138 Ways To Utilize Your U.S. Passport
This is a very popular question among readers to the site. It makes sense as we are travelers of course. So I decided to create this post telling you that there are at least 138 countries you can visit without a visa using your U.S passport.
At Least 138 countries you can visit without a visa using your U.S. passport
Its a weird title for a post, but once you read it, you will see what I mean.
I’ve also added the other countries where a visa is required including whether or not you can apply online or on arrival. This is a work in progress so check back for updates.
As a companion product, I’ve included a link to my ebook: McKenzie Ultimate Guides: Five Essential Nuggets To Know When Applying for A Visitor’s Visa (PDF download) that will tell you how to go about applying for some of those visa plus some essential things you need to know about having a better international travel experience.
5 Essential Nuggets To Know When Applying For A Visitor’s Visa
What Is A Visa?
But first, what is a visa?
I met a lady from the UNWTO (United Nation World Tourism Organization) at a conference once and we had a good talk about visa requirements for different countries; yeah, I’m pretty geeky that way.
I’m still annoyed that we even have visa requirements in order to visit a country, but they are there and we just have to deal with it. She shared a public report with me showing that once the countries have relaxed visa requirements visitor numbers have increased of course.
Their goal is to convince more countries to relax or remove these requirements. Its a work in progress, so I thank them for doing this for us.
So a visa is basically a permit to visit a country of which you are not a citizen. Basically, you are proving that you won’t work in the country while visiting. Even when you get the visa, you may still be denied entry once you arrive in the country and are being interviewed.
I also wrote about the fact that you can visit China for 72 hours without a visa, but have to update it as its a different for airline staffers. I got a reminder from a reader; thanks.
Visa Issues
I get profiled all the time, it’s a pain, but that’s how travel works.
There was one month when I got randomly selected at every airport for additional screening albeit it was just TSA security. It was annoying, but what can I do?
I had zero issues leaving Israel, except that the lady did not give me my exit paper and thought she did, so I had to get another one which was not a problem as I guess it happens all the time, but I’ve heard horror stories about others on departure.
I’ve seen people of Indian citizenship be profiled and sent to quarantine and secondary screening while I’m asked nothing coming into the same country.
Some countries wave me through without asking anything, others ask me questions. As much as I can, I apply for the electronic entries, I’ve done so for three countries now. Most are free, but some do charge.
My bag has been searched when coming through customs in a predominantly Black country and the white travelers in front of me with multiple suitcases are waved through.
So it may be annoying, but it’s a process and you have to respect it even if you don’t like it or understand it. You’re not there on a daily basis to see what the Officers are seeing and dealing with.
People are denied entry to countries everyday.
Health Requirements
Always check the required health requirements to enter a country. This may involve getting vaccines before hand so its important to check early. It can also be very costly to get vaccinated.
Ground Rules
Despite the fact that no visa is required for these countries, you MUST bear the following items in mind. My updated book goes into much more details:
- Typically you can stay up to 90 days without a visa; some countries are 30 days
- Have at least two blank pages in your passport (some countries want more pages sometimes 6 blank pages; this is for visa stamps on arrival
- You may have to “apply” for a visa on arrival; sometimes this is just a formality
- Have a U.S. passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you will leave the country
- A ticket for onward/return travel via any mode of transportation
- You are not allowed to work while in the country; unless you are using a business visa
- You may be denied entry upon arrival and being interviewed by the Immigration officer
- You must have money to sustain you during your stay in the country
- Have a place to stay and be ready to prove it to the officials
- For some countries if you stay more than 72 hours a visa is required
- Check with the State Department Web site for all the rules for the country you want to visit. These will include health requirements
- Some countries require a form to be filled out before approaching the Immigration Officer; the airlines usually hand this out on the plane, if not you can get it on arrival.
So with the ground rules set, here is the list of countries. Have you visited any? Please leave a comment below and let me know. Also if you have a correction, be sure and let me know.
