15 places you need a visa or ETA to travel to with an American passport
Editor's Note
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 May 2025, at least 15 countries require American citizens to obtain either a tourist visa or another form of electronic travel authorization prior to visiting.
Note that this list does not cover countries that the U.S. Department of State has advised U.S. citizens to refrain from traveling to by issuing Level 4 travel advisories. It also doesn't include destinations that are not currently issuing visas for Americans or that TPG has not recently or routinely covered.
Here's what you need to know.
UK
Type: Electronic Travel Authorization. Although not technically a visa, the ETA is similar to the U.S.' own Electronic System for Travel Authorization program, and all Americans need one to visit the U.K.
How to apply: Online or through the app. Find more information here.
Length of time: Valid for multiple visits of up to six months over two years.
Cost: 16 British pounds (about $22).
Processing time: Up to three business days.
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 unlimited stays up to three months each within a 12-month period.
Cost: 20 Australian dollars (about $13).
Processing time: Within one business day.
Pakistan
Type: Visa prior to arrival.
How to apply: Online through the Pakistani government. Find more information here.
Length of time: Valid for multiple visits within 90 days.
Cost: N/A.
Processing time: One business day.
Bhutan
Type: Bhutanese visa.
How to apply: Online 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 one-time application fee plus a Sustainable Development Fee of $100 per day per adult ($50 per day per child age 6 to 11; free for children under 6).
Processing time: Up to five business days.
Bolivia
Type: Bolivian tourist visa.
How to apply: Per the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia, you can also apply in person at a Bolivian Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. or at any land or air border.
Length of time: Valid for visits up to 30 days each for 90 days total in one year.
Cost: $160.
Processing time: N/A.
Brazil
Type: Brazilian eVisa, required as of April 2025.
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: Up to five business days.
China
Type: Chinese 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 City, 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 business days.
Egypt
Type: Egyptian eVisa.
How to apply: Online through the Egyptian Ministry of Interior or on arrival at Egyptian airports.
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 eVisa.
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 to $80, depending on time of visit and length of validity.
Processing time: 72 hours.
Ghana
Type: Ghanaian Visa.
How to apply: Online through the Embassy of Ghana.
Length of time: Valid for one visit up to 30 days over a period of three months, or multiple visits over a longer period.
Cost: $60 for a single-entry visa, $100 for multiple entries.
Processing time: 15 to 20 business days from receipt of hard-copy application.
Indonesia
Type: Indonesian visa on arrival.
How to apply: If your passport has at least two blank pages and is valid for at least six months beyond 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 trip (up to 30 days long) within 90 days of issuance.
Cost: 500,000 Indonesian rupiahs (about $30).
Processing time: N/A.
Kenya
Type: Kenyan Electronic Travel Authorization.
How to apply: Online through the Directorate of Immigration Services.
Length of time: Valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.
Cost: $30.
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.
New Zealand
Type: New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority.
How to apply: Online through New Zealand Immigration or on the app.
Length of time: Valid for travel up to three months, from two years of issuance.
Cost: 17 New Zealand dollars ($10) on the app, 23 New Zealand dollars ($14) online. You must also pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of 100 New Zealand dollars ($59).
Processing time: 72 hours.
Vietnam
Type: Vietnamese electronic visa.
How to apply: Online through the Vietnamese government.
Length of time: Valid for single or multiple entries within 90 days of issuance.
Cost: $25 for one entry, $50 for multiple entries.
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. And remember that most countries require at least six months of validity on your passport, so get those passports renewed ahead of time.
We also suggest bookmarking the State Department's page for each country — as it offers information related to visas, safety and more — and enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. For more information, refer to the U.S. Embassy associated with each international destination.
Related reading:
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- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.