Yes, you read it correctly. Travel 53 countries and territories VISA-FREE with US visa.
I always encourage travelers from developing countries to get a US visa at some point. It opens up doors to many other countries. More and more countries are offering visa exemption with a valid US visa. This list is growing fast.
If you are worried that the VISA-FREE list for your passport is just too small, then get a US visa. It will add about 53 countries to your VISA-FREE list. This is how you give more “power” to your “powerless” passport.
Table of Contents
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
Visa requirements change constantly but we make every effort to keep the information accurate and up to date. We provide links to official sources wherever necessary, so you can conduct your own due diligence to verify the visa requirements before planning your trip. We shall not be held liable for any damages incurred as a result of using the information in this article. Refer to our full disclaimer for more information.
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Why do countries offer visa exemption to US visa holders?
Reason 1: Strict screening
US visa application has a very strict screening process. A US visa is also one of the most difficult visas to get. If you have a US visa, then you were screened pretty well already. Meaning, you do not have a criminal history or any illegal immigration intentions.
Reason 2: Strong ties to your home country
US visa application also makes sure you have strong ties to your home country. This is to avoid illegal immigration. If you were to stay illegally anywhere, you could have stayed illegally in the US itself. So, having a US visa reassures them that you have no intention of remaining in their country illegally.
Reason 3: Financial reasons
Developing countries do not have the infrastructure or the money to screen applicants. If you were already screened by a country like the USA, there is no need to screen you again. In order to have a screening process that is as foolproof as the US, costs a good chunk of money.
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Which US visas are eligible?
Depending on the country, any of the below US visas can be used.
- 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 each country below for permitted US visa types. Some countries require the US visa to be multiple-entry and have been used at least once to travel to the US.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
RELATED: 38 Countries you can travel VISA-FREE with US Green Card in 2023
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North America
01. Canada
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Costa Rica
- Morocco
- Panama
- Philippines
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Seychelles
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
- Permitted US visas: Valid used/unused multiple-entry non-immigrant US visas – B1, B2, B1/B2, F, M, J, H and L only
- Entry granted: 180 days
- Entry rules:
- Visa is EXEMPT but must apply for Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before arrival
- Applicable to air travel only
- Official source: IRCC, Canada – News Release May 01, 2017 and News Release June 06, 2023
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02. Mexico
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: Varies depending on the itinerary
- Entry rules:
- US visa must be valid for the entire stay in Mexico
- Passport must be valid for the entire stay in Mexico
- Official source: National Institute of Migration, Mexico
Personal experience: I have entered Mexico with a US visa many times by air, land and sea. I was rarely asked any questions. When I was asked any questions, it was mostly about how long I planned to stay in Mexico. I was always given a 180-day entry.
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03. United States (of course!)
- Includes the US territories: US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam
- Excludes the US territories: American Samoa (American Samoa has its own immigration rules and does not honor US visas)
Personal experience: I have lived/worked in the US on an H1B visa for more than 8 years. I have also entered the US on my B1/B2 visa many times. I was always given a 6-month entry.
RELATED: 40 Countries you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa in 2023
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Central America
04. Belize
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Official source: Embassy of Belize in Washington DC, USA
Personal experience: I entered Belize from Mexico at the seaport with my India passport and US visa. The immigration procedure at the port took about 5 minutes. I was asked how long I’ll stay in Belize. I was given a 30-day entry.
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05. Costa Rica
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: Valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas – B1, B2, B1/B2, C1/D, D, F1, J1, H1 and L1 only
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Entry rules:
- B1, B2, B1/B2, C1/D and D visas must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival
- F1, J1, H1 and L1 visas must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Official Source: Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC, USA
Personal experience: I entered Costa Rica at San Jose International Airport with my India passport and US visa. The immigration procedure at the airport was quick. I was given a 30-day entry.
I have also entered Costa Rica from Nicaragua by land with my India passport and US visa. Immigration procedures at the land border took about 10 minutes due to long lines. I was asked to show my hotel reservation. I was given a 30-day entry.
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06. El Salvador
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Comoros
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Grenade
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Niger
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days total in the entire CA-4 zone (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua)
- Entry rules:
- An entry fee of 10 USD will be charged if entering by air
- If you have already entered Guatemala or Honduras, you can enter El Salvador from Guatemala or Honduras by land without any additional visa requirements as per CA-4 Border Control Agreement
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
Personal experience: I entered El Salvador from Guatemala by land with my India passport and US visa. There are no immigration checkpoints at El Salvador and Guatemala land borders. No entry stamp was issued.
