19 popular destinations you need a visa or ETA to travel to with an American passport

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 require Americans to jump through some hoops to visit. As of January 2026, at least 20 countries require American citizens to obtain either a tourist visa or another form of electronic travel authorization prior to visiting, and that doesn’t yet include Europe’s ETIAS “visa” system, which rolls out later this year.Note that this list does not include countries that the U.S. Department of State has advised U.S. citizens to avoid 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.AustraliaJAMES O’NEIL/GETTY IMAGESType: Australian Electronic Travel AuthorityHow to apply: With the Australian ETA app or online through the Australian governmentLength of time: Valid for unlimited stays up to three months each within a 12-month periodCost: 20 Australian dollars (about $13)Processing time: Within one business dayBhutanRUI T GUEDES/500PXType: Bhutanese visaHow to apply: Online through the Bhutan governmentLength of time: Valid for the scheduled travel period; airport tickets cannot be purchased until visa clearance is receivedCost: $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 daysBrazilMURATKOC/GETTY IMAGESType: Brazilian eVisaHow to apply: Online through the Brazilian government-authorized websiteLength of time: Valid for travel for up to 90 days within one yearCost: $80.90Processing time: Up to five business daysChinaJACKAL PAN/GETTY IMAGESType: Chinese tourist visaHow 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 moreCost: $140Processing time: Four business daysRelated: Americans no longer need a visa to visit China for up to 10 days if they’re transiting to another destinationEgyptPAUL PANAYIOTOU/GETTY IMAGESType: Egyptian eVisaHow to apply: Online through the Egyptian Ministry of Interior or on arrival at Egyptian airportsLength of time: Valid for visits up to 30 days over a 90-day periodCost: $25 for a one-time entry, $60 for a multiple-entry visaProcessing time: Two to seven business daysIndiaJAROMIR/GETTY IMAGESType: Indian eVisaHow to apply: Online through the Indian Bureau of ImmigrationLength of time: Valid for visits up to 30 days over one yearCost: $10 to $80, depending on time of visit and length of validityProcessing time: 72 hoursGhanaCLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUYType: Ghanaian VisaHow to apply: Online through the Embassy of GhanaLength of time: Valid for one visit up to 30 days over a period of three months, or multiple visits over a longer periodCost: $60 for a single-entry visa, $100 for multiple entriesProcessing time: 15 to 20 business days from receipt of hard-copy applicationIndonesiaAFRIANDI/GETTY IMAGESType: Indonesian visa on arrivalHow 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 airportsLength of time: Valid for one trip (up to 30 days long) within 90 days of issuanceCost: 500,000 Indonesian rupiahs (about $30)Processing time: N/AKenyaPAWEL.GUAL/GETTY IMAGESType: Kenyan Electronic Travel AuthorisationHow to apply: Online through the Directorate of Immigration ServicesLength of time: Valid for 90 days from the date of issuanceCost: $30Processing time: Three business daysMaldivesTHE HALCYON PRIVATE ISLES MALDIVES/MARRIOTTType: Maldives VisaHow to apply: Upon arrivalLength of time: 30 days, extendable up to 90 daysCost: Free (however, proof of onward travel is required)Processing time: N/ANamibiaNATPHOTOS/GETTYIMAGESType: Namib VisaHow to apply: Online through the Namibian EmbassyLength of time: Three monthsCost: $90 for single entry, $180 for multiple-entry good for three monthsProcessing time: Three business daysNew ZealandMATTHEW MICAH WRIGHT/GETTY IMAGESType: New Zealand Electronic Travel AuthorityHow to apply: Online through New Zealand Immigration or on the appLength of time: Valid for travel up to three months, from two years of issuanceCost: 17 New Zealand dollars ($10) on the app, 23 New Zealand dollars ($13) online. You must also pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of 100 New Zealand dollars ($58)Processing time: 72 hoursSeychellesERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUYType: Seychelles Travel AuthorisationHow to apply: Online through the Seychelles’ official government siteLength of time: Three months, extendable to 12 monthsCost: 10.90 euros ($13)Processing time: One daySri LankaKANWAL SANDHU/GETTY IMAGESType: Sri Lanka ETAHow to apply: Online at the Sri Lankan official government visa pageLength of time: Valid for stays up to 30 daysCost: $50Processing time: Three daysTanzaniaGETTY IMAGESType: Tanzanian visaHow to apply: Online through Tanzania immigration or in person at some points of entryLength of time: Multiple entries for up to one year (note that U.S. citizens can not apply for a single-entry visa)Cost: $100Processing time: Up to 10 business daysUnited KingdomELENA ZOLOTOVA/GETTY IMAGESType: Electronic Travel Authorisation (although not technically a visa, the ETA is similar to the U.S.’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 (more information)Length of time: Valid for multiple visits of up to six months over two yearsCost: 16 British pounds (about $22)Processing time: Up to three business daysVietnamVITHUN KHAMSONG/GETTY IMAGESType: Vietnamese electronic visaHow to apply: Online through the Vietnamese governmentLength of time: Valid for single or multiple entries within 90 days of issuanceCost: $25 for single entry, $50 for multiple entriesProcessing time: Three business daysZambia and ZimbabweIGNACIO PALACIOS/GETTY IMAGESType: KAZA UniVisa (Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area UniVisa; allows multiple entries to Zambia and Zimbabwe and day access to Botswana)How to apply: On arrival at international ports of entry or via Zambia ImmigrationLength of time: Up to 30 days within a 12-month period; not extendableCost: $50 cash or $50.55 credit card (it’s advisable to carry cash as credit card processing isn’t always available)Processing time: N/ABottom lineGiven that processing timelines, fees and even application requirements may 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:When and how to renew your passportPassport mistakes to avoidEverything you need to know about emergency passportsEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.