Passport validity & visa rules by country
Of the 28 destinations we track, 12 require your passport to be valid for six months. Others only require validity for your stay or for three months after you leave. 23 let U.S. citizens visit for short tourist stays without a traditional visa, though many still require an ETA or an arrival form.
| Destination | Passport validity | Visa / entry documents |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Passport must be valid on entry. | No visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. |
| Australia | Passport must be valid on entry and for your intended stay. | U.S. citizens need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601) before travel, applied for through Australia's official app or website. |
| Bahamas | Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. | No visa for tourism. Flying requires a passport book; closed-loop cruises from a U.S. port may accept other WHTI documents, but the book is safest. |
| Brazil6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months on arrival. | U.S. citizens need a visa; Brazil issues an official e-Visa online for tourism and business. |
| Canada | Passport must be valid for the length of your stay. | No visa for tourism. Flying in, U.S. citizens do not need an eTA, but you do need a passport book. Driving or arriving by sea, a passport card or other WHTI-compliant document is accepted. |
| China6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months with blank visa pages. | A visa is normally required and applied for at a Chinese consulate. Some visa-free transit and short-stay programs exist — confirm before booking. |
| Colombia | Passport must be valid on entry. | No visa for tourist stays. Travelers complete Colombia's Check-Mig online form before each flight. |
| Costa Rica6 months | Passport must be valid for at least one day beyond arrival, but airlines often require six months — carry more validity than the minimum. | No visa for tourist stays up to 180 days. Proof of onward travel is checked. |
| Dominican Republic | Passport must be valid on entry. | No visa for tourism. An electronic entry and exit form is completed online before travel. |
| Egypt6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond arrival. | A visa is required; most travelers use Egypt's official online e-Visa or obtain a visa on arrival. |
| India6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date. | A visa is required. Most tourists use the official e-Visa, applied for online days before travel. |
| Indonesia (Bali)6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond arrival. | A visa on arrival or official e-VOA is required, plus an electronic customs declaration. |
| Ireland | Passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. | No visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. Ireland is not in the Schengen Area and is not covered by ETIAS. |
| Israel6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond arrival. | U.S. citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) before boarding for visa-exempt visits. |
| Jamaica | Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. | No visa for tourism. Travelers complete Jamaica's online immigration and customs form before arrival. |
| Japan | Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. | No visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. Immigration and customs declarations are filed online before arrival. |
| Kenya6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months. | U.S. citizens must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization before travel; the older e-visa has been replaced. |
| Mexico | Passport must be valid for the length of your stay. | No visa for tourist stays. Flying requires a passport book; land and sea crossings accept a passport card. A tourist card (FMM) may be issued on arrival. |
| New Zealand | Passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your departure date. | U.S. citizens need a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) plus the International Visitor Levy before boarding. |
| Philippines6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your stay. | Visa-free entry for short tourist visits, with proof of onward travel and an online arrival registration. |
| Schengen Area (France, Spain, Italy, Germany and more) | Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area, and issued within the previous ten years. | No visa for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The EU's ETIAS travel authorization is being phased in — check the official site before you book. |
| South Africa | Passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended departure. | No visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. |
| South Korea | Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. | Visa-free for short tourist stays. Korea's K-ETA requirement has been temporarily waived for U.S. citizens in recent years — verify current status before departure. |
| Thailand6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond arrival. | Visa exemption for tourist stays. Thailand requires a digital arrival card completed online shortly before you arrive. |
| Türkiye (Turkey) | Passport must be valid for at least 150 days beyond your arrival date. | U.S. citizens can visit visa-free for short stays; confirm current rules before booking. |
| United Arab Emirates6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months on arrival. | U.S. citizens receive a visa on arrival for short visits. |
| United Kingdom | Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. | U.S. citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (UK ETA) before boarding for visits of up to six months. Apply online before you travel. |
| Vietnam6 months | Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond arrival. | A visa is required; Vietnam issues an official e-Visa online for most travelers. |
Also check: arrival cards and pre-arrival forms · how validity rules work · renew your passport
Summaries checked 2026-09-01 against State Department country pages. Confirm on the official page before booking.