Visa-free for US citizens (tourism)
Thailand: no visa for stays up to 60 days (extendable 30 more at immigration). England/UK: no visa for visits up to 6 months, but the UK now requires an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation, ~£16) before boarding. Spain, Greece, Italy, France and the rest of the Schengen area: no visa for 90 days in any 180 — track your days with our Schengen calculator; the EU's ETIAS pre-travel authorization (€20) is being phased in. Hong Kong: 90 days visa-free. Singapore: 90 days visa-free with SG Arrival Card submitted online before landing. Argentina: 90 days visa-free. Aruba: up to 30 days as a tourist (extendable to 180), just the online ED card. Japan: 90 days visa-free. South Korea: 90 days with K-ETA exemption rules varying — check current status before travel.
E-visa or electronic authorization required
Turkey: US citizens need an e-Visa (about $50, multiple entry, 90 days in 180) obtained at evisa.gov.tr in minutes. Vietnam: e-Visa required (~$25 single entry / $50 multiple, 90 days) via the official immigration portal — allow 3–5 working days. India: e-Tourist visa required ($25–$80 depending on validity) via indianvisaonline.gov.in. Australia: ETA (Electronic Travel Authority, A$20) through the AustralianETA app. Qatar: free visa waiver on arrival for up to 30 days with a passport valid 6 months. Maldives: free 30-day visa granted on arrival to all tourists with a confirmed hotel booking and the IMUGA traveler declaration. Egypt and Kenya: e-visas required and issued online.
Full visa required in advance
China requires a consular visa for tourism (10-year multiple-entry visas are typically issued), though limited visa-free transit policies of up to 240 hours cover many itineraries through major cities. Russia requires a consular visa. For every destination, two universal rules apply: your passport should be valid at least 6 months beyond travel, and visa-free entry never permits work. Check our country-by-country visa-free database for the other 170+ destinations.
Related Questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Europe in 2026?
No visa for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. The ETIAS travel authorization (€20 online, multi-year validity) is being phased in as a pre-travel requirement — it is an authorization, not a visa.
Do US citizens need a visa for Thailand?
No — US passport holders receive 60 days visa-free on arrival, extendable once by 30 days at a local immigration office.
Do US citizens need a visa for Turkey?
Yes, an e-Visa: about $50 online at the official evisa.gov.tr site, issued within minutes, valid for multiple entries totaling 90 days in 180.
Do US citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes — apply for the 90-day e-Visa on Vietnam's official immigration portal (~$25 single / $50 multiple entry); processing takes about 3–5 working days.
Do US citizens need a visa for the Maldives or Aruba?
No advance visa for either. The Maldives grants a free 30-day visa on arrival (complete the IMUGA declaration); Aruba requires only the online ED card for stays up to 30 days.
Official Sources
- US Dept. of State – Country Information Pages
- EU – ETIAS Official Site
- UK Government – Electronic Travel Authorisation
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and processing times change; always confirm with the official government source before acting.