Countries You Can Visit Without/With A Visa Using Your U.S. Passport
| Country/Region | Area | Visa Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Botswana | Africa | N |
| 2 | Central African Republic | Africa | N |
| 3 | Equatorial Guinea | Africa | N |
| 4 | Lesotho | Africa | N |
| 5 | Malawi | Africa | N |
| 6 | Morocco | Africa | N |
| 7 | Swaziland | Africa | N |
| 8 | Tunisia | Africa | N |
| 9 | Canada | Americas | N |
| 10 | Chile | Americas | N |
| 11 | Colombia | Americas | N |
| 12 | Costa Rica | Americas | N |
| 13 | Ecuador | Americas | N |
| 14 | El Salvador | Americas | N |
| 15 | Falklands Islands | Americas | N |
| 16 | French Guiana | Americas | N |
| 17 | Guatemala | Americas | N |
| 18 | Mexico | Americas | N |
| 19 | Nicaragua | Americas | N |
| 20 | Panama | Americas | N |
| 21 | Paraguay | Americas | N |
| 22 | Peru | Americas | N |
| 23 | Prince Edward Island | Americas | N |
| 24 | San Andres & Providencia | Americas | N |
| 25 | St. Pierre & Miquelon | Americas | N |
| 26 | Suriname | Americas | N |
| 27 | United States | Americas | N |
| 28 | Uruguay | Americas | N |
| 29 | Venezuela | Americas | N |
| 30 | Antarctica | Antarctica | N |
| 31 | Brunei Darussalam | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 32 | French Polynesia | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 33 | Hong Kong SAR | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 34 | Japan | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 35 | Korea, Republic of (South Korea) | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 36 | Malaysia | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 37 | Mongolia | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 38 | Philippines | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 39 | Singapore | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 40 | Taiwan | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 41 | Thailand | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 42 | United Arab Emirates | Asia/Middle East | N |
| 43 | Albania | Europe | N |
| 44 | Andorra | Europe | N |
| 45 | Armenia | Europe | N |
| 46 | Austria | Europe | N |
| 47 | Belgium | Europe | N |
| 48 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Europe | N |
| 49 | Bulgaria | Europe | N |
| 50 | Croatia | Europe | N |
| 51 | Cyprus | Europe | N |
| 52 | Czech Republic | Europe | N |
| 53 | Denmark | Europe | N |
| 54 | Estonia | Europe | N |
| 55 | Finland | Europe | N |
| 56 | France | Europe | N |
| 57 | Georgia | Europe | N |
| 58 | Germany | Europe | N |
| 59 | Gibraltar | Europe | N |
| 60 | Great Britain | Europe | N |
| 61 | Greece | Europe | N |
| 62 | Greenland | Europe | N |
| 63 | Holy See (Vatican City) | Europe | N |
| 64 | Hungary | Europe | N |
| 65 | Iceland | Europe | N |
| 66 | Ireland | Europe | N |
| 67 | Isle of Man | Europe | N |
| 68 | Italy | Europe | N |
| 69 | Jersey | Europe | N |
| 70 | Kosovo | Europe | N |
| 71 | Latvia | Europe | N |
| 72 | Liechtenstein | Europe | N |
| 73 | Lithuania | Europe | N |
| 74 | Luxembourg | Europe | N |
| 75 | Macedonia, Republic of | Europe | N |
| 76 | Malta | Europe | N |
| 77 | Moldova, Republic of | Europe | N |
| 78 | Monaco | Europe | N |
| 79 | Montenegro | Europe | N |
| 80 | Netherlands | Europe | N |
| 81 | Norway | Europe | N |
| 82 | Poland | Europe | N |
| 83 | Portugal | Europe | N |
| 84 | Romania | Europe | N |
| 85 | San Marino | Europe | N |
| 86 | Serbia | Europe | N |
| 87 | Slovakia (Slovak Republic) | Europe | N |
| 88 | Slovenia | Europe | N |
| 89 | Spain | Europe | N |
| 90 | Sweden | Europe | N |
| 91 | Switzerland | Europe | N |
| 92 | Ukraine | Europe | N |
| 93 | American Samoa | Oceana | N |
| 94 | Fiji | Oceana | N |
| 95 | Guam | Oceana | N |
| 96 | Kiribati | Oceana | N |
| 97 | Marshall Islands | Oceana | N |
| 98 | Micronesia, Federated States of | Oceana | N |
| 99 | New Caledonia | Oceana | N |
| 100 | New Zealand | Oceana | N |
| 101 | Northern Mariana Islands | Oceana | N |
| 102 | Palau | Oceana | N |
| 103 | Samoa | Oceana | N |
| 104 | Solomon Islands | Oceana | N |
| 105 | Tonga | Oceana | N |
| 106 | Tuvalu | Oceana | N |
| 107 | Vanuatu | Oceana | N |
| 108 | Antigua & Barbuda | The Caribbean | N |