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07. Guatemala
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Côte d´Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Grenade
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mauricio
- Mauritania
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Niger
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days total in the entire CA-4 zone (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua)
- Entry rules:
- US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- If you have already entered Honduras or El Salvador, you can enter Guatemala from Honduras or El Salvador by land without any additional visa requirements as per the CA-4 Border Control Agreement.
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
Personal Experience: I entered Guatemala from Mexico by land with my Indian passport and US visa. It took about 10 minutes at immigration. They had to look up the visa requirements to verify if I was eligible to enter on my US visa. I was asked to pay 20 MXN as an entry fee even though there is no official entry fee.
I have also entered Guatemala from Honduras by land with my India passport and US visa. It only took a couple of minutes at immigration. No entry fee.
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08. Honduras
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Comoros
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Grenada
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Hong Kong
- India
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Macau
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Niger
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- South Sudan
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days total in the entire CA-4 zone (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua)
- Entry rules:
- US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- If you have already entered Guatemala or El Salvador, you can enter Honduras from Guatemala or El Salvador by land without any additional visa requirements as per the CA-4 Border Control Agreement.
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
Personal experience: I entered Honduras from Guatemala by land using my India passport and US visa. I was asked where I was going and how long I’d stay in Honduras. I had to pay a 30 GTQ entry fee and give my fingerprints. The immigration process took about 5 minutes.
I have also entered Honduras from El Salvador by land using my India passport and US visa. I was asked where I was going and how long I’d stay in Honduras. I had to pay a 3 USD entry fee and give my fingerprints. The immigration process took about 15 minutes due to several people on a Tica bus.
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09. Nicaragua
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Armenia
- Bangladesh
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Congo, Dem Rep of
- Congo, Rep of
- 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/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Entry rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL (VOA)
- VOA fee is 50 USD, payable in cash in USD only, valid for 30 days, single-entry
- Besides the VOA fee, there is a 10 USD entry fee, a 2 USD land border migration fee (for land border only) and 1 USD municipality tax (for land border only) (payable in USD only)
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
Personal experience: I entered Nicaragua by land from Honduras using my India passport and US visa. I was asked about my profession and monthly income. I had to pay a total of 63 USD ($50 VOA fee, $10 entry fee, $2 land border migration fee, and $1 municipality tax) to enter. The immigration process was slow and it took about 45 minutes.
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10. Panama
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid USED multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Entry rules:
- US visa must have been used at least once to enter the US before
- US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Passport must be valid for at least 3 months from the day of arrival
- Must show proof of economic solvency for a minimum of 500 USD
- Official source: Embassy of Panama in the USA
Personal experience: I entered Panama at Panama City International Airport with my India passport and US visa. The immigration process took about 5 minutes. I was given a 90-day entry.
RELATED: 38 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with Canada visa in 2023
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Caribbean
11. 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
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12. Antigua and Barbuda
- 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 are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL (VOA)
- VOA fee is 100 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
- US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Official source: Department of Immigration, Antigua and Barbuda
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13. Aruba
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Bolivia
- China
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- India
- Jamaica
- Venezuela
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Official source: Netherlands Worldwide
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14. Bahamas
- Eligible Nationalities: Indian passport holders only
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas
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15. Bermuda (British Territory)
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Entry rules:
- US visa must be valid for a minimum of 45 days beyond the date of departure from Bermuda
- Passport must be valid for a minimum of 45 days beyond the date of departure from Bermuda
- Official source: Government of Bermuda
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16. Bonaire (Dutch Territory)
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Bolivia
- China
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- India
- Jamaica
- Venezuela
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Official source: Netherlands Worldwide
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17. 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:
- US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Official source: British Virgin Islands Tourism
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18. Cayman Islands (British Territory)
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- China
- India
- Jamaica
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Entry rule: Must arrive directly from the US
- Official source: Cayman Islands Customs and Border Controls
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19. Curaçao
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Bolivia
- China
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- India
- Jamaica
- Venezuela
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Official source: Netherlands Worldwide
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20. Dominican Republic
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit (C1, C1/D)
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Entry rule: If arriving by land or sea, must pay a departure tax of 20 USD before departing. If arriving by air, the departure tax is included in the airfare.
