99] Registration is good for the life of the passport.
 —
 Chile Visa not required[100] 90 days[101][102] Yes
 China Visa required —
 Colombia Visa not required[107][108] 90 days
  • Extendable up to 180-days stay within a one-year period[109]
  • Colombian-born U.S. citizens and U.S. citizens traveling with children may face special exit requirements.[citation needed]
 No
 Comoros Visa on arrival[110][111] 45 days No
 Republic of the Congo Visa required[112] —
 Democratic Republic of the Congo eVisa[113][114] 7 days —
 Costa Rica Visa not required[115][116] 90 days
  • 90 Days out of any 12-month period.
 No
 Côte d'Ivoire eVisa[117][118] 3 months No
 Croatia Visa not required[120][121] 90 days Yes
 Cuba eVisa[123]
  • Tourist travel is prohibited under U.S. law for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and others subject to U.S. jurisdiction.[124] Under the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, all persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are not permitted to travel to Cuba unless licensed to engage in travel-related transactions. In addition to specific licenses granted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), there are 12 "general licenses" that people can choose to travel on without being required to notify OFAC,[note 1] and the broad and self-reported nature of these licenses means travel is in practice subject to few restrictions.[128][129]
  • Cuba requires travelers to purchase a tourist card prior to arrival, which can be obtained from the airline or a Cuban diplomatic mission. Tourist cards are valid for one entry and a 30-day stay, which can be extended once by 90 days at a hotel or immigration office in Cuba.[130][129]
  • Cuba requires travelers to have health insurance valid in Cuba, which can be purchased from the airline.[124]
 No
 Cyprus Visa not required[131][132] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period.[133]
 No
 Czech Republic Visa not required[134] 90 days Yes
 Denmark Visa not required[136] 90 days
  • U.S. citizens can enter Denmark for up to 90 days out of any 180 day period, regardless of time spent in other Schengen countries prior to entry into Denmark.[137]
 Yes
 Djibouti eVisa[138][139] 90 days No
 Dominica Visa not required[140][141] 6 months No
 Dominican Republic Visa not required[142][143] 30 days No
 Ecuador Visa not required[144] 90 days
  • Extendable for another 90 days, per year[145]
 No
 Egypt eVisa / Visa on arrival[146][147] 30 days No
 El Salvador Visa not required[149][150] 180 days No
 Equatorial Guinea eVisa[153][154] No
 Eritrea Visa required[156] —
 Estonia Visa not required[157] 90 days Yes
 Eswatini Visa not required[159] 30 days
  • Extendable up to 60 days[160]
 No
 Ethiopia eVisa / Visa on arrival[161] up to 90 days No
 Fiji Visa not required[164] 4 months[165] No
 Finland Visa not required[166][167] 90 days Yes
 France Visa not required[169][170] 90 days Yes
 Gabon eVisa[176][177] 90 days No
 Gambia Visa on arrival[179][180]
  • 30 days
 —
 Georgia Visa not required[181] 1 year No
 Germany Visa not required[182] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area[183]
  • Residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) for stays of longer than 90 days obtainable after arrival under certain conditions.[citation needed]
  • Germany requires that all passports be signed.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Ghana Visa required[184][185] —
 Greece Visa not required[187][188] 90 days Yes
 Grenada Visa not required[190][191] 3 months No
 Guatemala Visa not required[192][193] 90 days No
 Guinea eVisa[194][195] 90 days No
 Guinea-Bissau Visa on arrival[197] 90 days No
 Guyana Visa not required[198] No
 Haiti Visa not required[199][200] 3 months
  • Travel currently almost impossible due to gang violence. Only open borders are the sea borders. Air borders are currently not open, nor is the border with the Dominican Republic.[201]
 No
 Honduras Visa not required[202] 3 months No
 Hungary Visa not required[203][204] 90 days Yes
 Iceland Visa not required[206] 90 days Yes
 India eVisa[208] 30 days
  • e-Visa holders must arrive via 26 designated airports[Note 3] or 3 designated seaports.[Note 4][209]
  • An Indian e-Tourist Visa may only be obtained twice within 1 calendar year.[citation needed]
  • Foreigners of Pakistani origin or who hold a Pakistani Passport are not eligible for an e-Visa. Foreigners who are not Pakistani nationals, but whose parents or grandparents (either paternal or maternal) were born in, or were permanent residents in Pakistan, are also not eligible for an e-Visa.[210]
  • Visitors are fingerprinted.[citation needed]
  • American citizens are eligible for a ten-year, multiple-entry tourist visa (not an e-visa).[211]
  • American citizens of Pakistani heritage are not eligible for an e-Visa nor are they eligible for a ten-year, multiple-entry tourist visa, and must apply for a regular visa.[citation needed]