| 109 | Aruba | The Caribbean | N |
| 110 | Bahamas | The Caribbean | N |
| 111 | Barbados | The Caribbean | N |
| 112 | Belize | The Caribbean | N |
| 113 | Bermuda | The Caribbean | N |
| 114 | Bonaire | The Caribbean | N |
| 115 | Cayman Islands | The Caribbean | N |
| 116 | Curacao | The Caribbean | N |
| 117 | Dominica | The Caribbean | N |
| 118 | Dominican Republic | The Caribbean | N |
| 119 | Grenada | The Caribbean | N |
| 120 | Guadeloupe | The Caribbean | N |
| 121 | Guyana | The Caribbean | N |
| 122 | Haiti | The Caribbean | N |
| 123 | Honduras | The Caribbean | N |
| 124 | Jamaica | The Caribbean | N |
| 125 | Martinique | The Caribbean | N |
| 126 | Montserrat | The Caribbean | N |
| 127 | Netherland Antilles | The Caribbean | N |
| 128 | Puerto Rico | The Caribbean | N |
| 129 | Saba, St, Eustatius | The Caribbean | N |
| 130 | St. Kitts & Nevis | The Caribbean | N |
| 131 | St. Lucia | The Caribbean | N |
| 132 | St. Maarten | The Caribbean | N |
| 133 | St. Martin | The Caribbean | N |
| 134 | St. Vincent & The Grenadines | The Caribbean | N |
| 135 | Trinidad & Tobago | The Caribbean | N |
| 136 | Turks and Caicos Islands | The Caribbean | N |
| 137 | Virgin Islands, British | The Caribbean | N |
| 138 | Virgin Islands, US | The Caribbean | N |
| 139 | Bassas da India | Africa | N, A French territory |
| 140 | Mayotte | Africa | N, A French territory |
| 141 | Reunion Island | Africa | N, A French territory |
| 142 | China, People's Republic of | Asia/Middle East | N, but you need one for visit more than 72 hours |
| 143 | Western Sahara | Africa | N, Disputed territory (currently administered by Morocco) |
| 144 | Argentina | Americas | N, No Reciprocity fee of $160 for stays up to 90 days. Reciprocity fees must be paid online before departure for trips over 90 days; valid for 10 years |
| 145 | Cuba | The Caribbean | Tourist travel to Cuba is prohibited under U.S. law for U.S. citizens and others under U.S. jurisdiction. |
| 146 | Algeria | Africa | Y |
| 147 | Angola | Africa | Y |
| 148 | Benin | Africa | Y |
| 149 | Burkina Faso | Africa | Y |
| 150 | Burundi | Africa | Y |
| 151 | Cabo Verde (formerly Cape Verde) | Africa | Y |
| 152 | Cameroon | Africa | Y |
| 153 | Chad | Africa | Y |
| 154 | Congo (Brazzaville), Republic of | Africa | Y |
| 155 | Congo (Kinshasa), Democratic Repiblic of | Africa | Y |
| 156 | Djibouti | Africa | Y |
| 157 | Eritrea | Africa | Y |
| 158 | Ethiopia | Africa | Y |
| 159 | Gabon | Africa | Y |
| 160 | Gambia, The | Africa | Y |
| 161 | Ghana | Africa | Y |
| 162 | Guinea | Africa | Y |
| 163 | Guinea-Bissau | Africa | Y |
| 164 | Liberia | Africa | Y |
| 165 | Libya | Africa | Y |
| 166 | Mali | Africa | Y |
| 167 | Mauritania | Africa | Y |
| 168 | Mauritius | Africa | Y |
| 169 | Mozambique | Africa | Y |
| 170 | Namibia | Africa | Y |
| 171 | Niger | Africa | Y |
| 172 | Nigeria | Africa | Y |
| 173 | Rwanda | Africa | Y |
| 174 | Sao Tome and Principe | Africa | Y |
| 175 | Senegal | Africa | Y |
| 176 | Seychelles | Africa | Y |
| 177 | Sierra Leone | Africa | Y |
| 178 | Somalia | Africa | Y |
| 179 | South Sudan | Africa | Y |
| 180 | Sudan | Africa | Y |
| 181 | Togo | Africa | Y |
| 182 | Uganda | Africa | Y |
| 183 | Zambia | Africa | Y |
| 184 | Zimbabwe | Africa | Y |
| 185 | Bolivia | Americas | Y |
| 186 | Brazil | Americas | Y. This from the Brazilian Embassy. To facilitate the 2016 Rio Olympics, American, Australian, Canadian and Japanese citizens who are going to Brazil exclusively for tourism activities, entering Brazil between June 1st and September 18th, 2016, will be eligible for a 90 day, non-extendable, unilateral visa waiver counted from the first entry within that period. It will not be necessary to have a ticket for an official game to benefit from this waiver. |