- Official source: Ministry of Tourism of Dominican Republic
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21. Haiti
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- Panama
- Cuba
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Entry rule: A tourist fee of 10 USD must be paid on arrival at the airport
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
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22. Jamaica
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Albania
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Dominican Republic
- Honduras
- Kazakhstan
- Macedonia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Romania
- Serbia
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Official source: Immigration Department of Jamaica
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23. Sint Maarten
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Bolivia
- China
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- India
- Jamaica
- Venezuela
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Official source: Netherlands Worldwide
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24. Turks and Caicos (British Territory)
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit (C1, C1/D)
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Official source: Ministry of Border Control of Turks and Caicos
RELATED: 51 non-Schengen countries you can travel VISA-FREE with Schengen visa in 2023
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South America
25. Argentina
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Albania
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brunei
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- China
- Congo, Dem Rep of
- Congo, Rep of
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Indonesia
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Laos
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Moldova
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Niger
- Oman
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- São Tomé And Príncipe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Taiwan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Permitted US visas: Valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas – B1, B2, B1/B2, J1 and H1B only
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Entry rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Electronic Travel Authorization (AVE) online before arrival
- AVE fee is 200 USD, the processing time is up to 20 working days, valid for 3 months, multiple-entry
- US visa must be valid for at least 3 months from the day of arrival
- Official source: Department of Immigration of Argentina
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26. Chile
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- China
- Dominican Republic
- India
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit (C1, C1/D)
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Entry rule: US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
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27. Colombia
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Macau
- Myanmar
- Nicaragua
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit (C1, C1/D)
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Entry rule: US visa must be valid for at least 180 days from the day of arrival
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia
Personal experience: I entered Colombia at Bogota International Airport with my India passport and US visa. The immigration procedure at the airport was quick. The number of days was not marked on my passport but I figured that it was a standard 90 days.
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28. Peru
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- China
- India
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 180 days
- Entry rule: US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru
RELATED: How to turn your weak passport into a strong passport (with examples)
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Europe
29. Albania
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid USED multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Entry rule: US visa must have been used at least once to enter the US before
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania
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30. Armenia
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Egypt
- Fiji
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Kiribati
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Micronesia
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Nauru
- Nicaragua
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Philippines
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- Solomon Islands
- Suriname
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 21 or 120 days
- Entry rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but you are eligible to apply for Visa ON ARRIVAL
- VOA fee is 3,000 AMD, valid for 21 days, single-entry (OR) 15,000 AMD, valid for 120 days, single-entry
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
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31. 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: US visa must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
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32. Georgia
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Entry rules:
- US visa must be valid on the day of arrival in Georgia
- Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Personal experience: I entered Georgia at Kutaisi International Airport with my Indian passport and US visa. The immigration procedure at the airport took a while as Georgia immigration is difficult to deal with. I was given a 90-day entry.
I also entered Georgia via train from Armenia with my Indian passport and US visa. Again, immigration was a headache but I was given a 90-day entry.
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33. Moldova (Newly Added)
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Angola
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Myanmar
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- China
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Oman
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit (C1, C1/D)
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Entry rule: US visa must be valid for the intended period of the stay
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova
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34. Montenegro
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Entry rule: US visa must be valid for the intended period of the stay
- Official source: Government of Montenegro
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35. North Macedonia
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 15 days
- Entry rules:
- US visa must be valid for at least 5 days beyond the intended period of stay
- Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 3 months in any 6-month period
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia
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36. Serbia
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 90 days
- Entry rules:
- US visa must be valid for the entire duration of the stay
- Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
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37. Turkey
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Afghanistan
- Algeria (those aged 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:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but you are eligible to apply for Turkey e-Visa online
- E-Visa fee is 43 USD, validity is 180 days, and single-entry only
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey
Personal experience: I entered Turkey at Istanbul International Airport with my Indian passport and US visa. I applied for my Turkey e-Visa before my travel to Turkey. The immigration procedure at the airport was quick. I was granted a 30-day entry.
If you hold a US visa and are eligible to apply for a Turkey e-Visa, follow this step-by-step guide to apply for Turkey e-Visa. This step-by-step guide has instructions and screenshots to help you fill out the application, pay the visa fee and download your approved e-Visa.
