US passport holders need visa or estimated time of arrival (ETA) to visit 19 destinations
If you hold a U.S. passport, you’re probably used to traveling internationally with relative ease. Well, you might be surprised to know that there are several countries that require Americans to jump through some hoops in order to visit. As of January 2026, at least 20 countries require U.S. citizens to obtain a tourist visa or other form of electronic travel authorization before visiting, not counting Europe’s ETIAS “visa” system launching later this year.
Please note that this list does not include countries that the U.S. Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to by issuing a Level 4 travel advisory. It also does not include destinations that do not currently issue visas to Americans or that are recently or routinely covered by the TPG.
Here’s what you need to know.
Australia
type: e-tourism australia
How to apply: Use the Australian ETA app or online through the Australian Government
Length of time: Unlimited stays within 12 months, up to three months at a time
cost: AU$20 (approximately US$13)
Processing time: within one working day
Bhutan
type: Bhutan visa
How to apply: via Government of Bhutan Online
Length of time: Valid for the scheduled travel period; airport tickets cannot be purchased until visa is received
cost: One-time application fee of $40, plus a sustainability fee of $100 per day per adult ($50 per day per child 6 to 11 years old; children under 6 years old are free)
Processing time: Up to five working days
Brazil
type: Brazil electronic visa
How to apply: Online through the Brazilian government authorized website
Length of time: Valid for travel up to 90 days within a year
cost: $80.90
Processing time: Up to five working days
China
type: China tourist visa
How to apply: Apply online through the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then apply at the Chinese embassy or consulate in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, or Washington, D.C.
Length of time: Typically up to 60 days per visit over a period of three months or more
cost: $140
Processing time: four working days
RELATED: Americans no longer need visa to visit China for up to 10 days if connecting flight to another destination
Egypt
type: Egypt electronic visa
How to apply: Online through the Egyptian Ministry of Interior or upon arrival at an Egyptian airport
Length of time: Access for up to 30 days within 90 days
cost: US$25 for one-time entry, US$60 for multiple-entry visa
Processing time: Two to seven working days
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India
type: indian e-visa
How to apply: Apply online through Indian Immigration Department
Length of time: You can visit up to 30 days in a year
cost: $10 to $80, depending on access time and validity
Processing time: 72 hours
Ghana
type: ghana visa
How to apply: Online through Ghana Embassy
Length of time: Valid for one visit up to 30 days within three months or multiple visits over a longer period
cost: Single entry visa is USD 60, multiple entry visa is USD 100
Processing time: 15 to 20 working days after receipt of paper application
Indonesia
type: Indonesia visa on arrival
How to apply: If your passport has at least two blank pages and is valid for at least six months from the date of your arrival in Indonesia, you can apply for a visa on arrival at some international airports
Length of time: Valid for one way within 90 days after issuance (maximum 30 days)
cost: 500,000 Indonesian rupiah (about 30 USD)
Processing time: not applicable
Kenya
type: Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization
How to apply: Apply online through Immigration Services
Length of time: Valid for 90 days from the date of issuance
cost: $30
Processing time: three working days
Maldives
type: Maldives visa
How to apply: Upon arrival
Length of time: 30 days, extendable to 90 days
cost: Free (but proof of onward travel required)
Processing time: not applicable
Namibia
type: Namib visa
How to apply: Online via Namibia Embassy
Length of time: three months
cost: USD 90 for single entry, USD 180 for multiple entries, valid for three months
Processing time: three working days
New Zealand
type: New Zealand Electronic Travel Agency
How to apply: Through Immigration New Zealand online or on the app
Length of time: Travel is valid for three months from two years from issuance
cost: NZD 17 (USD 10) on the app, NZD 23 (USD 13) online. You must also pay the International Visitor Protection and Tourism Tax of NZ$100 (US$58)
Processing time: 72 hours
Seychelles
type: Seychelles Travel Authorization
How to apply: Online via Seychelles official government website
Length of time: Three months, can be extended to 12 months
cost: €10.90 ($13)
Processing time: one day
Sri Lanka
type: Sri Lanka ETA
How to apply: Visit the official Sri Lanka government visa page online
Length of time: Maximum stay is 30 days
cost: $50
Processing time: three days
Tanzania
type: Tanzania visa
How to apply: Online through Tanzania Immigration or in person at certain entry points
Length of time: Multiple entries up to one year (note that U.S. citizens cannot apply for a single-entry visa)
cost: $100
Processing time: Up to 10 working days
U.K.
type: Electronic Travel Authorization (While technically not a visa, an ETA is similar to the US’s own Electronic System for Travel Authorization program, and all Americans need one to visit the UK)
How to apply: Online or via app (more information)
Length of time: Valid for up to six months for multiple visits within two years
cost: £16 (about $22)
Processing time: Up to three working days
Vietnam
type: Vietnam electronic visa
How to apply: Via Vietnam Government Online
Length of time: Valid for single or multiple entries within 90 days from the date of issuance
cost: Single registration is $25, multiple registrations are $50
Processing time: three working days
Zambia and Zimbabwe
type: KAZA UniVisa (Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Reserve UniVisa; allows multiple entries to Zambia and Zimbabwe and one-day travel to Botswana)
How to apply: When arriving at an international port of entry or passing through the Zambian Immigration Service
Length of time: Maximum 30 days in 12 months; not expandable
cost: $50 cash or $50.55 credit card (it is recommended to bring cash as credit card processing is not always available)
Processing time: not applicable
bottom line
Given that processing timelines, fees, and even application requirements may change over time, we recommend that you check the country of interest before traveling to ensure you are up to date on the process. Remember, most countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months, so renew it in advance.
We also recommend bookmarking each country’s Department of State page—as it provides information related to visas, security, and more—and signing up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. For more information, see the U.S. Embassy associated with each international destination.
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