5 Countries That Are Ridiculously Hard for Americans to Visit

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. We will make a small commission from these links if you order something at no additional cost to you.

If there is one thing that infuriates the traveler in me more than anything, it’s countries that require visas for tourism. There is really no good reason to require a visa from someone wanting to come into your country to travel.

Fortunately, there are very few countries Americans cannot visit. However, some countries out there still insist on making a visit to their country more difficult than teaching a llama to dance Gangnam Style.

Here are five of the hardest countries for Americans to enter:

Russia

Christ the Savior Cathedral in Downtown Moscow, Russia
Christ the Savior Cathedral in Downtown Moscow, Russia

It’s so hard to enter Russia that you could be mistaken for thinking we were still in the middle of the Cold War. In order to visit the country, Americans must fill out a form that asks for vital national security information such as where you went to high school, your last three places of employment, your parents’ names, and how many cavities you have (Ok, I may have made that last one up).

The point, though, is that it’s an utterly ridiculous application. Add to that the necessity of getting an invitation from a company inside Russia, knowing your exact dates of entry and exit, and listing your itinerary makes getting a Russian visa a nightmare.

Oh, and for those of you traveling long-term and not in your home country within three months of your entry into Russia, you can only apply in a county that gives entry of 90 days or longer. So, if you are in Southeast Asia, for example, you have to get your visa in either Malaysia or Hong Kong. Add to that not being able to expedite your visa, and you’ll potentially be stuck in Hong Kong for up to 11 days.

Russia also holds the distinction of being one of the few countries that is also hard to leave. Didn’t register your visa within 24 hours of arrival? Can’t correctly answer questions about your next destination? Look at the border official in the wrong way? They might not let you leave.

Angola

Angola, Angola, Angola…What are you thinking? It’s not like people are knocking down the doors, trying to get into your country. Why must you make it so very hard?

Of all the countries on this list, Angola might be the most difficult to secure a visa for.

Angola doesn’t just require the standard application details (visa form, pictures, your first-born child, etc.). Oh no, that isn’t good enough for Angola. The demand for Angolan visas is so high, that when they say, “Jump”, they expect would-be tourists to say “Off what cliff?”

Had your yellow fever vaccination? No? Even if you’ve never been to a country with yellow fever, you aren’t getting in. Don’t know anyone inside Angola who can provide you with a letter of invitation written in Portuguese and notarized inside Angola? Tough. Can’t get your boss to write a letter introducing you to the Angolan Embassy, or even worse yet, currently unemployed? Wow, you’re really, really screwed!

Oh, and you also have to provide them with a copy of your bank statement, itinerary, and hotel reservations (Can you even book Angolan hotels online?).

India

For many travelers, India is at or near the top of their bucket list. However, getting in is no easy matter. Like Angola, India requires a copy of your bank statement and a letter of introduction from your employer in addition to the usual formalities.

What makes India slightly more palatable than Angola is that people actually want to visit India. Plus, Americans get a 10-year visa and can stay in the country for up to 6 months at a time. That’s pretty sweet.

Editor’s Note: There seems to be a bit of confusion about getting an Indian visa. If an American applies in the US, it seems fairly straightforward on closer inspection, though you still have to apply for a visa, which is annoying enough in itself. However, if you apply for your visa outside of the US, you still may be required to show additional documentation. Part of the difficulty with the Indian visa lies with the inconsistency of the rules.

Cuba

Cuba holds a very interesting place on this list. Unlike the other countries listed here, Cuba requires no visa for Americans. In fact, Cuban immigration usually doesn’t even bother to stamp Americans’ passports.

So, why are they on a list of hardest countries for Americans to visit? The American government.

Since 1962, the US government has prohibited any trade between Cuba and America. Unfortunately, this includes tourism. Recently the US government has started to allow travel to Cuba for those with family there, journalists, or missionaries. However, in order to go, you have to apply for a special license from the US government.

What a load of crap! Seriously, is this not the stupidest thing ever?

After all, Americans can visit Iran; we can visit North Korea; we can even visit Iraq; But we can’t visit Cuba.

North Korea

Joint Security Area Dividing the North Korean and South Korean DMZ
Visiting the North Korea is possible at the Korean DMZ.

Speaking of the Axis of Evil, North Korea is one of the most difficult countries for Americans to enter. However, contrary to popular belief, it is possible.