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38. 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 are eligible to request a 24-hour entry at London (LHR) or Manchester (MAN) airports
- Must be traveling to or from the US only
- Must arrive and depart by air only
- Must hold the boarding pass for the onward flight
- Onward flight must be within 24 hours (on the same day or the next day before midnight)
- Granting the 24-hour entry is at the sole discretion of the immigration officer
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
RELATED: How to book flight tickets with 24 hour FREE cancellation on Expedia – A step-by-step guide
***
Middle East
39. 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 are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Bahrain eVisa
- 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
- 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 stay in Bahrain
- For eVisa, the US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Official source: Bahrain eVisa Portal
—
40. Jordan (Newly Added)
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Afghanistan
- Angola
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo
- Cote 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 are eligible to apply for Jordan eVisa
- US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Official source: Jordan E-Visa
—
41. Oman
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Albania
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Maldives
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Peru
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 10 or 30 days
- Entry rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Oman 26M or 26N Tourist Visa online
- 26M eVisa fee is 20 OMR, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
- 26N eVisa fee is 5 OMR, valid for 10 days, single-entry only
- Official source: Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police
—
42. Qatar
- Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit (C1, C1/D)
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Entry rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but you are eligible to apply for an A3 Visa online on the Hayya Portal
- A3 eVisa fee is QAR 100, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
- Must provide hotel booking for the entire stay reserved through the Discover Qatar website
- US visa must be valid on the day of A3 eVisa application
- Official source: Qatar Tourist Board
—
43. 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 are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Saudi Arabia eVisa
- VOA or eVisa fee is 300 SAR, valid for 1 year, multiple-entry (plus service fee and insurance fee)
- US visa must have been used at least once to enter the US before
- Official source: Saudi Arabia Tourism Authority
—
44. United Arab Emirates
- Eligible Nationalities: Indian passport holders only
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit (C1, C1/D)
- Entry granted: 14 days
- Entry rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at UAE airports
- VOA fee is 100 AED, valid for 14 days, single-entry only
- US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Official source: UAE Government Portal
Personal experience: I entered the UAE at Sharjah International Airport with my Indian passport and US visa. The VOA and the immigration procedures at Sharjah airport were quick. I was given a 14-day entry.
RELATED: 5 ways to get proof of onward travel for your next trip
***
Africa
45. 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 are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at all international airports
- VOA fee is $25 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
- US visa must have been used to enter the US at least once
- Official source: Egypt Tourism Department
—
46. 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 are eligible to apply for Morocco e-Visa
- E-Visa fee is 770 MAD, valid for 180 days, single-entry only
- US visa must be valid for at least 90 days from the day of arrival
- Official source: Morocco E-Visa Portal
***
Asia
47. 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 are eligible to apply for Japan eVisa
- eVisa fee is JPY 3,000, valid for 90 days, single-entry only
- Must submit proof of residence to prove that you reside in the US
- Must show the visa issuance confirmation via the eVisa website on your phone at the immigration (Prints and PDFs are not accepted)
- Must enter Japan by flight only
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
—
48. Kyrgyzstan (Newly Added)
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- China
- India
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 7 days
- Entry rules:
- US visa must be a long-term visa issued for 3 or more years (US visas issued for less than 3 years are not accepted)
- After entering Kyrgyzstan this way, you can only reenter Kyrgyzstan again after 21 days.
- IMPORTANT: This information is not available in IATA/TIMATIC yet, your flight may denied your boarding
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan
—
49. Malaysia (Currently Suspended)
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- 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 are eligible to obtain Transit Without Visa (TWOA) at the VOA counter
- TWOA is free of charge, valid for 120 hours (5 days), single-entry only
- TWOA is available at Kuala Lumpur Airport (KLIA1 and KLIA2 terminals) only
- Must be in transit to reach the US as the destination. Must hold a confirmed onward eTicket or original boarding pass to the US within 120 hours. (Exception for longer-term pass holders such as work visa, student visa, permanent resident, etc. who can depart to any third country)
- Issuing of TWOA is at the discretion of the immigration offices at Kuala Lumpur Airport
- Official source: High Commission of Malaysia in New Delhi, India
—
50. Philippines
- Eligible Nationalities: Indian passport holders only
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas
- Entry granted: 14 days
- Entry rules:
- US visa must be valid for the entire duration of the stay
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of departure
- Official source: Embassy of the Philippines in India
Personal experience: I have entered the Philippines 4 times so far at Manila International Airport with my Indian passport and US visa. The immigration procedure at the airport was always quick. I was always given a 14-day entry.