 No
 Indonesia e-VOA / Visa on arrival[212] 30 days[213]
  • Indonesian authorities have announced that citizens of the United States may be granted visa-free entry within the upcoming month[214]
 No
 Iran Visa required[215][216] —
 Iraq eVisa / Visa on arrival[217] 30 days
  • Visa on arrival at any port of entry.[218]
 No
 Ireland Visa not required[219][220][221] 3 months
  • Residence permit for stays of longer than 90 days obtainable after arrival under certain conditions.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Israel Visa not required[222] 90 days
  • Dual nationals of Israel and the United States who don't have an Israeli passport, including infants, may be required to obtain an Israeli passport in order to leave Israel.[223]
  • Entry prohibited for any person "who knowingly issues a public call for boycotting Israel".[224]
  • Starting January 1, 2025, an ETA just like a US ESTA or a Canada ETA will be required for travel to Israel. Applications opened on June 1 as a trial but are not required for US and German passport holders until January 1, 2025. On July 1, 2024, the application has been opened to all visa exempt country passport holders.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Italy Visa not required[225] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area[226]
  • A bilateral agreement pre-dating the Schengen area may allow 90 days of stay in Italy regardless of days spent in other Schengen countries.[174]
 Yes
 Jamaica Visa not required[227] 6 months
  • Departure tax collected by airline for all arrivals by air.[228]
 No
 Japan Visa not required[229] 90 days
  • Persons who have been sentenced to 1 year or more of jail are NOT eligible for visa free travel to Japan and have to obtain a visa, United States citizens are also eligible for a Japanese eVisa.[230]
 Yes
 Jordan eVisa / Visa on arrival[231][232] No
 Kazakhstan Visa not required[234] 30 days
  • Visa free was granted in 2014 under the Unilateral visa waiver for countries with high investment in Kazakhstan Economy[citation needed]
 No
 Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation[235][236] 90 days
  • Applications can be submitted up to 90 days prior to travel and must be submitted at least 3 days in advance.
  • eTA fee is USD 32.50.
  • Proof of reservation at the hotel where visitors plan to stay is required (if staying with friends, an invitation letter is also acceptable).
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries.
 No
 Kiribati Visa not required[237][238] 90 days No
 North Korea Travel restricted by U.S. government[239][240][241][242]
  • U.S. passports holders must obtain a special passport validation from the U.S. federal government before travel. Such validations are only ever issued if travel is in the interests of US national security.[242]
  • United States citizens require a visa when traveling to North Korea, as there is no North Korean diplomatic mission in the United States, US citizens must obtain a visa from a diplomatic mission in a third country.[citation needed]
  • U.S. secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, authorized a ban on American travel to North Korea that went into effect in August 2017, following the death of Otto Warmbier, a US student who was detained in North Korea and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster.[citation needed]
 —
 South Korea Visa not required[243][244] 90 days
  • All visitors are fingerprinted. From September 2021, travelers require the Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA). The validity period is 3 years from the date of approval.[245][246]
  • The government of the Republic of Korea announced that from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024, a K-ETA is not required for 27 countries citizens visiting Korea for 90 days or less for business or tourism.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Kosovo Visa not required 90 days[247] No
 Kuwait eVisa / Visa on arrival[248][249] 3 months No
 Kyrgyzstan Visa not required[250] 60 days No
 Laos eVisa / Visa on arrival[251] 30 days No
 Latvia Visa not required[255] 180 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.[256]
  • A bilateral agreement pre-dating the Schengen area allows an additional 90 days of stay in Latvia (to a total of 180) regardless of days spent in other Schengen countries.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Lebanon Free visa on arrival[257] 30 days
  • Extendable for 2 additional months.[citation needed]
  • Visa waiver granted if there is no Israeli visa or seal and traveler has a telephone number, an address in Lebanon, and a non refundable return or circle trip ticket.[citation needed]
  • Pagers and Walkie Talkies prohibted from boarding flights in Lebanon to protect avation safety[citation needed]
 No
 Lesotho Visa not required[258] 14 days
  • Extendable up to 180 days.[259]
 No
 Liberia Visa required[260] —
 Libya eVisa[261][262]