However, getting a visa to visit the world’s most reclusive country is no easy feat.

First, you must book a tour with a North Korean approved tour company. From there, you can apply for your visa. Generally speaking, getting accepted isn’t too difficult, however, the challenges don’t stop just because you’ve gotten your visa.

First, while other nationalities can take the train from Beijing to Pyeongyang, Americans must fly. Secondly, until very recently, all cell phones were confiscated at the border and not returned to you until you left the country. Though, according to my research, you still can’t take in any camera with a lens over 200mm.

On top of everything, you are unable to walk around anywhere other than the inside of your hotel without two government approved guides, who will be sure to remind you of all the wonders of the Dear Leader (Ever hear the one about how Kim Jong-il scored 38-under par on his first and only attempt at golf?)

For those looking for a quick taste of North Korea, without the hassles of a visa, head on a tour of the DMZ in South Korea, where you can walk a few steps over the border into the communist country.

What countries have you found to be the hardest for your nationality to enter? Let us know in the comments section below.

See more great places to visit!

75 thoughts on “5 Countries That Are Ridiculously Hard for Americans to Visit”

  1. In my experience, most countries that list a bunch of requirements for entry don’t actually require them when you show up to apply for a visa or at the border. Never once during our 10 month trip RTW did we have to show proof of hotel reservations, pre arranged travel bookings to leave the country, bank statements, etc. However the only country we visited on your list was India, and we didn’t have to supply any of what you listed to obtain the visa, though we did have to wait 7 days in Hanoi for the visa to be approved which was the biggest hassle we encountered. I totally agree with you that requiring visas seems so unnecessary especially since most of the countries that require them could really use tourism! The one that makes the least sense to me is Thailand- if you get your visa on arrival you can only stay in the country for 2 weeks!

    Reply
    • Fortunately, most countries aren’t crazy about stuff like this.

      As for Thailand, it’s only 14 days if you enter by land. If you fly in, you get 30. Kinda stupid if you ask me. I guess if they keep getting money from travelers like you and me, then it’s worth it for them.

      Reply
    • My boyfriend lives in Venezuela and we really want to be together, but I don’t know if I should move down there, or if he should move to the USA… help? I’m scared about moving to a country with such a high crime rate, more or less even visiting… :\ Can anybody help me?

      Reply
      • Hannah, I wouldn’t worry too much about moving to Venezuela. While it may have some crime issues, I guarantee you that your home country does as well. The truth is that, outside of war zones, the world is a very safe place. As long as you don’t do anything stupid and make yourself a target for crime, you are just as likely to be safe in Venezuela as you are you home country.

        Good luck with the decision.

        Reply
    • I travel to Thailand all the time for months at a time. I’m going back this April actually. You can stay up to 30 days on a entry visa, and if you need to stay another 30, a 40 dollar round trip flight to a close country, and you come back and start your next 30 days. 40 bucks too expensive, take a 10 dollar train to Cambodia, cross the border, turn around and come back in. Another 30 days added. I’ve never had an issue in Thailand. I plan on retiring there. This April I’m buying a condo while I’m there. Brand new building, only 40,000.00 us dollars. Right now law only allows us citizen to own condos. Works for me, I don’t need anything big, oh and once I own property there, I can apply for citizenship, no visa needed then, and my Thai passport will get me into a lot of countries my US passport won’t.

      Reply
  2. I got a 3-month business visa to Russia last year. It was expensive, but not at all difficult. Didn’t have to specify an exact date of entry and exit. Didn’t have to list an exact itinerary. Just got an LOI from a travel agency based in the UK (with offices in Moscow & St Petersburg), filled out the online app and sent everything in. As for registration, it just has to be done within 3 business days of arriving, not 24 hours, and almost any hotel or hostel you stay at will do it for you.

    I also know several Americans who have been to Cuba without permission. They just fly there from Mexico. Don’t get stamped in their passport and the US government never knows.

    Reply
    • Russia is the one country on this list that I’ve visited (minus crossing the North Korean border at the DMZ). For my visa, I had to list the exact dates and itinerary. It took 10 days for my visa to get processed because they refused to expedite it, even though I was willing to pay more. Granted, they didn’t hold you to the itinerary or dates (as long as you didn’t come in sooner or leave later), but they still based your visa dates on it.

