You may need a travel visa when visiting other countries. The US Department of State has a complete list of countries, and the entry/exit documents required for travel.You must have a valid passport before applying. If you require a visa, the first thing you should do is visit that country’s embassy or consulate website and fill out their application. You will need to specify the reason for visiting, the locations you will see, the hotels you are staying in and the people/businesses you will be visiting. The application can be time consuming depending on the length and reason for your visit.
All documents must be mailed in or dropped off in person for review. Upon acceptance, you will receive the visa which can be inserted into your passport.
The cost varies by country – typically between $50-200 and he process can take anywhere from three weeks to two months. Below are some popular countries with visa requirements. For a complete list, scroll to the end of this post.
Latin America
- Argentina: Visitors must pay a $160 reciprocity fee online before arrival (embassyofargentina.us). Print the receipt and take it with you (it’s good for ten years).
- Brazil: Visa required; $160.
- Chile: U.S citizens can get a free 90-day permit upon arrival at Santiago International Airport.*
- Nicaragua: Visa not required, but visitors must buy a $10 tourist card upon arrival.
- Panama: none required; a $5 tourist fee is included with airfare.
Europe
- Much of Mainland Europe: Visa not required; a valid passport for stays of less than 90 days.
- Belarus: Visa required; $160.
- Russia: Visa required; $160.
- Turkey: Visitors must complete an online form before arrival (evisa.gov.tr; $20).
Asia
- China: Visa required; $130. Visitors staying 72 hours or less (on a long layover to tour Shanghai, for example) don’t need a visa.
- Indonesia: Visa available upon arrival at bali’s ngurah rai international airport; $25. Brace yourself for lines.
- Maldives: Free visa on arrival.
- Thailand: Not required for stays of up to 30 days.
- Vietnam: Visa required; $100.
Africa
- Kenya: Visa required; $50.
- Tanzania: Visa required; $100
Oceania
- Australia: Visitors must complete an online form before arrival (eta.immi.gov.au; $18).
- New Zealand: Visa not required for stays under three months.
If time is an issue, there are private agencies that can assist you for a fee – $100-300 per visa.
Countries that require a visa:
| Required? Yes or No | ||
| Tourist | Business | |
| Afghanistan | Yes | Yes |
| Anguilla | No | No |
| Antigua | No | No |
| Argentina | Yes | Yes |
| Armenia | Yes | Yes |
| Aruba | No | No |
| Australia | Yes | Yes |
| Austria | No | No |
| Bahamas | No | No |
| Bangladesh | Yes | Yes |
| Barbados | No | No |
| Belgium | No | No |
| Belize | No | No |
| Bermuda | No | No |
| Botswana | No | No |
| Brazil | Yes | Yes |
| British Virgin Islands | No | No |
| Bulgaria | No | No |
| Cambodia | Yes | Yes |
| Canada | No | No |
| Cape Verde | Yes | Yes |
| Chile | No | No |
| China | Yes | Yes |
| Columbia | No | Yes |
| Congo Democratic Republic | Yes | Yes |
| Congo Republic | Yes | Yes |
| Cook Islands | Yes | Yes |
| Costa Rica | No | No |
| Croatia | No | No |
| Cuba | Yes | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | No |
| Czech Republic | No | No |
| Denmark | No | No |
| Dominican Republic | No | No |
| Ecuador | No | No |
| Egypt | Yes | Yes |
| El Salvador | No | No |
| Ethiopia | No | No |
| Falkland Islands | No | No |
| Fiji | No | No |
| Finland | No | No |
| France | No | No |
| French Guiana | No | No |
| French Polynesia | No | No |
| Germany | No | No |
| Ghana | Yes | Yes |
| Greece | No | No |
| Grenada | Yes | Yes |
| Guam | No | No |
| Guatemala | No | No |
| Guinea | Yes | Yes |
| Iceland | No | No |
| India | Yes | Yes |
| Indonesia | Yes | Yes |
| Iran | Yes | Yes |
| Iraq | Yes | Yes |
| Ireland | No | No |
| Israel | No | No |
| Italy | No | No |
| Ivory Coast | Yes | Yes |
| Kazakhstan | Yes | Yes |
| Kenya | Yes | Yes |
| Kosovo | No | No |
| Kuwait | Yes | Yes |
| Laos | Yes | Yes |
| Lebanon | Yes | Yes |
| Lithuania | Yes | Yes |
| Luxembourg | No | No |
| Madagascar | Yes | Yes |
| Malaysia | No | No |
| Maldives | Yes | Yes |
| Malta | No | No |
| Mexico | No | No |
| Monaco | No | No |
| Mongolia | No | No |
| Morocco | No | No |
| Namibia | No | Yes |
| Nepal | Yes | Yes |
| Netherlands | No | No |
| Netherlands | No | No |
| New Zealand | No | No |
| Nicaragua | No | No |
| Nigeria | Yes | Yes |
| North Korea | Yes | Yes |
| Norway | No | No |
| Pakistan | Yes | Yes |
| Palestine | Yes | Yes |
| Panama | Yes | Yes |
| Papua New Guinea | Yes | Yes |
| Paraguay | Yes | Yes |
| Peru | No | Yes |
| Philippines | Yes | Yes |
| Poland | No | No |
| Portugal | No | No |
| Qatar | Yes | Yes |
| Romania | Yes | Yes |
| Russia | Yes | Yes |
| Rwanda | No | No |
| Saint Kitts | No | No |
| Saint Lucia | No | No |
| Senegal | Yes | Yes |
| Serbia | No | No |
| Sierra Leone | Yes | Yes |
| Slovak Republic | No | No |
| Slovenia | No | No |
| Somalia | Yes | Yes |
| South Africa | No | No |
| South Korea | No | No |
| South Sudan | Yes | Yes |
| Spain | No | No |
| Sri Lanka | Yes | Yes |
| Sudan | Yes | Yes |
| Saudi Arabia | Yes | Yes |
| Sweden | No | No |
| Switzerland | No | No |
| Tahiti | No | No |
| Taiwan | No | No |
| Tanzania | Yes | Yes |
| Thailand | Yes | Yes |
| Trinidad | No | No |
| Tunisia | No | No |
| Turkey | Yes | Yes |
| Uganda | Yes | Yes |
| Ukraine | No | No |
| United Arab Emirates | Yes | Yes |
| United Kingdom | No | No |
| Uruguay | No | No |
| Venezuela | No | Yes |
| Vietnam | Yes | Yes |
| Yemen | Yes | Yes |
| Zambia | Yes | Yes |
| Zimbabwe | Yes | Yes |
A Wanderlust Girl 