If you hold an American passport, you’re probably used to traveling internationally with relative ease. You may be surprised, then, to learn that several countries still require Americans to jump through some hoops to visit.
As of February, at least 15 countries require American citizens to obtain either a tourist visa or other form of electronic travel authorization prior to visiting.
Note that this list does not contain information regarding countries that the U.S. Department of State has advised U.S. citizens to refrain from traveling to by issuing Level 4 alerts. It also does not detail destinations that are not currently issuing visas for Americans, nor does it provide information about countries that TPG has not recently or routinely covered.
Here’s what you need to know.
United Kingdom
Type: Electronic Travel Authorization. Although not technically a visa, the ETA is similar to the U.S.’s own Electronic System for Travel Authorization program, and from January this year all Americans require one to visit the U.K.
How to apply: Online through the U.K. government’s app
Length of time: Valid for multiple visits of up to six months over two years
Cost: $13
Processing time: Up to three business days
More information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta
Related: How to apply for the U.K.’s Electronic Travel Authorization
Australia
Type: Australian Electronic Travel Authority
How to apply: With the Australian ETA app or online through the Australian government
Length of time: Valid for stays up to three months within a 12-month period
Cost: $12.56
Processing time: Within one business day
Pakistan
Type: Visa Prior to Arrival
How to apply: Online through the Pakistani government
Length of time: Valid for multiple visits within 90 days
Cost: N/A
Processing time: One business day
More information: https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/visa-prior-to-arrival-tourist/ and https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/downloads/application_guide.pdf
Bhutan
Type: Bhutanese visa
How to apply: Online through a local tour operator or through the Bhutan government
Length of time: Valid for the scheduled travel period; airport tickets cannot be purchased until visa clearance is received
Cost: $40 plus $200 per night Sustainable Development Fee
Processing time: Up to five business days
More information: https://abto.org.bt/
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Bolivia
Type: Bolivia Tourist Visa
How to apply: Online through the Bolivian Consulate. Residents of select states can apply in person at the Bolivian consulate in Washington, D.C.; otherwise, you can apply at the New York, Miami, Houston or Los Angeles consulate offices. Alternatively, you can purchase a visa at any land or air border, per the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia.
Length of time: Valid for visits up to 30 days for 90 days total in one year
Cost: $160
Processing time: N/A
Brazil
Type: Brazil eVisa, beginning April 10 for U.S. citizens
How to apply: Online through the Brazilian government-authorized website
Length of time: Valid for travel up to 90 days in one year
Cost: $80.90
Processing time: Five business days
China
Type: China Tourist Visa
How to apply: Online through the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs before applying at a Chinese embassy or consulate in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco or Washington, D.C.
Length of time: Valid for visits up to 30 days over a 90-day period
Cost: $140
Processing time: Four business days
Egypt
Type: Egypt e-Visa
How to apply: Online through the Egyptian Ministry of Interior
Length of time: Valid for visits up to 30 days over a 90-day period
Cost: $25 for a one-time entry, $60 for a multiple-entry visa
Processing time: Two to seven business days
India
Type: Indian e-Visa
How to apply: Online through the Indian Bureau of Immigration
Length of time: Valid for visits up to 30 days over one year
Cost: $10-25, depending on time of visit
Processing time: 72 hours
More information: indianembassyusa.gov
Ghana
Type: Ghanaian Visa
How to apply: Online through the Embassy of Ghana
Length of time: Valid for visits up to 30 days, from 90 days of issuance
Cost: $60 for standard service
Processing time: 10-15 business days for standard service
Indonesia
Type: Indonesia Visa on Arrival
How to apply: Online through the Indonesian government
Length of time: Valid for travel up to 30 days
Cost: $30
Processing time: N/A
More information: id.usembassy.gov/visas/
Kenya
Type: Kenyan Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
How to apply: Online through the Directorate of Immigration Services
Length of time: Valid for three months from the date of issuance
Cost: $34
Processing time: Three business days
Myanmar
Type: Myanmar Tourist eVisa
How to apply: Online through Myanmar’s Ministry of Immigration and Population
Length of time: Valid for travel up to 28 days, from 90 days of issuance
Cost: $50
Processing time: Three business days
More information: evisa.moip.gov.mm
New Zealand
Type: New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
How to apply: Online through New Zealand Immigration
Length of time: Valid for travel up to three months, from two years of issuance
Cost: $10 via the NZeTA mobile app, $13 online
Processing time: 72 hours
Vietnam
Type: Vietnam Electronic Visa
How to apply: Online through the Vietnamese government
Length of time: Valid for travel from 90 days of issuance, for travel up to 30 days
Cost: $25
Processing time: Three business days
Bottom line
Given that processing timelines, fees and even application requirements change over time, we recommend checking your country of interest ahead of travel to ensure you are up to date with the latest processes.
We also suggest bookmarking the State Department’s page for each country, which includes information related to visas, safety and more. Also, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. For more information, refer to the U.S. Embassy associated with each international destination.
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