      As for Cuba, I know that there are ways to get there, but since it’s the only country in the world that Americans can technically be thrown in jail for visiting, I figured it was worth including.

      Reply
      • We’re Americans living in Italy, just visited Russia in September, and the visa process was the biggest pain in the ass in the world! First, we had to apply from the US, which meant we were left stranded in Italy with no passports during the whole thing. It took over 2 months for us to complete the process as we had to send additional documentation twice that was listed no where on the application process documentation. Just like you, we had to list entry and exit and you do have to register within 24 hours of arriving. In fact, our first hotel wouldn’t even check us in without registering us.

        I think some things have changed with both the visa process and the registration since Katie’s visit.

        Reply
    • Americans just be aware that your American credit cards and bank cards have a freeze on them. I traveled from Mexico on a Canadian passport, but all my banks were in the US. I found that out the hard way in 2002 when I ran out of cash near the end of my trip. I had to borrow money from my British friend. I don’t believe you would be able to wire the money from the US either.

      Reply
      • I was talking about Cuba.

        I talked to Americans there and they said the fine for getting caught there was about $7000. They also said if you threatened to take the issue to the press, that you were pretty much off the hook with the US.

        Funny thing is there were a few Americans that I met there that had permission to go from the US government for study etc. How hypocritical.

        Reply
    • Interesting. I think some of the difficulty with visas stems from the variety of rules applied at different embassies. It’s silly to make the official rules so crazy, if you aren’t going to enforce them.

      Reply
  3. This post is inaccurate! Not only is the India visa easy to get, but North Korea is easily accessible on organized tours, and Cuba is easy to sneak into. Russia’s visa is even easy, if you’re willing to pay an agency!

    Reply
    • The main problem with all of these countries isn’t that you can’t go, it’s that you have to jump through a ton of hoops to get there. There are certainly ways to visit all five, so I don’t really see how it’s inaccurate.

      Thanks for the comment though.

      Reply
    • Your Correct about the CUBA stamp – the entry visa (at the airport) and stamp are placed on a card and you can keep the card after you leave.

      Reply
    • True. You could also probably sneak across the border into Angola pretty easily too. However, Cuba is basically impossible for American tourists to visit legally unless they go on a missions or service trip. For the purposes of this article, I’m only considering legal methods of entry into a country.

      Reply
      • This is so true! I have been to many places in Europe and I know that it is super easy to visit most of the European countries. I flew from America to Berlin and crossed into Poland with no visa needed at all. It is definitely true that it isn’t very hard for Americans to get into Europe. However, the rule that Americans cannot stay in Shengen territory any longer than three months, can be sometimes annoying. And it is usually quite easy to just go to UK or another country outside of Shengen and then you can go back in Shengen. I agree that Russia, North Korea and Angola are extremely difficult to get into for Americans, but India is insane. You spend so much time just getting the freaking visa, calling the embassy, which means dealing with the retarded, lazy, and time-wasters that answer the phone calls. Anyone who thinks that India isn’t hard to visit, they aren’t going through the crazy trouble that I went through

        Reply
  4. No Nigeria, Turkmenistan, Eritrea, Algeria or Sudan? I think they’re more deserving on this list than some of the others here…India isn’t really that hard compared to these nations, ditto Russia.

    Reply
    • True, those countries can be hard as well. I do plan on following up with 5 more countries at some point, but I was trying to put together a broad range in this post. Note, I didn’t call it the 5 Hardest Countries to Enter. I was just focusing on some where it’s much more difficult that necessary.

      Reply
  5. What about you look back to USA as a country where also is very difficult to get a visa to enter? It´s very easy to criticize tho “others”! Do you know that hard rules on visa arise from reciprocity? Please go to your consulates and ask what your country requires to give a visa for individuals from the countries you mentioned above! You´ll be surprised.

    Reply
    • I couldn’t agree with you more. America does make it ridiculously hard for people to visit our country. Not that I can do anything about it, but on behalf of our paranoid government, I apologize. Thanks for the comment.

      Reply
  6. First, I’ll just get the word “reciprocal” out of the way. No need to explain it, just look at Antonio Russo’s comment above.

