June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova; North Korea; Russia; Israel
Jamaica
Jamaica;
An American passport is like a golden ticket: It allows you to visit nearly 190 destinations worldwide without getting a visa in advance of arrival.1 These include most countries in the Caribbean, North and South America, southern Africa, and Europe.
But what about the new ETIAS requirement for Europe? And how do you apply for a visa for all those other countries, such as China, Russia, Australia, Pakistan and Brazil? We’ve got the answers you’re looking for.
We also have travel insurance: the best way to defend yourself against unexpected travel chaos! See all plans.
A travel visa is an endorsement or document that gives you permission to enter another country for a specific length of time and purpose. For example, if you’re visiting a country on vacation, you may need a tourist visa that lets you stay for up to 30 days and prohibits you from seeking employment. If you’re studying abroad, you’d need a student visa that permits you to stay for 6 months (or more).
A travel visa can have a physical format, such as a stamp or a sticker affixed to your passport. Or, it may be an electronic travel document. Either way, don’t forget to get one! If you don’t have a visa for the country you’re traveling to, border control agents won’t let you in.
If you have an American passport, you can use our Travel Requirements by Country map to check the visa rules (and other entry requirements) for your destination. (Content is provided by Sherpa, an affiliated third party).
Each country is color-coded, so you can see at a glance if you need a visa, and if so, what kind. Click on your destination country to get more details. For nations that require an e-visa, you can click the link provided to start your application process. We also recommend double-checking your destination country’s visa requirements by looking it up on the U.S. Department of State’s country information site.
Starting in 2025, American tourists and other travelers will need an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) travel authorization to enter any of these 30 European countries.
ETIAS isn’t a visa. Rather, it’s an entry requirement for visa-exempt travelers that’s linked to your passport. With ETIAS, you can visit the listed countries for up to 90 days at a time in any 180-day period. It’s valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. When you get a new passport, you’ll need to get a new ETIAS travel authorization as well.2
Applying for ETIAS is pretty simple. You just need a valid passport (expiring at least three months from the application date). Then, go to the official EU ETIAS site and fill out an online ETIAS application with your personal information, passport info, and details about your travel history, travel plans, and any criminal convictions. You’ll also have to pay a fee of 7 euros, unless you’re under 18, older than 70, or a family member of an EU citizen or non-EU nationals.
Visa on arrival: A country will issue you this type of visa once you’re at the border entry point, whether you arrive by air, sea or land. Typically, you’ll need to pay a fee and have some documentation, which might include:
Electronic visa or e-visa: Countries that issue electronic visas typically require you to apply online before your trip. The pros of an electronic visa: You can submit all your documentation and pay the fee online, so there’s no uncertainty or waiting at the airport. The cons of an e-visa: It’s not always an instant process! You should apply at least a week ahead of time to ensure you get your visa before your trip.
Embassy visa: This is the hardest kind of travel visa to obtain, because it may require you to visit a local embassy, consulate or visa center (or, in some instances, send an agent to do so). If you need an embassy visa, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get one before your trip.
That depends on where you’re going. Some countries make it super easy to get a visa. Others… don’t.
Because getting travel visas is a specialized process from country to country, we can’t provide one set of steps that works for every destination and situation. That said, here are some general steps and tips to follow.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t panic. You can:
We can help in some, but not all situations. Here are a few possible scenarios…
If you or a traveling companion is refused a tourist visa by your destination or a transit country, that can be a covered reason for trip cancellation. However, if you’re unable to get a visa because the process is delayed, or takes too long, or because you didn’t comply with the visa requirements, your trip cancellation would not be covered.
If you forgot to get a visa or waited too long to get a visa before your trip, contact 24-hour assistance. Our travel experts can advise you on what you can do (if anything) to get a visa quickly, but they can’t obtain a visa for you or arrange your entry into a country without a visa.
If your passport, visa or other essential travel documents are stolen before your trip, that can be a covered reason for trip cancellation. You must report the theft and do your best to obtain replacement documents before your originally scheduled trip dates.
If your travel documents are lost or stolen during your trip, that may be a covered reason for trip interruption and/or travel delay benefits. Read your plan documents for details.
If you get into legal trouble during your trip for overstaying your visa or getting the wrong visa class for your purpose of travel, travel insurance can help connect you with an attorney and the U.S. embassy, as well as loved ones back home.
Traveling abroad soon? Don’t wait to buy your travel insurance! There’s no better time to get a quote.
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