30 Days

No
 Liechtenstein Visa not required[263] 90 days Yes
 Lithuania Visa not required[265][266] 90 days Yes
 Luxembourg Visa not required[268][269] 90 days Yes
 Madagascar Visa on arrival[271] 60 days No
 Malawi Visa not required[272] 30 days No
 Malaysia Visa not required[273] 3 months
  • All visitors are fingerprinted on arrival and departure.[274]
  • Immigration offenses, such as visa overstaying, are punishable by caning.[citation needed]
 No
 Maldives Free visa on arrival[275][276] 30 days No
 Mali Visa required[277][278] —
 Malta Visa not required[281][282] 90 days Yes
 Marshall Islands Visa not required[284] Unlimited Yes
 Mauritania Visa on arrival[285] 30 Days No
 Mauritius Visa not required[286] 90 days[287] No
 Mexico Visa not required[288] 180 days
  • Visitors must obtain a Multiple Immigration Form. There is no charge for a tourist FMM for stays of less than 7 days when entering by land. For visitors staying more than 7 days and entering by land, it will cost 687 Mexican Pesos or around US$40. The FMM is required for all visitors entering via air, regardless of length of stay, and the cost is included in the traveler's airfare and remitted by the airline.[289]
  • Passport Card or Enhanced Drivers License is valid for Land and Sea Travel.[citation needed]
  • Exit stamp required if you entered using paper FMM (All Land POEs)[citation needed]
  • You are in Mexico illegally if you did not get a FMM at the border (even if using the 7 day FMM fee exemption via land) or eFMM[citation needed]
  • Mandatory Car Disinfection at Mexico's Southern Borders (Guatemala and Belize)[citation needed]
 No
 Micronesia Visa not required[290] 365 days Yes
 Moldova Visa not required[291] 90 days No
 Monaco Visa not required[292][293] 90 days Yes
 Mongolia Visa not required[294] 90 days
  • Registration required after 30 days.[295]
 No
 Montenegro Visa not required[296] 90 days
  • Registration with the local police within 24 hours of arrival is mandatory.[297]
 No
 Morocco Visa not required[298] 3 months[299] No
 Mozambique Visa not required[300] 30 days
  • Travelers must register on the e-Visa platform at least 48 hours prior to travel and pay a processing fee of 650 MT.[citation needed]
 No
 Myanmar eVisa[301][302] 28 days No
 Namibia Visa not required[303] 3 months[304]
  • Beginning April 1st 2025 US citizens will have to obtain a visa for Namibia, US citizens will be issued with visas on arrival upon payment of a designated fee.[305]
 No
 Nauru Visa required[306] 30 days
  • Visas are issued with validity of 30 days.[307]
  • Visa can be obtained in the Nauruan Press Office at the United Nations.[citation needed]
 —
   Nepal Online Visa / Visa on arrival[308] 90 days[309] No
 Netherlands Visa not required[311] 90 days Yes
 New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority[314] 3 months[315][316]
  • May enter using eGate.[317]
  • International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) must be paid upon requesting an Electronic Travel Authority. IVL not required for American Samoan citizens.[318]
  • Holders of an Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Resident Return Visa may be granted a New Zealand Resident Visa on arrival permitting indefinite stay (pursuant to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement.
  • Strict enforcement of food import laws, on the spot fines of NZ400 for not declaring food.
 Yes
 Nicaragua Visa not required[319] 90 days No
 Niger Visa required[321][322] —
 Nigeria eVisa[324] 90 days
  • Business eVisas-on-arrival available for "Frequently Traveled Business Persons of International Reputes" or "Executives of Multi-national Companies", as well as for government officials[325]
  • International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis required if arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.
 —
 North Macedonia Visa not required[326] 90 days
  • Registration with the local police within 24 hours of arrival is mandatory.[327]
 No
 Norway Visa not required[328][329] 90 days
  • 3 months within a 6-month period, regardless of previous time spent in other Schengen countries, but including time spent in other Nordic countries.[330][331]
 Yes
 Oman Visa not required / eVisa[332][333] 14 days / 30 days
  • Visa exemption valid for 10 days, evisa for 30 days [334]
  • Holders of a visa or entrance stamp of the Emirate of Dubai that is valid for at least 21 days are visa exempt.[citation needed]
  • Holders of a visa for Qatar that is valid for travel to Oman and valid for at least one month are visa exempt when arriving directly from Qatar.[citation needed]
 No