    I visited the DPRK in 2010 (https://buildingmybento.wordpress.com/tag/north-korea/), and the only tough part about it was trying to keep my shirt tucked in as we were taken around various significant sites memorializing Kim Il Sung’s presence- obviously, I was being disrespectful. The application was straight-forward, payment was as well, and the group met in Beijing (where the tour group, Koryo Tours, is based) the day before for an orientation. Also, why not place Turkmenistan on your list? Well, apparently you can go with Koryo Tours there too.

    India, I don’t think that visa is difficult to obtain in the states (is this article written assuming all people from the US are expats?), just tedious. Now, when I tried to get it in Indonesia, that’s another story.

    Cuba bothers me the most, even though it’s probably the only other country on the bottom of my hope-to list (right next to the Dominican Republic). I guess if petrol, lithium or bauxite took the place of 1950s Cadillacs, or if Cuba had a huge (and young) population, and/or the wingdings down in south Florida weren’t around, US citizens would much more easily be able to visit.

    Angola, sure I’d like to hit up the Houston-Luanda flight. But once I get there, I don’t want to pay six hundred bucks for a Days Inn-type of place. Thanks, Oslo of the southern hemisphere.

    Reply
  7. As an American working in Azerbaijan, I will say that getting any type of visa for this country is incredibly difficult. I’ve had many family members (who visited me when I lived in China) not come to visit because the visa is such a hassle!

    Reply
    • Get a transit visa it may be good for just a week you won’t need a LOI either for a transit visa it costs $20.00 rather then $131.00 for a tourist/business visa on top of getting a letter of Invitation which will cost $40-50 on top of it yet you can see quite a bit not only that the Azeri Immigration authorities look at your passport carefully to see if you have been to Nagorno-Karbakh which is Armenian occupied Azerbaijan. You need a visa to visit N.K. the only place to get visas is in Yerevan Armenia. You’ll have to register with the Migration Authorities if staying more then 3 days in Azerbaijan.

      Reply
  8. I really find this article misleading at best and completely irresponsible at worst. Save Angola, not one of these countries are “ridiculously hard for Americans to visit.” Deterring Americans from visiting any of these countries with this article would really be a shame. I actually think this should be taken down or completely rewritten.

    Reply
    • I think you are being more than a bit unfair with your criticism. I’m using the word “ridiculous” in reference to the ridiculousness of putting up these barriers for tourism. That being said, I never said that people shouldn’t visit any of these countries, and I doubt that anyone would seriously consider not going because I point out the ridiculous nature of the rules. Calling my post “irresponsible” and saying it should be “completely rewritten” is a bit silly and is more more irresponsible than anything I said.

      Reply
  9. Hey, it is not just for Americans. At least for Russia, visa procedure is the same even for Europeans (Moscow and StP that I was visiting few times are in Europe!). You need to apply for visa by filling out a form with various data like defining dates of entry and leaving, your maidens name (OK, males not) and more. Stamping your papers in first days of entrance is obligatory. But: nobody asked me about that when leaving the country, and visa could be received even in a day (paying few times the rate)!

    Reply
  10. In regards to Russian visa, I’d say you guys have it relatively easy. Especially considering that you can just pay an agency to get it for you. In that case, no letter of invitation is required.

    Try getting an American visa if you are a Russian. I’ve done it 3 times from Moscow and multiple times from Canada. And it’s ALWAYS complicated. I also have to know exact dates of arrival/departure, present an itinerary, a letter of employment and the proof of sufficient funds. But what bothers me most is that I also have to prove my TIES with my country (like a child and/or a husband that stay behind, or a bunch of property that I own back home). In addition to the papers, you have to show up for an interview at a consulate where they ask same questions over and over and watch how you react. By default they treat you as a potential defector. Pretty unfair if you ask me.

    I think there is a great deal of reciprocity when it comes to visa requirements and treatment. I hope one day this will change to benefit the travelers. But what’s important to understand is that for citizens of many countries in the world (Russia, India and Angola – to name a few), the hardest country to get a visa to is US.

    Reply
    • I totally understand what you are saying. American visa policies are insanely stupid, and reciprocity is one of the major reasons some visas are hard for Americans to get. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck for us as well. I too had to put my exact dates of travel, my itinerary, and list my employment history when filling out the form, so I understand how frustrating it is.