—
51. Singapore
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- China
- India
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit (C1, C1/D)
- Entry granted: 96 hours (4 days)
- Entry rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to obtain Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF) upon arrival
- Must be traveling to or from the country of passport. Example: Must be traveling to a third country from India via Singapore or traveling to India from a third country via Singapore. An example itinerary would be India-Singapore-Bali or Bali-Singapore-India.
- Both arriving and departing flights in Singapore must be on the same itinerary
- Official source: Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
—
52. South Korea
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities (except these 23 countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameron, Cuba, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen)
- Permitted US visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit (C1, C1/D)
- Entry granted: 30 days
- Entry rule: Must be traveling to/from the US through South Korea
- Official source: South Korea Embassy in Washington DC, USA
Personal experience: I entered South Korea at Seoul International Airport with my Indian passport and US visa. The immigration procedure at the airport took a bit longer as the officer had to verify visa requirements. The officer verified my onward ticket to the US which was in 21 days. I was given a 30-day entry.
—
53. Taiwan
- Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Cambodia
- India
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Vietnam
- Permitted US visas: All valid/expired used/unused multiple-entry US visas, except transit (C1, C1/D)
- Entry granted: 14 days
- Entry rules:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to apply for ROC Travel Authorization Certificate online
- ROC Travel Authorization Certificate is free of charge, valid for 90 days, multiple-entry
- If using an EXPIRED US visa, the visa must have expired in the last 10 years only
- Official source: Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Personal experience: I entered Taiwan at Taipei International Airport with my Indian passport and US visa. I registered for my ROC travel authorization certificate a few days before my travel to Taiwan. I was given a 30-day entry (entry was 30 days when I traveled but currently it’s only 14 days).
***
Conclusion
There you have it! List of 53 countries and territories you can travel visa-free with US visa. If you don’t have a US visa, it’s time to apply for one and add another 53 to your list of VISA-FREE countries.
Do you know any other country (I haven’t listed here) that offers visa exemption for US visa holders? Let me know in the comments below.
Change history: For those who are interested, here are the changes to this list.
| Date | Changes |
|---|---|
| 25 Jan 2024 | Countries added: (1) Moldova, (2) Jordan and (3) Kyrgyzstan Countries removed: (1) Cuba (due to lack of proper official sources in 2024) |
| 10 Feb 2024 | Updated “Eligible nationalities” list for Jordan |
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Vikesh Narielwala says
Hi All,
Just wanted to put some comments regarding Nicaragua and Argentina. Even with a valid US visa Nicaragua is not allowing Indian citizens to enter. We need to fill the form but when we mention Citizenship as Indian the form crashes. We need a mail approval from the embassy but we have mailed them around 25 days ago but no reply. Even though it is part of CA4 countries rules are different for Indian citizens.
For Argentina Tourist AVE visa, the fees has been changed to 400USD now. We have applied for it and will let you know in case we get the visa or not. Also waiting times have increased anywhere between 2-3 weeks now, so if planning for Argentina make sure to apply the Visa atleast a month before your travel date.
This blog has helped a lot for me to plan Central and South America but situations are changing hence felt to provide an update.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Vikesh! Thanks for the updates! Unfortunately, a lot of Latin American countries are restricting South Asian (including Indians) and African nationals due to the pressure from the US.
Yeah, you are right. The Nicaragua immigration form is saying that we must apply for a visa. Which embassy did you contact? And what’s the procedure like to get a visa for Nicaragua.
The Argentina AVE fee is $400? Wow! Did you try to apply at the embassy for a sticker visa? There is no fee for sticker visa for Indians.
Thanks! Yeah, I try to keep the post updated but I’m losing motivation. I still love traveling (currently in Mexico) and love sharing my knowledge. But Google considers content farms and AI sites as worthy of ranking. Blogs like mine with real in-person experience is worthless in Google’s eyes. Diminishing income from the blog lead me to focus on other projects. But readers like you and kind words like these are what keeps me going. I will do my best to keep this content up-to-date and free. Thanks again, Vikesh!
David says
What about G4 visa? Same exemptions as B1, B2, B1/B2, H1, L1, F1, J1, C1, D, C1/D? Thanks.
