An eVisa is a visa issued through an electronic application system. Eligible travelers complete the application online, upload the required passport and travel documents, pay the fee, and receive the decision electronically.
U.S. citizens do not use the same application route for every destination. A country may require an eVisa, an electronic travel authorization, a visa on arrival, a traditional visa, or no visa for a short tourist visit.
Confirm the document required for an ordinary U.S. passport, the permitted travel purpose, passport-validity rule, maximum stay, number of entries, accepted ports, government fee, and application website before paying.
What Is an eVisa?
An eVisa is an entry visa requested through a government website. The approval may be linked to the passport number, issued as a PDF, or both. Some countries still require travelers to print the approval and carry it during the trip.
An approved eVisa allows the traveler to present a request for entry. Immigration officials make the final admission decision at the border.
eVisa
A visa applied for and issued electronically before travel. Examples include Brazil, Cambodia, Egypt, and Vietnam.
Electronic Travel Authorization
A digital pre-travel authorization used for visa-exempt travelers. Australia calls its document an ETA, and Sri Lanka uses an ETA for short tourist visits.
Visa on Arrival
A visa requested after reaching an eligible airport or border crossing. Some destinations also offer advance online applications.
Traditional Visa
A visa issued by an embassy or consulate, often as a sticker placed in the passport. This route remains necessary for some destinations and travel purposes.
For a broader comparison, see our travel visa requirements guide and our visa-on-arrival guide.
How to Apply for an eVisa
- Confirm that ordinary U.S. passport holders qualify for the electronic application route.
- Select the visa category that matches the reason for travel.
- Check the required passport validity, blank pages, and permitted entry points.
- Complete the application using information that matches the passport exactly.
- Upload the required photo, passport image, itinerary, lodging details, or supporting letter.
- Review the government fee and any separately identified third-party service charge.
- Save the application number, payment receipt, and approval document.
Check the web address before entering passport or payment information. Search results frequently display commercial visa services above the official government portal. A private company may charge a service fee in addition to the government fee.
Application Checks That Prevent Common Problems
Use the Correct Visa Category
Tourist, business, work, study, transit, medical, and family-visit visas have different rules. A tourist eVisa does not authorize employment or formal study.
Check the Number of Entries
A single-entry visa becomes unusable after you leave the country. Travelers who plan to cross a nearby border and return may need a double-entry or multiple-entry document.
Confirm the Port of Entry
Some electronic visas are accepted only at specified airports, seaports, or land crossings. The approval does not override restrictions on the place of entry.
Check Passport Validity Before Applying
The expiration date must satisfy the destination's rule. The required period may be measured from arrival, departure, or the end of the authorized stay. Review the passport-validity requirements by country before submitting the visa application.
If the passport expires too soon, renew it before applying. Travelers with a close departure date should compare the expedited and urgent passport renewal options currently available. Courier service speeds depend on the application, government processing, appointment or agency capacity, and delivery.
Do Not Assume Online Means Immediate
Electronic applications still require government review. Processing can take several working days or longer when documents are incomplete, demand is high, or additional screening is required.
Save the Application Records
- Account username and password
- Application or registration number
- Email address used for the application
- Payment receipt
- Copies of uploaded documents
- Approved eVisa or authorization
Print the approval when the destination instructs travelers to carry a paper copy.
Popular eVisa Destinations and Important Exceptions
Last reviewed: July 21, 2026.
Visa policies, fees, and official portals can change. Confirm the current requirement with the destination government before applying.
Brazil eVisa
U.S. citizens need a visa for tourism, business, transit, sports, and artistic activities in Brazil. Eligible travelers can apply online before departure. Tourist stays are generally limited to 90 days per year.
See our Brazil eVisa guide for U.S. citizens or use the official Brazil eVisa portal.
Cambodia eVisa
Cambodia's tourist eVisa is single-entry, valid for use within three months, and permits a stay of one month. The government fee is currently $30.
See our Cambodia eVisa guide or use the official Cambodia eVisa portal.
Egypt eVisa
Egypt offers single-entry and multiple-entry tourist eVisas. A tourist stay is generally limited to 30 days. The official portal currently lists a $30 single-entry fee and a $65 multiple-entry fee.
See our Egypt eVisa guide or use the official Egypt eVisa portal.
India eVisa
India issues eVisas for tourism, business, medical treatment, conferences, and other approved purposes. Tourist options include 30-day, one-year, and five-year visas, but entry limits and permitted stays depend on the category.
See our India eVisa guide or use the official India eVisa portal.
Saudi Arabia Tourist eVisa
Eligible U.S. travelers can apply online for a Saudi tourist eVisa. The visa may be used for tourism, events, family visits, and Umrah outside the Hajj season. Work and study require different authorization.
See our Saudi Arabia tourist eVisa guide or check the official Saudi tourism visa portal.
Türkiye: U.S. Tourists Generally Do Not Need an eVisa
Ordinary U.S. passport holders traveling for tourism generally do not need a visa for stays of 90 days or less within a 180-day period. Longer stays, work, study, and official travel follow different rules.