      However, the point of this article isn’t to gloss over the fact that America makes it very difficult for some nationalities to obtain visas, or to see which country has the dumbest visa policies (America would definitely be near the top of that list). It’s just designed to be an interesting and informative article, especially for the 25% of my readers that are from America.

      Reply
    • Iran is certainly one of the harder countries for Americans to enter, but it’s not so much because of the actual visa process. That being said, if I did another update to this series, I would likely include Iran. Thanks for the comment.

      Reply
  11. Great article There are three places here I could have taken a guess at. Russia, Korea and Cuba don’t exactly fall over themselves to praise Americans. But Angola? India? That’s just weird. Where’s the advantage in making it harder for people to visit your country, particularly if they hail from somewhere relatively wealthy? Tourism is a big deal and we Americans tend to have money to spend. On an everyday level, there’s business traffic too. Why would a small county like Angola want to put up potential barriers to inward investment? Good news is that thanks to posts like this, everyone can be appraised of the situation, which maybe means that something can be done. Maybe you should wait for all the comments to come in and then mail the embassies of both these countries. The Russians, I can understand might be openly difficult, but with both Angola and India, maybe it’s just a case of arcane practices long overlooked.

    Reply
    • Totally agree about Angola. No idea what they’re thinking. Seems to me that they are losing out a decent amount of money by making it nearly impossible for Americans to visit. It’s like a modern day Hermit Kingdom.

      Reply
      • Angola doesn’t encourage tourism, nor need to – they have huge amounts of oil. Quite simply, the immense wealth in Angole is in the pockets of a handful of corrupt government officials. Why encourage tourism when the government doesn’t care about average Joe & his family visiting and bringing a few measly dollars. Nor do they care about the people of Angola.

        Reply
  12. Brazil! My visa was so hard to get…I even had to give background check materials from the police and a few notarized letters from Brazilian establishments. Plus, it’s the only country in South America that Americans need a visa to enter.

    Reply
    • Actually you need visa for Suriname, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina & Bolivia as well in South America. You can get them on arrival with Bolivia visa costing $135.00 USD good for 5 years, the Paraguay visa can be obtained on arrival for $160.00 USD, Argentina you need to get an e-visa before arrival it’s just like going to Australia. Suriname, Chile can get visa on arrival as well. Brazil does make it hard on Americans yet the Brazilians think the same about our visa regulations.

      Reply
  13. India, Russia, and North Korea are all on my list for the next 12 months. Should be an interesting travel year for me! Yikes.

    Reply
  14. In regards to visas for U.S. Citizens that are hardest to acquire. One of them is North Korea with just 3 embassies you can acquire visas to travel as a tourist that’s in Beijing, Stockholm & Moscow. You do have to book a tour which is pricey on top of the fact you have no choice other then to fly in/out of the country. Then you have no choice where you like to stay, you must be with two guides at all time when you leave hotel grounds. Bad mouthing of the Great Leader will get you deported. The other place is Libya whom not only make you send your passport to Ottawa Canada for the visa which includes proof of booking of hotels in all the time you’re there on top of that the visa applications must be filled out in Arabic then the interpreter must be a Notary Public Officer to stamp the forms. Saudi Arabia they don’t issue tourist visas, business , Hadj & Umrah , Private visas are issued. You just want to say you’ve been there just get a ” Transit Visa” good for 72 hours clocked. yet must fly into Saudi Arabia with Saudi Airlines then leave on Saudi Airlines to next destination, You must have visa for the next destination in order to get a transit visa. Women traveling alone forget it you must travel with male relative or husband then wear a burka the whole time in public. Be off the streets at prayer time or you can be detained.The other place is Turkmenistan” a squeaky clean Capital city of Ashgabat which looks like a cross between Las Vegas , Abu Dhabi & Pyongyang put together .with a dictator for life in the country its a barren country in Central Asia when you apply for a visa you must go thru a travel agent in Turkmenistan that will book a tour in which you get a Letter of Invitation with all details they will book your hotel as well, They will meet you on arrival by land or airport in which they have an entry card that must be stamped then turned in upon departure you can’t leave the country without it. You must go according to your tour details which are on your letter along with your visa. You must enter exit the country according to how its input is marked on visa no exceptions then list all the places your visiting on which days. You must register in each city you visit don’t overstay visa otherwise its $220,00 USD per day then you will be deported after fine is paid then you are not allowed back into Turkmenistan for 5 years yes they do have the records in case you think of applying for a visa a year later.