 Pakistan Free eVisa[335][336] 90 days
  • Pakistan e-visas are free for US citizens under new visa fee exemption scheme. You must stil obtain a e-visa though.[337]
 No
 Palau Visa not required[338] 1 year Yes
 Panama Visa not required[339] 180 days
  • Denial of entry or transit to any person who has a criminal conviction.[340]
 No
 Papua New Guinea eVisa[341][342] 60 days
  • Extendable for 30 days[343]
 No
 Paraguay Visa not required[344] 90 days
No
 Peru Visa not required[345] 90 days No
 Philippines Visa not required[346][347] 30 days
  • Naturalized US citizens of former Philippine nationality (balikbayan) allowed to stay for one year.[citation needed]
 No
 Poland Visa not required[348] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
  • Dual nationals must use their Polish passport.[349]
  • A bilateral agreement pre-dating the Schengen area allows a stay in Poland regardless of days spent in other Schengen countries.[350][175]
 Yes
 Portugal Visa not required[351][352][353] 90 days Yes
 Qatar Visa not required[354][355] 90 days
  • Effective October 1, 2024, eligible US citizens will be granted 90- days visa free travel to the State Of Qatar[356]
  • Visa issued upon arrival at no cost to passenger. Valid for a stay of 90 days.[357]
  • Persons with unpaid fines are prohibited from departing Qatar.[358]
 No
 Romania Visa not required[359][360] 90 days No
 Russia Visa required[362]
  • 72-hour visa-free transit for international cruise ship/ferry passengers only if travelling with an organized tour and accompanied at all times by a tour operator.[citation needed]
  • Registration required after 7 business days.[363]
  • American citizens may receive multiple-entry visas valid for three years.[364]
  • Residents of Alaska who are members of the indigenous population do not require a visa to visit Chukotka Autonomous Okrug if they have relatives (blood relatives, members of the same tribe, native people who have similar language and cultural heritage) in Chukotka. Individuals must be invited by a relative in Chukotka and must leave Chukotka within 90 days. Entry points are in Anadyr, Provideniya, Lavrentiya and Uelen.[365]
 —
 Rwanda eVisa / Visa on arrival[366][367] 30 days No
 Saint Kitts and Nevis Visa not required[368][369] 3 months No
 Saint Lucia Visa not required[370][371] 6 weeks No
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Visa not required[372] 6 months[373] No
 Samoa Visa not required[374] 60 days No
 San Marino Visa not required[375] Yes
 São Tomé and Príncipe Visa not required[376] 15 days No
 Saudi Arabia eVisa / Visa on arrival[378][379] 90 days
  • Access to Mecca is restricted to Muslims and non Muslims are prohibited entry to Mecca.[citation needed]
  • Import of alcohol strictly prohibited.[citation needed]
 No
 Senegal Visa not required[380] 90 days No
 Serbia Visa not required[382] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period.[383]
 No
 Seychelles Electronic Border System[384][385] 3 months
  • Application can be submitted up to 30 days before travel.
  • Visitors must upload a reservation confirmation(s) for each visitor's location of stay in Seychelles.
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries.
  • Payment of the fee (EUR 10) by credit or debit card.
  • Valid for one journey only and it expires once exit the country.
 No
 Sierra Leone eVisa / Visa on arrival[386][387] 3 months / 30 days No
 Singapore Visa not required[389] 90 days[390]
  • All visitors are fingerprinted upon arrival and departure[391]
  • US citizens can use Automated Border Control[citation needed]
 Yes
 Slovakia Visa not required[392][393] 90 days Yes
 Slovenia Visa not required[395][396] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
  • Registration with the local police required within 72 hours of arrival.[397]
 Yes
 Solomon Islands Free Visitor's permit on arrival[398] 3 months No
 Somalia Visa on arrival[400] 30 days No
 South Africa Visa not required[401] 90 days
  • Holders of passports without 2 blank pages may be refused entry.[citation needed]
 No
 South Sudan eVisa[402][403] No
 Spain Visa not required[404] 90 days Yes
 Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization[406][407][408]
  • The standard visitor visa allows a stay of 60 days within any 6 month period.[409]
  • Visa fees (for Standard visitor visa):
  • e-Visa categories will be charged an additional USD 18.50 service fee.
  • If transiting from any of the Sri Lankan airports, An e-Visa is exempted (2 day transit period).
 No
 Sudan Visa required[410][411]
  • If arriving from a country of high yellow fever risk and stayed for more than 12 hours, then Yellow Fever vaccine required.[citation needed]
