Where U.S. Citizens Can Travel Without a Visa

For most Americans, the main thing you have to worry about before jetting off on vacation is making sure your passport is up-to-date. U.S. citizens can travel to most European, Caribbean, and Central and South American countries without a visa. However, that doesn’t mean you never have to check if your destination of choice requires one, as the rules frequently change.

U.S. citizens continue to have one of the world’s most powerful passports, according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index, which ranked it eighth in its 2024 list of the world’s passports. U.S. passports provide citizens with visa-free access to 186 destinations, including countries that require Electronic Travel Authorization (often called an eTA) or a visa on arrival.

How long can U.S. citizens stay in visa-free countries?

Of course, visa-free travel doesn’t give U.S. citizens the ability to go wherever they want for as long as they want. For example, U.S. citizens entering The Bahamas for tourism may stay up to 90 days, while those visiting Mexico can stay up to 180 days. U.S. citizens visiting Albania have a year before they need to get a residency permit.

Do U.S. citizens need a visa to travel to Europe?

U.S. citizens can travel to most European countries without a visa (Russia being a notable exception), but the European Commission plans to roll out the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) in 2025. Once the program is launched, citizens aged 18 to 70 from visa-exempt countries (like the U.S.) must apply for the ETIAS travel authorization and pay a €7 (roughly $7.50) fee before entering 30 European countries, including France, Iceland, Spain, and Greece.

The ETIAS authorization is linked to the traveler’s passport and is valid for three years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Approval for the ETIAS authorization will allow visa-exempt tourists to visit any of these 30 countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Visitors can leave and return as long as they don’t exceed the time limit.

What countries require U.S. citizens to get a visa?

If you want to see which countries require you to get a visa before traveling, start by visiting the Henley & Partners Passport Index and selecting the country from which your passport is issued. Then, you’ll see a list of countries and their visa requirements. You can then go to the U.S. Department of State travel site, which provides more specific details about passport and visa regulations.

Some countries, like China, require U.S. passport holders to go in person to an embassy, consulate, or visa processing center to have their documents reviewed and visa approved. Other countries, like India, have e-visa programs where you can apply for your visa online. The visa application process can be lengthy and expensive, so factor that in when choosing your departure date and trip budget.

An additional subset of countries like Egypt, Indonesia, Laos, and the Maldives have visa-on-arrival programs. These differ from traditional visas because you are not required to apply and receive visa approval in advance; your visa application is reviewed once you arrive in the country.