Most African countries require American visitors to hold visas, but some also allow visitors to procure their visas directly upon arrival. Visitors to the following countries should apply for visas in advance: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, the Cape Verde islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and Togo. Visitors can usually get visas upon arrival in: Burkina Faso, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Visitors to Comoros can get a 24-hour visa upon arrival but must extend it at the immigration office in Moroni. Visas are available at Madagascar airports but often take a while to process. Visitors to Mauritania will need a sponsor to get a visa. Guinea-Bissau also requires visas, but these are difficult for Americans to obtain since the country has no American embassy. Embassies in Portugal and Senegal can issue them.
The following Asian countries require America travelers to obtain visas in advance: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, China outside of Macao, Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Visas are available upon arrival in: Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste. Note that one airport in Indonesia, Banda Aceh in Sumatra, does not issue visas. American visitors to Vietnam need a visa but often can apply to the embassy for an exemption. Travel to Bhutan requires a visa, and these are available only to organized travel groups, not individuals. Myanmar and North Korea also require visas but rarely issue them to Americans.
Americans can travel to most European countries without a visa. Travelers to Russia, however, need to acquire a visa in advance, and visitors to Turkey can get a visa upon arrival. Albania does not require a visa, but visitors might have to pay a 10-euro entry fee without one.
Almost all countries in North America do not require U.S. visitors to have visas. The lone exception is Cuba, although the U.S. embargo makes travel there difficult. Both Panama and the Dominican Republic issue tourists cards in lieu of visas to U.S. visitors.
Visitors to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Syria and--as of Feb. 5, 2010--Yemen need to acquire visas in advance of travel. Americans can get visas upon arrival in Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Note that Jordan will not issue visas at the King Hussein Bridge on the border with Israel. Visitors to Saudi Arabia for tourism purposes can obtain visas only as a part of an approved tour group.
The only country in Oceania to require a visa for all U.S. travelers is Papua New Guinea, and this is available upon arrival. Australia and New Zealand technically require visas for American visitors, but New Zealand allows application for a visa waiver and Australia offers online registration for an Electronic Travel Authority, which replaces a visa.
Four South American countries require U.S. residents to apply for visas in advance of their visit: Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Suriname. Chile issue a visa upon arrival, and these remain valid until the visitor's passport expires. Venezuela lets tourists in with tourist cards distributed on incoming flights but requires visas for business travelers.