  • Exit visa required.[citation needed]
  • Registration within 3 days mandatory.[412]
 —
 Suriname Visa not required[413][414] 90 days
  • An entrance fee of USD 25 or EUR 25 must be paid online prior to arrival.[415]
  • Multiple entry e-Visa is also available.[416]
 No
 Sweden Visa not required[417][418] 90 days Yes
  Switzerland Visa not required[420] 90 days Yes
 Syria Visa required / conditional eVisa[422][423]
  • According to the Syrian government, US citizens can get evisa assuming they have a local sponsor. The fee is currently 185 dollars.[424]
  • Registration required within 15 days.[citation needed]
  • Persons with passports bearing Israeli visas or entry/exit stamps are not allowed to enter.[425]
  • Visa not required for foreign citizens with proof of Syrian origin, such as an identification card or passport.[citation needed]
  • Dual-citizen males ages 17–42 need military service book.[citation needed]
  • If not forgiven by the military, dual-citizens may apply for a visit visa once a year through the embassy.[citation needed]
 —
 Taiwan[426][427] Visa not required 90 days[426]
  • Visitors fingerprinted upon arrival.[citation needed]
  • Persons importing pork to Taiwan shall be fined up to 1 million NT if caught.[citation needed]
  • If you have symptoms of Ebola, you are required to report to the Airport Quarantine officer as directed by inflight videos.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Tajikistan Visa not required / eVisa[428][429] 30 days / 60 days No
 Tanzania eVisa / Visa on arrival[431][432] 90 days No
 Thailand Visa not required[433] 60 days
  • Visa waiver program rules:
  1. You can enter for 60 days per visa exempt stay.[citation needed]
  2. You can enter an unlimited number of times via air.[citation needed]
  3. Maximum of two entries if entering by sea or land. Else, you need hard visa.[citation needed]
  4. Overstayers will be banned and fined upon departure depending on length of overstay.[citation needed]
  5. Visa runs prohibited.[citation needed]
 No
 Timor-Leste Visa on arrival[434] 30 days
  • For arrivals by air only[435]
 No
 Togo eVisa[436][437] 15 days[438] No
 Tonga Free visa on arrival[439] 31 days
  • Visas issued upon arrival at no charge to the passenger. Valid for 31 days.[citation needed]
 No
 Trinidad and Tobago Visa not required[440] 90 days[441] No
 Tunisia Visa not required[442] 90 days[443] No
 Turkey Visa not required[444][445] 90 days No
 Turkmenistan Visa required[447]
  • 10-day visa on arrival if holding letter of invitation issued by a company registered in Turkmenistan with a prior approval from the Foreign Ministry.[citation needed]
 —
 Tuvalu Visa on arrival[448] 1 month
  • Extendable up to 3 months.[449]
 No
 Uganda eVisa[450][451] 3 months No
 Ukraine Visa not required[453] 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period[454]
  • Entry via Russian occupied territories are considered illegal and will result in legal consequences[citation needed]
  • Entry only possible via land or sea at this time due to war.[citation needed]
 No
 United Arab Emirates Free Visa waiver on arrival[455][456] 30 days No
 United Kingdom Visa not required[457][458] 6 months[459]
  • Up to 90 days if arriving from Ireland (Common Travel Area)
  • A ETA, just like a US ESTA or a Canada ETA will be required to travel to the United Kingdom in the near future.[citation needed]
 Yes
 Uruguay Visa not required[460] 90 days[461] No
 Uzbekistan eVisa / Conditional Visa Waiver[462][463] 30 days
  • 5-day visa-free transit at the international airports if holding a confirmed onward ticket for a flight to a third country.[464]
  • Registration within 3 days is mandatory.[465]
  • U.S. citizens under the age of 16 or over the age of 55 traveling to Uzbekistan for tourism purposes are eligible for visa-free entry for a period of up to 90 days and 30 days, respectively.[466]
 No
 Vanuatu Visa not required[467] 30 days
  • Extendable up to 120 days.[468]
 No
 Vatican City Visa not required[469] N/A
  • Open borders but de facto follows Italian visa policy.
  • No foreign accommodations, residency restricted to Vatican citizens only.[470]
  • Even though no hotels exsist in the Vatican, there is no limit to how many times you may enter the country in a year.[citation needed]
 No
 Venezuela Visa required[471] —
 Vietnam eVisa[472][473] No
 Yemen Visa required[475][476] —
 Zambia Visa not required[478] 30 days No
 Zimbabwe Visa on arrival[479] 30 days
  • Also eligible for a universal visa allowing access to Zambia.
  • Tourism purposes only.[480]
 No