Thirumal Motati says
Yes. G4 visa also qualify for these exemptions. I’ve only listed the most popular ones here such as B, H, F, C/D, etc. but exemptions apply to other US visas as well, except for transit for some countries.
Hashim says
What is your opinion about Atlys. Is it legitimate visa site or a scam?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Hashim! I teach my readers how to apply for visas on their own. But if you need help from a visa agent, you can use one. I have never used this agent and I have no opinion about them.
Mark says
Hi, you can also travel Kosovo via Serbian border. So if you use your US visa to enter Serbia, you can also go to Kosovo legally as they consider it as part of Serbia and not as separate country. But this only applies if you are entering via Serbia – Kosovo border and not from any other neighbor countries.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Mark! Thanks for the info! I will do some research and update the article.
Lulu Sarnam says
One of the most useful article in the entire internet :) Thanks Thirumal. Please keep the updates.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Lulu! Thank you and I appreciate the kind words! I’ll do my best to keep it updated.
Saket Pachisia says
Hello Thirumal, I wanted to check, I have 2 Indian passports. My older expired one has a valid US multiple-entry visa which has been used in USA. I wanted to check if this will be good enough for me to visit Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Saket! I couldn’t find official info for Albania and Montenegro, but North Macedonia accepts valid US visas in expired passports if accompanied by new passport. It’s confirmed in IATA/TIMATIC. I’m quite certain that it shouldn’t be an issue for Albania and Montenegro as well.
Pooja Dharan Mp says
Hi, can you Please point out which countries allow C1/D US visa on Indian passport to enter or does this visa come under the “All valid/expired used/unused multiple-entry US visas” mentioned multiple times in ur Blog.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Pooja! Yes. C1/D is included when I say “all US visas”. If a C1/D (transit) is not accepted, then I mention that explicitly saying “except transit”. Hope that’s clear.
Umar says
Hi Thirumal, your blog and this post is amazing, I’ve bookmarked it as I recently received my B1/B2 visa. However, I had two transits in London (LHR) when going and when coming back from the US, both times I was unable to exit the airport because I think the immigration officers were not aware of the transit without a visa if you have a valid US visa, they told me I am not able to leave the airport even my transit was 15hrs. Have you or anyone tried to exit the airport while on transit in the UK ?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Umar! Thanks for the update! There are a few readers on the FB group that were able to use this provision successfully. I don’t know if anyone used it recently though. You can join the FB group and ask there to see if anyone was able to use it recently.
HIMAS says
Hi Umar. You can travel without UK visa. Your US valid B1/B2. Only one day (24 hours) can transit London. I’ve travelled already.
Umar says
Thanks for the update! I shall try it next time.
Khawar Saleem says
Only be allowed when change of airport. Landing in Heathrow and next flight is from Heathrow, they will not give you transit visa.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Khawar! Thanks for the info! Is this from your personal experience? Were you denied 24-hour entry at Heathrow?
FK says
I availed Visa on Arrival at Heathrow Airport in April,2023.I was coming back to Pakistan from New York travelling on Virgin Atlantic and i had layover of 15 hrs & 45 minutes.I went straight to the immigration and was fortunate that i was sent to the relevant immigration officer who was aware of this visa on arrival with valid US visa.The lady asked me how can i help you?I was with my wife,I said to her that i have onward journey to Pakistan tonight and my layover is for 15hrs and today is our EId and i would like to go out and have Eid Lunch with my family and in the evening i will come back.
She said i am allowing you entry but incase if you miss your flight or you try to slip be mindful youll never ever be able to get UK visa again in life and we will ban you if you stay beyond 24hrs in the UK.
I replied very politely with gratitude that i am aware and i will keep my word and so did i and was back on time and took a flight and came back to Lahore and i shared my experience with Thiirumal Motati.
Sangi says
Hi, I have a US visa (on my Indian passport) and I am planning to travel to the Philippines this month with my us visa. Are there any other requirements other than the US visa to show to the immigration?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Sangi! No. All you need is your India passport and a valid US visa. Enjoy your trip!
Elizabeth says
Can you kindly update the information on North Macedonia? They recently suspended entry of third-country nationals that have US and Canada visas. Suspended till 31st December 2023. You can see the update of the same resource link you posted from their MFA.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Elizabeth! The MFA link still says that you can use US, UK and Canada visa will the 31 Dec 2023. Are you looking at a different link or interpreting the same info differently? If we both are referring to the same info, then you are interpreting the info incorrectly. MFA abolished Macedonian visas for those holding US, UK, and Canada visas. That means a Macedonian visa is not required if you are holding a US, UK, or Canada visa. It also says that this visa-free scheme is temporary and is only available till the end of this year.
Varun Shinde says
Hello Sir, I am travelling from the USA to Dubai with an EXPIRED US visa (but active I-797) and planning to stay in Dubai for 2 days and will fly to India from there. I am confused about the visa application for UAE.
I have two separate tickets as US – Dubai(Emirates) and Dubai – Mumbai(Indigo). I believe I am not eligible for Transit Visa in this case and have to apply for Single Entry Tourist Visa for UAE. Could you please guide me if I am on right track?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Varun! You cannot get VOA in UAE since your US visa is expired. Therefore you would need to get a single-entry tourist visa for UAE. Since you are flying to the UAE with Emirates, you can apply for a 48-hour or a 96-hour visa on the Emirates website. You will see the option to apply for a UAE visa from “manage your booking” on their website.
Varun Shinde says
Thank you for replying back. Emirates is not applying for a transit visa as I am NOT exactly doing a transit based on my tickets. I booked a one-way flight to Dubai and another flight with Indigo 2 days later. In that case, emirates cannot apply for a visa for me. However, I applied for a Tourist visa now with Atlys.
I got another question for you, this is just to confirm again being traveling for the first time to UAE. My wife has a VALID H1B US visa and a valid passport till 2026. I believe she will get VOA and I do not need to file for a tourist visa for her. I asked DVPC and they also mentioned the same thing but the statement is somewhat dubious. Can you please tell me about this?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Varun! Sorry for the late response! Yes. Your wife can get VOA in UAE using her valid H1B US visa and India passport. Enjoy your trip!
Dipesh says
Malaysia also allows citizens of India and the PRC to stay for 15 days with VOA if they are arriving in Malaysia via Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, or Brunei only (with a valid visa from either country). Here is the authenticity of the source
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Dipesh! Thanks for the information! I already have a section about VOA in Malaysia Visa Guide. But I think it will not be relevant in this article because it has nothing to do with having a US visa.
Vivek Nair says
Hi Thirumal. I am an Indian passport holder with an unused US Visa. Can I enter Bosnia with this? I checked the link given by you – in this, it is mentioned that citizens of countries that have a visa regime with Bosnia are allowed. I am planning to enter Bosnia and exit from Montenegro. Thanks.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Vivek! Yes, you can use your unused US visa to enter Bosnia. Bosnia has a visa regime with pretty much every country, except Kosovo. If you hold an Indian passport, you can use your US visa to enter Bosnia, and also Montenegro.
Nirav says
Hi, I have a few hours of layover in Singapore. On my trip from Phuket to NY (via Singapore), can I use VFTF to do some sightseeing in Singapore for a few hours? My requirement is just for this leg (I’m going to Thailand from NY, via Japan, so I don’t have this option then).
I have an Indian passport, with H1B Visa expiring in 2025, living in NY. Also, have a long-term UK visa expiring in 2029.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Nirav! Yes, you can. If you have a “multiple-entry” US visa and a confirmed ticket to any third country, you can obtain VFTF at Singapore airport. Ignore the additional requirements I have mentioned such as home country or country of visa. I had to add those to keep it straightforward otherwise I would have had to deal with many emails and queries, especially those using single-entry visas.
Dip says
Our entry to South Korea was denied while transiting Incheon from Honolulu on our way to Singapore. The immigration officer has advised us that Indian passport holders are no longer eligible to exit during their transit in Korea unless they have a prearranged visa for Korea.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Dip! Thanks for the update! Yeah, it’s been unclear since post-covid. Thanks for trying this yourself and letting us know. Appreciate it and thank you!
Soni says
Hello Thirumal, I was recently researching about Jamaican visa and saw that Indian passport holders can get a visa on arrival for 7 days! Is this right? I do have a US visa too!
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Soni! Indian passport holders do not need a visa for Jamaica. All you need is your Indian passport. US visa is not needed.
Aishwarya says
Hi Thirumal! Your blog is amazing and I keep referring to it often. I really appreciate your patience and diligence in responding to each comment or query.
I just wanted to ask whether I can use a valid US visa which is in my expired passport and just carry it with me whenever I travel. