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.

What are travel visas?

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.

Where do you need a visa to travel?

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.

Do I need an ETIAS travel visa for Europe?

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.

What are the different types of travel visa?

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:

• A passport with a certain amount of valid time and a minimum number of blank pages remaining
• Travel documents showing your return flight information, hotel information, and/or itinerary
• A passport-sized visa photo
• A completed and signed application (on paper or electronic)
• Proof of travel insurance (Which countries require travel insurance for entry?)

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.

How can you get a travel visa?

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.

1. Determine everything you’ll need to travel to your destination. The U.S. State Department is the best place to start. Here you can find whether you need a visa and learn any other travel guidelines or restrictions, from necessary immunizations to the length of stay a visa may grant you.
2. Get your passport details squared away. If renewal is approaching, now is a good time to make it happen. (Here's a helpful guide to getting and renewing a passport.) For travel to China, for example, you’ll need at least two blank pages and a six-month window of validity remaining.³
3. Call or visit the website of your destination’s embassy or consulate, or stop by the actual offices. Here you’ll want to determine the category of visa you’ll need. For example, to visit China, options include:
   a. Foreigners who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other non-business activities.
   b. Foreigners who intend to go to China as a tourist.
   c. Foreigners who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities.⁴
4. Complete the application. For an e-visa, this can be done online. If you need to submit a hard-copy application for an embassy visa, you should be able to print this off from the embassy’s website. You may need to photocopy and include other documents, such as the identification page of your passport, proof of residency, documentation of a legal name change, etc.
5. Take a picture. It’s best to print extra 2” X 2” passport photos and reuse them for visa applications if they’re recent and meet the visa specs.
6. Pay the fee. Visa fees may not be cheap. For example, China charges $140 for a single U.S. citizen’s travel visa with a standard four-day turnaround. For an extra $25, applicants can expedite turnaround to two or three days. Payment options include credit card, check or money order; cash is not accepted.⁵
7. Deliver the application. For an embassy visa, you may be asked to mail your passport, in which case you’ll want to track the shipment to ensure its safety. For a China travel visa, you or your assigned agent needs to physically walk the application package into the embassy or consulate—and pick it up. Other times, it’s as easy as including a self-addressed stamped envelope, or SASE, for the visa to be mailed to you when it’s been approved.

This is so complicated! Can someone help me get a travel visa?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t panic. You can:

• Contact the U.S. embassy of your destination nation for help
• Get guidance from your tour company or travel agent
• Call your Allianz Travel Insurance Concierge, if your travel insurance plan includes Concierge services. Our expert Concierge staff can advise you on how to get a visa for your destination.

If I have problems getting a visa or traveling with a visa, can travel insurance help?

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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