| 187 | Afghanistan | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 188 | Bangladesh | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 189 | Bhutan | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 190 | Cambodia | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 191 | East Timor | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 192 | Korea, Democratic People's Rep. (North Korea) | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 193 | Laos, People's Democratic Republic | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 194 | Lebanon, People's Democratic Republic | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 195 | Myanmar | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 196 | Pakistan | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 197 | Saudi Arabia | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 198 | Syria, Syrian Arab Republic | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 199 | Tajikistan | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 200 | Turkmenistan | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 201 | Uzbekistan | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 202 | Vietnam | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 203 | Yemen | Asia/Middle East | Y |
| 204 | Azerbaijan | Europe | Y |
| 205 | Belarus | Europe | Y |
| 206 | Russian Federation | Europe | Y |
| 207 | Nauru | Oceana | Y |
| 208 | Saint Helena | Oceana | Y |
| 209 | Christmas Island | Asia/Middle East | Y, An Australian territory, apply online |
| 210 | Sri Lanka | Asia/Middle East | Y, apply online |
| 211 | Australia | Oceana | Y, apply online |
| 212 | Iran | Asia/Middle East | Y, except for Kish Island |
| 213 | Comoros | Africa | Y, on arrival |
| 214 | Egypt | Africa | Y, on arrival |
| 215 | Madagascar | Africa | Y, on arrival |
| 216 | South Africa | Africa | Y, on arrival |
| 217 | Tanzania (United Republic of Tanzania) | Africa | Y, on arrival |
| 218 | Bahrain | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 219 | Gaza Strip | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 220 | Indonesia | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 221 | Israel | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 222 | Jordan | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 223 | Kuwait | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 224 | Kyrgyzstan | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 225 | Macau | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 226 | Maldives | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 227 | Nepal | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 228 | Oman | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 229 | Qatar | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 230 | West Bank | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival |
| 231 | Papua New Guinea | Oceana | Y, on arrival |
| 232 | Iraq | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival for the Kurdish regions only for a 15 day visit |
| 233 | Kazakhstan | Asia/Middle East | Y, on arrival for up to 15 days |
| 234 | Turkey | Europe | Y, on arrival/online |
| 235 | Kenya | Africa | Y, online |
| 236 | India | Asia/Middle East | Y, online/on arrival |
| 237 | Cte d'Ivoire | Africa | Y, request online/receive on arrival |
| 238 | Tibet | Asia/Middle East | Y, special permit required |
| 239 | Clipperton Islands | Asia/Middle East | |
| 240 | Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Asia/Middle East | |
| 241 | Cook Islands | Asia/Middle East | |
| 242 | French Southern Territories | Asia/Middle East | |
| 243 | Palestinian Territories | Asia/Middle East | |
| 244 | Faroe Islands | Europe | |
| 245 | Jan Mayen | Europe | |
| 246 | Ashmore and Cartier Islands | Oceana | |
| 247 | Bouvet Islands | Oceana | |
| 248 | Cook Islands | Oceana | |
| 249 | Europa Island | Oceana | |
| 250 | Glorioso Islands | Oceana | |
| 251 | Heard Island and McDonald Islands | Oceana | |
| 252 | Juan de Nova Island | Oceana | |
| 253 | Niue | Oceana | |
| 254 | Pitcairn Islands | Oceana | |
| 255 | Tokelau | Oceana | |
| 256 | Tromelin Island | Oceana | |
| 257 | Wake Island | Oceana | |
| 258 | Wallis and Futuna | Oceana |
Companion Product: McKenzie Ultimate Guides: Five Essential Nuggets To Know When Applying for A Visitor’s Visa (PDF download)
Comments 20
Apparently, some countries require four blank pages in your US passport and I thought I had read elsewhere that some required six. http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/FAQs.html
Author
Hiya Suzanne,
Thanks for your comment.