Territories or administrative subdivisions with different visa policies

[edit]

Visa requirements for United States citizens for visits to various territories, disputed areas, partially recognized countries not mentioned in the list above, recognized administrative subdivisions that operate on different visa policies and restricted zones:

Visitor to Visa requirement Allowed stay Notes (excluding departure fees)
Africa
 Eritrea outside Asmara Travel permit required
  • Travel Permit for Foreigners is required to travel outside of the capital.[481]
 Ascension Island eVisa[482][483] 3 months
  • 3 months within any one-year period.
 Saint Helena Visa Free with Payment
  • Visitor's Pass granted on arrival.[484]
 Tristan da Cunha Permission required
 Mayotte Visa not required[486] 90 days
 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Undefined
 Somaliland Visa on arrival 30 days
  • Obtainable on arrival or at the Somaliland Mission in Alexandria, VA.[487]
 Réunion Visa not required[488] 90 days
 Sudan outside Khartoum Travel permit required
  • All foreigners traveling more than 25 kilometers outside of Khartoum must obtain a travel permit.
Sudan Darfur Travel permit required
  • Separate travel permit is required.[489]
Asia
 British Indian Ocean Territory Special permit required
  • Special permit required.[490]
China Hainan Visa not required[491] 30 days
 Hong Kong Visa not required 90 days[492]
  • Visa required for holders of US diplomatic passports[493]
India Protected and restricted areas of India PAP/RAP required
 Iraqi Kurdistan eVisa[500] 30 days
Kazakhstan Baikonur & Priozersk Special permission required
Iran Kish Island Visa not required
 Macau Visa not required 30 days[503]
  • Visa required for holders of US diplomatic passports
Malaysia Sabah and Sarawak Visa not required
  • These states have their own immigration authorities and a passport is required to travel to them, but the same visa applies.[504]
 Maldives outside Malé Permission required
  • Tourists are generally prohibited from visiting non-resort islands without the express permission of the Government of the Maldives.[505]
 Palestine Visa not required
Tajikistan Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province OIVR permit required
China Tibet Autonomous Region TTP required
  • Tibet Travel Permit required in addition to Chinese visa.[510]
Saudi Arabia Mecca and Medina Special access required Non-Muslims and those following the Ahmadiyya religious movement are strictly prohibited from entry.[511]
Turkmenistan Closed cities of Turkmenistan Special permit required
Vietnam Phú Quốc Visa not required 30 days[513]
 Yemen outside Sana’a or Aden Special permission required
Caribbean and North Atlantic
 Åland Islands Visa not required[514] 3 months
 Anguilla Visa not required 3 months[515]
 Aruba Visa not required[516][517] 30 days
 Bermuda Visa not required[518] 6 months
 Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba) Visa not required 180 days
 British Virgin Islands Visa not required 30 days
 Cayman Islands Visa not required 6 months[519]
Colombia San Andrés and Leticia Tourist Card on arrival
 Curaçao Visa not required 6 months
  • Maximum consecutive period of six months each calendar year.[521]
France French West Indies (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy) Visa not required 3 months
 Greenland Visa not required[522]
 Montserrat Visa not required 6 months
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Freedom of movement Unlimited
  • U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals may live and work freely in Puerto Rico.
  • Passport/EDL is not required for entry of U.S. Citizens.[523]
 Sint Maarten Visa not required 6 months
  • Maximum stay allowed is 6 months uninterrupted with the possibility to extend[524][525]
 Turks and Caicos Islands Visa not required 90 days[526]
United States Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Freedom of movement Unlimited
  • U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals may live and work freely in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Passport / EDL is not required for entry of U.S. Citizens.[523]
Europe
 Abkhazia Visa required[527]
Belarus Brest and Grodno Visa not required
[may be outdated as of February 2022] 		10 days[528]
 Crimea Visa required
[may be outdated as of February 2022]
  • Visa issued by Russia is required.[529]
 Novorossiya Restricted area
[may be outdated as of February 2022]
  • Crossing from Ukraine requires visit purpose to be explained to Ukrainian passport control on exit and those who entered from Russia are not allowed to proceed further into Ukraine.[530]
 Northern Cyprus Visa not required 3 months[531] Under certain conditions, may be only thirty or sixty days[531]
 Faroe Islands Visa not required[522]
 Gibraltar Visa not required[532]
 Guernsey Visa not required[533]
 Isle of Man Visa not required[534]
Norway Jan Mayen Permit required[532] 24 hours
  • Permit issued by the local police required for stays less than 24 hours[535]
  • Permit issued by the Norwegian police required for stays of more than 24 hours.[536]
 Jersey Visa not required[537]
Russia Closed cities of Russia Special authorization required
 South Ossetia De facto visa required
  • South Ossetia has no visa regime, however entry and exit can only be done by land border crossing with Russia, a multiple entry visa to Russia and three-day prior notification are required to enter.[538][539]
 Svalbard Visa not required[540] Unlimited
  • Anyone of any nationality may live and work freely in Svalbard per the Svalbard Treaty.
 Transnistria Visa not required 24 hours
Oceania
American Samoa American Samoa Freedom of movement Unlimited
  • Passport is required for entry because American Samoans, by law, are not US citizens; rather they are US nationals.
  • U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals may live and work freely in American Samoa.[543]
Australia Ashmore and Cartier Islands Special authorisation required
  • Special authorisation required.[544]
France Clipperton Island Special permit required
  • Special permit required.[545]
 Cook Islands Visa not required 31 days[546]
Fiji Lau Province Special permission required
  • Special permission required.[165]
 French Polynesia Visa not required 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period.[547]
Guam Guam Freedom of movement Unlimited
  • U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals citizens may live and work freely in Guam.
  • Passport/EDL is required for entry. Under certain circumstances, a government issued photo ID and proof of citizenship may be used in lieu a passport on a case-by-case basis.[548][549][523]
 Niue Visa not required 30 days[550]
New Caledonia New Caledonia Visa not required 90 days
  • 90 days within any 180-day period[551]
Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands Freedom of movement Unlimited
  • U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals citizens may live and work freely in the Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Passport / EDL is not required for entry of U.S. Citizens.[523]
 Pitcairn Islands Visa not required[552] 14 days
 Tokelau Entry permit required[553]
South America
Argentina Misiones Isla Apipé and Isla del medio Visa not required 90 days
  • By being Argentine territories, the same visa policy applies.
Galápagos Pre-registration required
  • Online pre-registration is required.
  • Transit Control Card must be obtained at the airport prior to departure.[554]
France French Guiana Visa not required 3 months[555] International Certificate of Vaccination required.
South Atlantic and Antarctica
 Falkland Islands Visa not required[556] 1 month
  • A visitor permit is normally issued as a stamp in the passport on arrival.
 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Permit required
 Antarctica Special permits required Special permits required for  Bouvet Island,  British Antarctic Territory,  French Southern and Antarctic Lands,  Argentine Antarctica, Australia Australian Antarctic Territory, Antártica Chilena Province Chilean Antarctic Territory, Australia Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norway Peter I Island, Norway Queen Maud Land, New Zealand Ross Dependency.[559][560][561][562][563][564][565][566][567][568][569][570]