See our Türkiye entry and eVisa guide for the current exceptions.
Vietnam eVisa
Vietnam issues single-entry and multiple-entry eVisas for up to 90 days. The government fee is $25 for single entry and $50 for multiple entries.
See our Vietnam eVisa guide or use the official Vietnam eVisa portal.
Electronic Visa and Related Entry Routes by Destination
The table includes destinations from the previous version of this page. It distinguishes eVisas from ETAs, visas on arrival, and countries where ordinary U.S. passport holders no longer need a tourist visa.
| Destination | Route for Ordinary U.S. Passport Holders | Typical Tourist Stay | Official Application or Guidance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angola | eVisa / pre-authorization | Up to 30 days | Angola SME eVisa portal | Approval is requested online before travel. Check the permitted entry point and extension rules on the issued document. |
| Australia | ETA | Up to 3 months per visit | Australian Home Affairs | The ETA generally permits repeated visits during a 12-month period. It is not called an eVisa. |
| Azerbaijan | eVisa | Up to 30 days | Official Azerbaijan eVisa portal | Apply before travel and carry the electronic approval. |
| Bahrain | eVisa | Varies by visa type | Bahrain eVisa service | Use the eligibility and visa-type tools to confirm the available stay and number of entries. |
| Benin | eVisa | 30 or 90 days | Benin eVisa portal | Tourist and business visitors must obtain a visa before travel. Visa on arrival is not offered. |
| Brazil | eVisa | Up to 90 days per year | Official Brazil eVisa portal | The visa requirement for U.S. citizens resumed in 2025. |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Online request + airport issuance | Use the period shown on approval | Côte d'Ivoire eVisa information | Request the visa online before travel. The eVisa is issued on arrival at Abidjan's international airport. |
| Djibouti | Visa in advance or on arrival | Varies by visa issued | Current Djibouti visa guidance | Djibouti discontinued its eVisa system. Do not use an old eVisa application link. |
| Egypt | eVisa | 30 days per visit | Official Egypt eVisa portal | Single-entry and multiple-entry tourist eVisas are available. |
| Ethiopia | eVisa | 30 or 90 days | Official Ethiopia eVisa portal | Tourist eVisas are single-entry. Check the current approved entry points before travel. |
| Gabon | Check before booking | Not reliably available to U.S. citizens | Current State Department guidance | Gabon announced a suspension of visa issuance to U.S. citizens effective January 1, 2026. Confirm with the nearest Gabonese embassy. |
| Guinea-Bissau | Visa on arrival or embassy visa | Commonly up to 90 days | Current Guinea-Bissau guidance | The prior page listed an eVisa, but current guidance identifies visa on arrival or advance embassy issuance. |
| Kuwait | eVisa | Up to 90 days | Kuwait Ministry of Interior visa portal | Select the tourism visa and confirm the authorized stay on the approval. |
| Oman | eVisa | Common tourist options allow up to 30 days | Royal Oman Police eVisa portal | The available visa class depends on nationality, residence, sponsorship, and trip length. |
| Papua New Guinea | eVisa | 60 days | Papua New Guinea eVisa portal | Tourist visitor visas are generally single-entry and do not permit work. |
| Rwanda | Visa on arrival or online visa | 30 days single entry; 90 days multiple entry | Rwanda visitor visa information | Nationals of all countries may obtain a visa on arrival. Online application is also available. |
| Sri Lanka | ETA | 30 days | Official Sri Lanka ETA portal | U.S. citizens became eligible for a free 30-day tourist ETA on May 25, 2026. |
| Tajikistan | eVisa | Up to 60 days | Official Tajikistan eVisa portal | The tourist eVisa is issued for a 90-day validity period and permits a stay of up to 60 days. |
| Uganda | Online visa authorization | Up to 90 days | Uganda electronic visa portal | Travel within 90 days of approval. The permitted stay is set by immigration on entry. |
| Uzbekistan | Visa-free | Up to 30 days | Current Uzbekistan entry guidance | Ordinary U.S. passport holders became visa-exempt for tourism and business on January 1, 2026. |
| Zambia | Visa-free | Up to 90 days | Zambia visa-exempt nationalities | Ordinary U.S. passport holders do not need a tourist visa. |
| Zimbabwe | eVisa or visa on arrival | Single-entry tourist visas are commonly issued for 30 days | Official Zimbabwe eVisa portal | Single-, double-, multiple-entry, and KAZA options have different validity periods. |
Before You Apply
- Confirm that the electronic route is available to ordinary U.S. passport holders.
- Use the correct visa category for tourism, business, transit, study, work, or another purpose.
- Check passport validity and blank-page requirements.
- Confirm that the planned airport, seaport, or land crossing accepts the document.
- Review the authorized entry dates, number of entries, and maximum stay.
- Verify the government fee and any separate service fee.
- Save the approval, receipt, and application number.
When a destination is not listed here, check our travel visa directory and the destination's embassy or consulate.
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