If you’re frustrated by the limited number of countries your passport allows you to visit visa-free, getting a US visa can be a game changer. With a US visa, your visa-free travel options expand effectively enhancing the power of your passport.
Why Do Countries Offer Visa Exemptions to US Visa Holders?
- Thorough Screening Process
Obtaining a US visa involves a rigorous screening process, making it one of the toughest visas to acquire. Holding a US visa indicates that you’ve already been thoroughly vetted, with no criminal history or intent to immigrate illegally. - Proof of Strong Home Ties
The US visa application process ensures that you have strong connections to your home country, minimizing the risk of illegal immigration. If you had intentions of overstaying, you could have done so in the US, which reassures other countries of your legitimate travel intentions. - Financial Considerations
Many developing countries lack the resources for extensive applicant screening. Since you’ve already been vetted by the US, these countries rely on that screening to save on costs while ensuring security.
Which US Visas Are Eligible?
Depending on the destination, the following US visas may grant you visa-free access:
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- US Tourist/Business Visa (B1, B2, B1/B2)
- US Work Visa (H1, L1)
- US Study Visa (F1, J1)
- US Transit/Crew Member Visa (C1, D, C1/D)
Refer to the specific country requirements below, as some may require a multiple-entry US visa that has been used at least once to enter the US.
Mexico
- Eligible Nationalities:
All nationalities. - Permitted US Visas:
All valid, used or unused, multiple-entry US visas. - Entry Granted:
Varies depending on your itinerary. - Entry Rules:
- Your US visa must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Mexico.
- Your passport must also be valid for the entire stay.
- Official Source:
National Institute of Migration, Mexico.
Belize
- Eligible Nationalities:
All nationalities. - Permitted US Visas:
All valid, used or unused, multiple-entry US visas. - Entry Granted:
Up to 30 days. - Official Source:
Embassy of Belize in Washington, DC, USA.
Costa Rica
- Eligible Nationalities:
All nationalities. - Permitted US Visas:
Valid, used, or unused, multiple-entry US visas (B1, B2, B1/B2, C1/D, D, F1, J1, H1, and L1). - Entry Granted:
Up to 30 days. - Entry Rules:
- B1, B2, B1/B2, C1/D, and D visas must be valid for at least 30 days from the date of arrival.
- F1, J1, H1, and L1 visas must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
- Official Source:
Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, DC, USA.
Nicaragua
- Eligible Nationalities:
Citizens of the following countries: - Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo (Republic), Eritrea, Haiti, India, Iraq, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Timor-Leste, Yemen, Vietnam.
- Permitted US Visas:
All valid, used or unused, multiple-entry US visas. - Entry Granted:
Up to 30 days. - Entry Rules:
- Visa is not exempt; however, you are eligible for a Visa on Arrival (VOA).
- VOA fee is USD 50, payable in cash in USD only, valid for 30 days and a single entry.
- In addition to the VOA fee, there is a USD 10 entry fee, a USD 2 land border migration fee (for land borders only), and a USD 1 municipality tax (for land borders only), all payable in USD only.
- Eligible Nationalities:
All nationalities. - Permitted US Visas:
All valid, used multiple-entry US visas. - Entry Granted:
Up to 30 days. - Entry Rules:
- The US visa must have been used at least once to enter the US.
- The US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
- The passport must be valid for at least 3 months from the date of arrival.
- Proof of financial solvency of at least $500 USD must be shown.
- Official Source:
Embassy of Panama in the USA.
Anguilla (British Territory)
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 90 days
- Official Source: Anguilla Tourist Board, entry requirements
Antigua and Barbuda
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 30 days
- Entry Rules:
- A visa is NOT EXEMPT, but eligible travelers can obtain a Visa ON ARRIVAL (VOA).
- The VOA fee is 100 USD, valid for 30 days with a single entry.
- The US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
- The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
- Official Source: Department of Immigration, Antigua and Barbuda
Bermuda (British Territory)
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 30 days
- Entry Rules:
- The US visa must be valid for at least 45 days beyond the departure date from Bermuda.
- The passport must be valid for at least 45 days beyond the departure date from Bermuda.
- Official Source: Government of Bermuda
British Virgin Islands (British Territory)
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 180 days
- Entry Rules:
- The US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
- Official Source: British Virgin Islands Tourism
Dominican Republic
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit visas (C1, C1/D)
- Entry Granted: 30 days
- Entry Rule:
- If arriving by land or sea, a departure tax of 20 USD must be paid before departure.
- If arriving by air, the departure tax is included in the airfare.
- Official Source: Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic
Turks and Caicos (British Territory)
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit visas (C1, C1/D)
- Entry Granted: 30 days
- Official Source: Ministry of Border Control of Turks and Caicos
Albania
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid USED multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 90 days
- Entry Rule: The US visa must have been used at least once to enter the United States before.
- Official Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities, except Kosovo
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 30 days
- Entry Rule: The US visa must be valid for at least 30 days from the date of arrival.
- Official Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Georgia
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 90 days
- Entry Rules:
- The US visa must be valid on the day of arrival in Georgia.
- The total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days within any 180 days.
