An American passport is one of the best for traveling the world. Not THE best, but I’m not complaining! We are lucky to not have to worry about acquiring a tourist visa before visiting many countries. Unfortunately, it isn’t all destinations. Always be aware of what the requirements are for visiting other countries when planning a trip abroad. It would be a shame to show up at the airport and be turned away. Fortunately, I have compiled a list of the countries and territories that are currently visa-free travel for Americans as of January 2024.
I will continuously update this list, but double checking this information is always a good idea. The U.S. State Department has an easy way to check what the requirements are along with other valuable travel information.
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Learn About Your Destination Tool
The U.S. State Department’s Learn About Your Destination search tool is a go to website that all American travelers should visit before planning their vacation abroad. It is very easy to use and has important information such as travel advisories, passport validity length, vaccination requirements or recommendations, currency restrictions for entry and exit, and visa requirements.
After searching your destination you will see a page similar to this:
The facts are laid out in a very effortless format. It is easy to see if there are tourist visa requirements or not. This example is for Ecuador. As you can see there are no requirements for a tourist visa if you are planning on staying for less than 90 days in any 12-month period.
In contrast, here is Ethiopia’s quick facts page:
As you can see, a tourist visa is required for entry. All countries have their own system for their visa, so the link is provided and you are taken to a new webpage with all the requirements and information.
If you don’t see a link directly in the Quick Facts section, you can access more information below it. You will see something like this:
Click on the + next to Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements. This will expand out and give you all the information you need for getting the visa. Here’s an example from Oman.
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Destinations that are Visa-Free Travel for Americans
Now, planning a trip abroad without worrying about getting a visa does take away at least one headache. As of January 2024, US passport holders can travel visa free to these 128 countries and territories:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Anguilla*
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil**
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Curaçao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Falkland 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
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Palau
- Palestine
- Panama
- Peru
- Phillipines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Principe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- St. Vincent and The Grenadines
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Turks and Caicos
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- US Virgin Islands
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
*Please note that Anguilla doesn’t require a visa but it does have a few entry requirements such as a return flight ticket, etc…
**Brazil has just recently changed their visa requirements. Scroll down to the bottom of this article to learn more.
If you do decide to travel to one of these countries, be sure to view how long you are allowed to stay in each place. It varies by country. Sometimes it can be 30 days and other times you can stay visa free for 180 days. Also, things are always changing, so a quick check on the State Department’s website is always good practice.
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Recent Changes and News Regarding Visa-Free Travel for Americans (updated January 15, 2024)
Türkiye
At the beginning of January, Türkiye removed the on-site visa requirements for U.S. and Canadian citizens to enter the country. This makes it even easier to visit this scenic and hospitable country. Check out more details in this article from Travel + Leisure.
China
Traveling to China has also become easier! “Now, Americans who want to get a Chinese tourist visa (L-visa) no longer have to submit proof of a round-trip flight booking, a hotel reservation, an organized itinerary or a letter of invitation,” according to CNN.
Brazil
Brazil currently doesn’t require a tourist visa for U.S. citizens but as of April 10, 2024, this will change. If you plan on traveling to Brazil after this date, you can apply for the tourist visa online here. Currently the requirements are a fee of $80.90 USD, proof of round-trip tickets, a passport and a bank statement with at least $2000 dollars.
Summary
Don’t see your bucket list destination on the list of visa-free entry countries and territories? Many countries have a simple visa process like applying online for the visa or by paying the fee upon arrival. Visit The U.S. State Department’s Learn About Your Destination search tool and see what the requirements are for your dream vacation location. Otherwise, keep it simple and choose a location from this list. Happy traveling in 2024!
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