Here Are the Countries That US Citizens Can Visit Without a Visa
If you are a US citizen with a valid passport, you are free to travel to more places in the world than citizens of other countries, and probably much more than you think. All you need is a few days of vacation and a plane ticket.
Currently, holders of a valid US passport can travel to 177 different countries and territories around the world without having to apply for a tourist visa before leaving. This is out of 218 possible destinations, which means you can see over 80% of the world without having to fill out a lot of paperwork. In addition, more and more territories and provinces are opening up for US citizens. For example, Hainan , an island province in China often referred to as “China’s Hawaii”, recently opened to US citizens – no visa required.
The visualization above gives an overview of where and what you can do with a US passport. As you can see, the point is not so much where you can go without a visa, but rather where you cannot go without a visa. Most countries offer visa-free access or simply grant a visa on arrival. However, some countries require you to apply for a visa before traveling. They are here:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola (eVisa), Australia (eVisa), Bhutan, Brazil (eVisa), Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast (eVisa), Cuba (Tourist card required , you can read more about it here ), Djibouti (eVisa), Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India (eVisa), Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Myanmar (eVisa), Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Oman (eVisa), Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan (eVisa), Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam (eVisa) and Yemen.
Of course, it is important to keep in mind that just because a country requires a visa does not mean that it is difficult to obtain one. For example, in many countries that require an e-Visa such as Australia, Brazil and India, it is quite easy to get an online visa in a matter of minutes. Other countries require you to apply for a visa through their US Embassy or Consulate, which can take a while, so take some time for yourself.
If you do not see the country you want to visit in the above list, you are ready to freely enter it with your passport. You will either be stamped on your passport and have an entry entry, or you will be issued a full visa upon arrival just for holding a US passport (which may require a small amount of paperwork). However, it is always best to do a thorough research before going anywhere:
- Check the visa requirements on the country’s consulate or government website. Or use an online tool like Passport Card or VisaDB to cross-check visa requirements with other sources.
- Review the current US Department of State Travel Guidelines to ensure you will be safe while traveling. Even if a recommendation is not issued for the country you are visiting, you can search the database and find a lot of useful information for US citizens abroad.
- Check out the CDC Travel Health Notices to see if there are any health risks associated with your destination and to see if you need any vaccinations. You can also check for vaccinations using the CDC app .
And of course, make sure your passport is valid and will not expire before your visa expires. For example, if your passport expires after 40 days, do not travel to a country that offers you a free 90-day visa. They may not issue you a visa and not let you in, or you will be stuck at the airport and unable to fly. Some countries even have a “six months rule” that requires your passport to be valid three to six months after your departure date. Don’t ruin your trip before you even start.