Pre-approved visas pick-up

[edit]

Pre-approved visas can be picked up on arrival in the following countries instead of an embassy or consulate.

Pre-approved
visas pick-up
on arrival		 Conditions
 Bhutan[571] For a maximum stay of 15 days if the application was submitted at least 2+1⁄2 months before arrival and if the clearance was obtained.
 Cameroon[572] Must hold approval from the General Delegate of Security.
 Eritrea[573] Must have a sponsor who must submit an application at least 48 hours before arrival.
 Liberia[574] Available only if arriving from a country without a diplomatic mission of Liberia and if a sponsor obtained an approval.
 Nigeria[575] Holders of a visa application who have a Nigerian company taking responsibility for them.
 Sudan[576] Holders of an entry permit issued by the Ministry of Interior.
 Turkmenistan[577] Holders of an invitation letter from the local company that was approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Passport card

[edit]

The United States passport card can be used as an alternative to the passport booklet only when travelling to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Turks and Caico at maritime ports-of-entry or land border crossings.[578] The card is not valid for international air travel whatsoever; if traveling by air, the passport book is required.[579]

APEC Travel Business Card

[edit]

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is meant to facilitate travel for U.S. citizens engaged in verified business in the APEC region.[580]

The U.S. ABTC should enable access to a dedicated fast-track lane for expedited immigration processing at some participating foreign APEC member airports.[581]

U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holders may also use the Global Entry kiosks at participating airports upon their U.S. return.[582]

As the U.S. is a transitional member of the ABTC scheme, however, the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card cannot be used in lieu of a visa to enter an APEC member country.[583] The program was initially set to expire on September 30, 2018, but the November 2017 signing of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017 (S. 504) ensured it would permanently remain.[584]

Consular protection of U.S. citizens abroad

[edit]
American diplomatic missions, including embassies (blue), interests sections, and other representations (light blue)

The United States has the second most diplomatic missions of any country in the world.[citation needed] See also List of diplomatic missions of the United States and List of diplomatic missions in the United States.

The 'Department of State' regularly publishes 'travel warnings' or travel alerts.

Non-visa restrictions

[edit]
A United States passport with a biometric chip
This section is transcluded from Non-visa travel restrictions. (edit | history)

Blank passport pages

[edit]

Many countries require a minimum number of blank pages to be available in the passport being presented, typically one or two pages.[585] Endorsement pages, which often appear after the visa pages, are not counted as being valid or available.