- Official Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Montenegro
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 30 days
- Entry Rule: The US visa must be valid for the intended duration of the stay.
- Official Source: Government of Montenegro
North Macedonia
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 15 days
- Entry Rules:
- The US visa must be valid for at least 5 days beyond the intended duration of stay.
- The total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 3 months within any 6 months.
- Official Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia
Serbia
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 90 days
- Entry Rules:
- The US visa must be valid for the entire duration of the stay.
- The total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days within any 180 days.
- Official Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbi
Turkey
- Eligible Nationalities:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria (ages 15-18 and 35-65)
- Bangladesh
- Cape Verde
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- India
- Iraq
- Libya
- Nepal
- North Korea
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sri Lanka
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 30 days
- Entry Rules:
- A visa is NOT EXEMPT; eligible travelers must apply for a Turkey e-Visa online.
- The e-visa fee is 43 USD, valid for 180 days, and permits single entry only.
- Official Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey
United Kingdom
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 24 hours only (Transit Without Visa)
- Entry Rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but travelers can request a 24-hour transit entry at London (LHR) or Manchester (MAN) airports.
- Must be traveling to or from the United States only.
- Entry and departure must be by air only.
- Travelers must hold the boarding pass for the onward flight.
- The onward flight must be within 24 hours (either on the same day or the next day before midnight).
- Granting of the 24-hour entry is at the sole discretion of the immigration officer.
Bahrain
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 14 days or 30 days
- Entry Rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but travelers can obtain a Visa ON ARRIVAL (VOA) or Bahrain eVisa.
- Visa ON ARRIVAL (VOA):
- Single-entry VOA: Fee is 5 BD, valid for 14 days, entry up to 14 days.
- Multiple-entry VOA: Fee is 12 BD, valid for 3 months, entry up to 30 days.
- eVisa:
- Single-entry eVisa: Fee is 9 BD, valid for 14 days, entry up to 14 days.
- Multiple-entry eVisa: Fee is 16 BD, valid for 1 month, entry up to 14 days.
- For VOA: The US visa must be valid for the entire duration of stay in Bahrain.
- For eVisa: The US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
- Official Source: Bahrain eVisa Portal
Jordan
- Eligible Nationalities: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Congo, Dem. Rep. of, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Lao, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 90 days
- Entry Rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but travelers are eligible to apply for a Jordan eVisa.
- The US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
- Official Source: Jordan E-Visa
Qatar
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit visas (C1, C1/D)
- Entry Granted: 30 days
- Entry Rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but travelers can apply for an A3 Visa online via the Hayya Portal.
- The A3 eVisa fee is QAR 100, valid for 30 days, and allows for single entry only.
- A hotel booking for the entire stay must be provided, and reservations should be made through the Discover Qatar website.
- The US visa must be valid on the day of the A3 e-Visa application.
- Official Source: Qatar Tourist Board
Saudi Arabia
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: Valid USED multiple-entry US visas – B1, B2, B1/B2 only
- Entry Granted: 90 days
- Entry Rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but travelers are eligible to obtain a Visa ON ARRIVAL or a Saudi Arabia eVisa.
- VOA or eVisa fee is 300 SAR, valid for 1 year, with multiple entries (plus service fee and insurance fee).
- The US visa must have been used at least once to enter the US before.
- Official Source: Saudi Arabia Tourism Authority
Egypt
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid USED multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 30 days
- Entry Rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but travelers are eligible to obtain a Visa ON ARRIVAL at all international airports.
- VOA fee is $25 USD, valid for 30 days, and allows for single entry only.
- The US visa must have been used to enter the US at least once.
- Official Source: Egypt Tourism Department
Morocco
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 30 days
- Entry Rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but travelers are eligible to apply for a Morocco e-Visa.
- The e-visa fee is 770 MAD, valid for 180 days, and allows for single entry only.
- The US visa must be valid for at least 90 days from the date of arrival.
- Official Source: Morocco E-Visa Portal
Japan
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US Visas: Valid multiple-entry US RESIDENT visas such as H, L, F, J, etc.
- Entry Granted: 90 days
- Entry Rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but travelers are eligible to apply for a Japan eVisa.
- eVisa fee is JPY 3,000, valid for 90 days, and allows for single entry only.
- Proof of residence in the US must be submitted.
- The visa issuance confirmation must be shown on your phone at immigration (prints and PDFs are not accepted).
- Entry must be by flight only.
- Official Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Malaysia (Currently Suspended)
- Eligible Nationalities:
- Bangladesh
- India
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- Permitted US Visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry Granted: 120 hours (5 days)
- Entry Rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but travelers are eligible to obtain Transit Without Visa (TWOA) at the VOA counter.
- TWOA is free of charge, valid for 120 hours (5 days), and allows for single entry only.
- TWOA is available at Kuala Lumpur Airport (KLIA1 and KLIA2 terminals) only.
- Travelers must be in transit to the US and hold a confirmed onward eTicket or original boarding pass to the US within 120 hours. (Exceptions apply for longer-term pass holders such as work visas, student visas, permanent residents, etc., who can depart to any third country.)
- Issuance of TWOA is at the discretion of the immigration officers at Kuala Lumpur Airport.