    Reply
    • There is no requirement to wear a “burqa” in Saudi Arabia. They require wearing an abaya (long over-garment) and scarf. Face covering is completely optional (mostly done by locals, but not all locals). I’ve seen some women around without the scarf. It’s not a big deal really. And I was walking alone and with just another girl in Saudi no problem no male to accompany us. Just need a male relative to enter the country. And the will make problems if you entered with one relative and left the country with another relative that you didn’t specify on your visa, although you have proof of relation. And you do not have to be off the streets at prayer time. It is illegal for shops to remain open at prayer times. But you are free to be on the streets. Just nothing is open.

      Reply
  15. I am an Indian and I know these troubles were there (dnt know if these ahve been eased with new VOA announcements). But I guess government had some concerns with terrorists sneaking through under the guise of tourists. M not sure how that would happen, but if it can, Id support strict visas cos India lives in the most volatile part of the world.

    But usually Id assume a terrorist would not show up at an Airport standing in a queue waiting for a visa on arrival, but nevertheless, I think the point you are making is some of this visa shit is remniscent of the war and needs to be done away with to ensure greater people to people interaction. Valid Point!

    Reply
  16. The DPRK is not particularly difficult to visit; Jim didn’t ask which are the most expensive for US citizens.

    Oh, and those from the US don’t need a tourist visa to go to Chile anymore.

    Reply
  17. Indian VISA authority is the most incompetent. I had applied on 3rd March and they have not processed till 26th March.. Its a shame, I am a ex Indian citizen

    Reply
  18. I think you are in better position as an American. I’m Indonesian and a solo female traveller for most of the places I’ve visited. Indonesian needs visa for almost every county (except South East Asia, Peru, Turkey). So for me, getting the visa is the hardest part of travelling. Visa to Europe is the hardest, not only bank account but all personal details needed. US visa is better, Australia’s …meh.. South Korea and Japan visas are easy.

    So yeah, once the visa things sorted out….then the travelling will be fun, but the effort of getting the visa is unbelieveable! but still, that doesn’t stop me from seeing the world…. are you still in Korea? I’ll be in Seoul this Autumn….love Korea!

    Reply
    • You’re right. American’s do have it easier than most countries when it comes to visas. It’s unfortunate that so many countries, especially America, make it so difficult for people to visit. Enjoy your travels. I’m not in Korea anymore, but there is a lot of great information on this site about visiting the country.

      Reply
  19. Ok sweet. What about countries like UK, America, other EU countries etc ??? Do you know how hard it is for citizens of countries (some you listed abov) to visit those countries like USA and UK? Ask your gov to ease the visa process 1st, then complain about other countries. It is you get what you give basically!

    Reply
    • I don’t disagree with you at all, Kanan. It should be easy for anyone to get into any country they like, including the US and the UK. This is just an informational piece for Americans, not really a complaint.

      Reply
  20. Dont be an idiot… The U.S requires visa from several of the countries americans citizen can visit without a visa… Do you home work before you say that….

    Reply
    • There’s no question that the US is one of the hardest countries to get into for non-citizens. While I wish the government would drop many of the restrictions, and I recognize that’s why so many countries make it hard for Americans to get in, this article was simply a look at a few countries that are hard for Americans to get visas.

      Reply
  21. Americans themselves got a whole bunch of those things in their visa application why is it a problem when other countries tries to secure their borders. This is not a news

    Reply
    • Never said it was news, just an interesting look at some countries policies. You’re very right that America makes it way to hard for anyone to get into the country.

      Reply
  22. Update, now US citizens need a visa to enter Venezuela, basically every country in South America, except Colombia, require a visa for US citizens.