Vaccination

[edit]
Main articles: Vaccination requirements for international travel, International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, and Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic
Cover of the new International Certificate of Vaccination issued by the Bureau of Quarantine in the Philippines since 2021

Many African countries, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia, require all incoming passengers older than nine months to one year[586] to have a current International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, as does the South American territory of French Guiana.[587]

Some other countries require vaccination only if the passenger is coming from an infected area or has visited one recently or has transited for 12 hours in those countries: Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.[588][589]

Passport validity length

[edit]

Very few countries, such as Paraguay, just require a valid passport on arrival.

However many countries and groupings now require only an identity card – especially from their neighbours. Other countries may have special bilateral arrangements that depart from the generality of their passport validity length policies to shorten the period of passport validity required for each other's citizens[590][591] or even accept passports that have already expired (but not been cancelled).[592]

Some countries, such as Japan,[593] Ireland and the United Kingdom,[594] require a passport valid throughout the period of the intended stay.

In the absence of specific bilateral agreements, countries requiring passports to be valid for at least 6 more months on arrival include Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Bahrain,[595] Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel,[596] Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru,[597] Philippines,[598] Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Vietnam.[599]

Countries requiring passports valid for at least 4 months on arrival include Micronesia and Zambia.

Countries requiring passports with a validity of at least 3 months beyond the date of intended departure include Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Honduras, Montenegro, Nauru, Moldova and New Zealand. Similarly, the EEA countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, all European Union countries (except Ireland) together with Switzerland also require 3 months validity beyond the date of the bearer's intended departure unless the bearer is an EEA or Swiss national.

Countries requiring passports valid for at least 3 months on arrival include Albania, North Macedonia, Panama, and Senegal.

Bermuda requires passports to be valid for at least 45 days upon entry.

Countries that require a passport validity of at least one month beyond the date of intended departure include Eritrea, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, the Maldives[600] and South Africa.

Criminal record

[edit]

Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States,[601] routinely deny entry to non-citizens who have a criminal record, while others impose restrictions depending on the type of conviction and the length of the sentence.

Persona non grata

[edit]

The government of a country can declare a diplomat persona non grata, banning them from entering the country or expelling them if they have already entered. In non-diplomatic use, the authorities of a country may also declare a foreigner persona non grata permanently or temporarily, usually because of unlawful activity.[602]

Israeli stamps

[edit]
Israeli border control Entry Permit (issued as a stand-alone document rather than a stamp affixed in a passport)

Kuwait,[603] Lebanon,[604] Libya,[605] Syria,[606] and Yemen[607] do not allow entry to people with passport stamps from Israel or whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa, or where there is evidence of previous travel to Israel such as entry or exit stamps from neighbouring border posts in transit countries such as Jordan and Egypt.

To circumvent this Arab League boycott of Israel, the Israeli immigration services have now mostly ceased to stamp foreign nationals' passports on either entry to or exit from Israel (unless the entry is for some work-related purposes). Since 15 January 2013, Israel no longer stamps foreign passports at Ben Gurion Airport. Passports are still (as of 22 June 2017) stamped at Erez when passing into and out of Gaza.[citation needed]

Iran refuses admission to holders of passports containing an Israeli visa or stamp that is less than 12 months old.

Biometrics

[edit]
See also: Countries applying biometrics

Several countries mandate that all travellers, or all foreign travellers, be fingerprinted on arrival and will refuse admission to or even arrest travellers who refuse to comply. In some countries, such as the United States, this may apply even to transit passengers who merely wish to change planes rather than go landside.[608]

Fingerprinting countries/regions include Afghanistan,[609][610] Argentina,[611] Brunei, Cambodia,[612] China,[613] Ethiopia,[614] Ghana, Guinea,[615] India, Japan,[616][617] Kenya (both fingerprints and a photo are taken),[618] Malaysia upon entry and departure,[619] Mongolia, Saudi Arabia,[620] Singapore, South Korea,[621] Taiwan, Thailand,[622] Uganda,[623] the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Many countries also require a photo be taken of people entering the country. The United States, which does not fully implement exit control formalities at its land frontiers (although long mandated by its own legislation),[624][625][626] intends to implement facial recognition for passengers departing from international airports to identify people who overstay their visa.[627]

Together with fingerprint and face recognition, iris scanning is one of three biometric identification technologies internationally standardised since 2006 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for use in e-passports[628] and the United Arab Emirates conducts iris scanning on visitors who need to apply for a visa.[629][630] The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to greatly increase the biometric data it collects at US borders.[631] In 2018, Singapore began trials of iris scanning at three land and maritime immigration checkpoints.[632][633]

Foreign travel statistics

[edit]
This section is transcluded from United States passport. (edit | history)

These are the numbers of visits by U.S. nationals to various countries in 2015 (unless otherwise noted):