The US passport ranks 35th in the world as of January 2023. This means that US citizens can travel visa-free to countries in the world. However, to enter the remaining countries, US passport holders must apply for a visa beforehand.
Where Can US Passport Holders Travel Without a Visa?
As of January 2023, US passport holders can travel visa free to 143 countries and territories:
- Albania
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Caribbean Netherlands
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chile
- Colombia
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Curaçao
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Estonia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- French West Indies
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niue
- North Macedonia
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palestine
- Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Réunion
- Romania
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States Virgin Islands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Eswatini
For visa-free travels, you still must have a valid passport — usually six months after your departure date— and you must purchase travel health insurance as required by your destination country.
What Countries Issue eVisa to US Citizens?
The following 10 countries issue eVisas for US passport holders:
- Angola
- Azerbaijan
- Benin
- Djibouti
- India
- Kenya
- Myanmar
- Suriname
- Türkiye
- Vietnam
The process of getting an eVisa is more or less the same as applying for a traditional visa. However, in this case, you don’t have to visit a visa application center— you can submit your application online, including the visa payment.
After your application is approved, you will receive an email confirming your visa status along with a document you must print out and bring with you when crossing the border. Your visa will be registered online, but some officers may ask you for a physical copy of the permit; that is why it’s important to keep the copy on your person while traveling.
What Countries Issue Visa on Arrival to US Passport Holders?
If you are an US citizen, you can get a visa on arrival for the 43 countries listed below:
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cabo Verde
- Comoros
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- Saint Helena
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Gambia
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
You receive a visa on arrival (VOA) after entering the country that issues such a visa. Usually, there is a separate section at the airport where you can submit your application for your visa on arrival.
Which Countries Are US Passport Holders Not Allowed to Enter?
US passport holders are not allowed to enter Cuba, North Korea, Syria.
Countries With Visa Requirements for US Citizens
You need a valid visa to enter the following 27 countries with an US passport:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Belarus
- Bhutan
- Cameroon
- Chad
- China
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Republic of the Congo
- Ivory Coast
- Eritrea
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Iran
- Japan
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Nauru
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Russia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
- Yemen
The application for a visa goes as follows:
- Make an appointment at the visa center in United States. You must contact a local visa application center in your home country and make an appointment to submit your application. It may take several months to schedule a meeting with the embassy or consulate.
- Get your documents ready. To submit a successful application, you have to prepare the required documents for your visa, i.e., passport, application form, health insurance, etc. Some of your documents must be verified with an apostille stamp or certified by a foreign office.
- Submit your application. Finally, you can submit your application and attend the visa interview—you may also be required to submit your biometrics. Once you translate your documents as required by the embassy or consulate and verify them with an apostille stamp— if possible, then you can submit your application. From then it will take several weeks until a decision is made regarding your visa application.
Please note that if you have a valid visa that allows you to enter more than one country, you don’t have to apply for a new visa.
What Documents Do US Citizens Need to Apply for a Visa?
US citizens that want to visit countries that require them to apply for a visa beforehand need to submit a few documents. Depending on the country you want to visit, document requirements may vary. However, most countries will certainly require the following:
- Your valid US passport (plus a photocopy). Some countries require the passport to be valid for more than six months after the day you plan on departing their country.
- A filled visa application form.
- Passport pictures that are not older than six months.
- Travel health insurance that covers your entire period of stay.
- Proof of paid visa fee.
- Detailed travel itinerary that shows all the places you want to visit.
- Letter of invitation (if applicable)
- Proof of booked return ticket for the flight home.
- Proof of booked accommodation.
- Proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your visit
- Civil status documents (marriage papers, certificates of birth, etc.)
Important: Please note that your visa will most likely be rejected if you have a previous criminal history.