    Reply
  23. Hi I am Angolan girl living in uk and now in holiday to Angola now .
    I know my country’s visa is hard get for a normal saver tourist.
    Because the foreigner who are here are to work in oil company .
    The country is not prepare to get tourist at all .
    It’s very expensive
    Other then that it nice country
    particularly to make
    Money

    Reply
  24. Saudi Arabia! A tourist visa does not even exist. Options are family visit if you have a first degree relative there, business visa that requires an invitation from an organisation, Umrah and Hajj (muslims only and restricted to the two holy cities) which have to be booked by an approved agency with ties in Saudi, which can be expensive because of the packages and the limited timings, and a transit visa which is near impossible to obtain. The transit visa is not issued at the airport and must be obtained before travel. For this you have to have purchased a non-refundable flight on Saudi Arabian Airlines and have a hotel reservation and a good reason to have a transit through Saudi and you can only get the visa from an in-person interview at a Saudi embassy. The visa is only good for 72 hours or something like 3-7 days if traveling by car to a far destination though Saudi. And none of the above visas are available if you are a female unaccompanied by male guardian (father, husband, or brothers).
    I was lucky enough to get an Umrah visa one time. Made possible only by having high connections on the part of the university I went with. Done under the table sort of. Have attempted to get an Umrah visa again. Not possible. I’m a single female (American).

    Reply
  25. Been to Angola and you do *not* need a letter of invitation for a tourist visa. The rest is mostly true though, although the embassy where I live did not require a letter from my university (I am aware this is required at many embassies)

    As for Angolan Hotels, of course you can book them online.

    All-in-all, what they require where I live is:

    1.Applicant letter addressed to the Embassy (I just wrote 100 words and it was all good)
    2.A duly filled out form
    3.International Certificate of Vaccination
    4.Proof of means of subsistence (bank Statement)
    5.Passport and copy of the mainly used pages (Passport must must be valid for at least 1 year)
    6.Two passport photos
    7.Proof of travel ticket or flight booking
    8.Fees : CHF 120.- (in practice I could get it for CHF 80 by agreeing for the processing to take sonewhat longer)

    Reply
  26. You don’t need a visa at all to enter Russia if you arrive by ferry and only stay 72 hours. It’s a new rule that’s only been around about five years.

    I visited St Petersburg two months ago from London, flying to Helsinki in Finland and getting the ferry from there, and all they do at the port is stamp your passport and you’re free to explore on your own, no guided tours needed although bookable if wanted. Whole journey cost £120 *return* from London (flight and ferry combined!), no huge visa questionnaire, no extra cost. Massively recommended, no one seems to believe what I did was possible but it’s completely legal and allowed, Google it!

    Reply
  27. How about a Norwegian/UK dual citizen getting a visa to the US while in Malaysia? My boyfriend is finishing up a job there (he’s a drilling engineer) and will be getting a 6 month tourist US to the US *hopefully*

    Reply
  28. Getting a visa might be difficult, but it is also subject to the fact that from which country u belong. For Indians getting US visa also isn’t a cakewalk, and vice versa for the American fellows

    Reply
      • I assume the majority of people posting here are Americans because if you are from any other country this process is considered the norm. As Americans we have been spoiled, get over it, we are not different than everyone else or tell me why is it so hard to get a visa to visit USA (it’s almost impossible to get a visa). But of course, none of you know about this.

        Reply
  29. hahaha, Feel the pain American, it nothing it almost the same IT DIFFICULT MOST COUNTRY TO ENTER TO USA WITHOUT VISA. I HOPE IN THE FUTURE, COUNTCOUNTRIES MAKE the law like same to same. IF you ask for the visa to my citizen you must get to visa to enter to my country the USA. Good for Rusia and Brazil or at least no visa but American MUST PAY A FEE like in Argentina. Greeting . and not make conplaints. it is nothing comparing to other people sleeping on the street and pay the just money that they sell (house, car, things and get they saved money) only to enter the USA. for 3 months.

    Reply
  30. My wife and I just returned from a quick trip to Bolivia…a very quick trip. We were denied a visa at the airport in Santa Cruz and forced to reboard the plane in which we had just arrived and return to Miami. Believe it or not, we had all the documentation required, or so we thought. We had our shot records, travel itinerary and return tickets, passports, extra passport photos and invitation letter. We were told that the invitation letter lacked the signature of a Bolivian official from the area we were headed (Cochabamba). We were not allowed to stay and try to obtain the “required” signature or contact the American consulate or even contact the friend in Bolivia who provided the letter of invitation (which sufficed for others on previous trips). Instead we were escorted to the plane and bid farewell. I suppose we should be thankful they didn’t collect the $160.00 per person fee for the visa before deporting us. While we were very upset and disappointed we determined not to be obnoxious or disrespectful. It wouldn’t of done any good and we would have just made a scene.

    Reply

Leave a Comment