I think its extremely rare that 4 or even 6 is required; its typically two. But you make a good point. I’ll update the post to suit.
I checked my passport about two weeks ago and I’m running out with still six years left with this passport. So I’m going to have to add pages; its already the 48 pages one.
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider
Very comprehensive research! Just to clarify re Iraq, a visit to the Kurdish regions in the north will allow you to obtain a 15 day visa on arrival only valid for the Kurdish regions. Visitng anywhere else in Iraq requires a visa in advance. Also, Kenya has just introduced an online visa regime that will be enforced from September 1. It means the visa must be obtained prior to arriving in Kenya.
Author
Hiya Shane,
Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you, I wanted it to be useful so I put a lot of work into it and still finishing it up.
You comments are well received and I’ll update the information as appropriate.
I’m so happy when countries improve their visa process as it makes it so easy for us to enjoy the cultures around the world.
I hope you are well in your travels.
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider
Kerwin,
Thank you kindly for sharing the list young man! I had no idea that Africa had so many countries which do not require a visa. Good news, if I can ever get my old rear end over there.
You made a comment about something being geeky or of that nature. I am probably the biggest geek in the world when it comes to food, not to mention passport requirements l. Had no idea countries limited your visits with a small amount of empty pages.
You also mentioned extra pages when you run low. How does one “add” pages to a passport? I realize this is a “Duh” question, but I don’t want to lose the stamps I have accumulated. Thanks and I appreciate the post!
Mike
Author
You are welcome Mike. Thanks for stopping by.
Yup, there are at least 12 countries in Africa you can check out and I’m just as bad as you are, I’ve only been to one of those. I’ve only visited 8 African countries in total so far.
Yes, the countries want to ensure that you have room for their visa as well as the entry and exit stamps. Typically, the visa is on one page and the entry/exit stamps are across from it. Why they would need more than two pages is beyond me. But those are their rules.
Extra passport pages can be had by following the instructions here. Not a “duh” question at all. I’ll have to get some added soon. I already have a 52 page passport, so will have to add 24 pages now. I think I’ll need a bigger pocket :-).
If you want it expedited, you can pop into your local regional office (not your post office) if you have one and they can do it the same day for an extra cost. You will need an airline ticket for travel within two weeks though.
I hope this answered your question Mike. Happy travels.
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com
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Now we have a list of countries that does not require visa from a US citizen. Any possibility we can come up with a list of countries who require a visa? When planning a trip, I would be more concerned with this list. We do realize visa requirements can and do change without notice.
Author
Hi Bobby,
Thanks for the note.
All the countries that require a visa shows a “Y” under the “Visa Required” Field. I hope this helps.
This is a list of all the countries and whether or not a visa is required.
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider
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[…] can see other country’s visa requirements in this article I wrote a […]
I am currently visiting Paraguay and you do need a visa. If you land at the main airport Silvio pettirossi International Airport you pay $160 for a 10-year Visa. Which is multiple entries of 90 days at a time for a total of six months per year.It is well worth the money as everything else is super cheap.
I am currently visiting Paraguay and you do need a visa. If you land at the main airport Silvio pettirossi International Airport you pay $160 for a 10-year Visa. Which is multiple entries of 90 days at a time for a total of six months per year.It is well worth the money as everything else is super cheap.
Prince Edward Island (#23) is a Canadian province and is not a country.
Prince Edward Island (#23) is a Canadian province and is not a country.
Very well written! Thank you very much for sharing your honest and warm thoughts with everyone! Hope we’ll stay in touch and meet soon again!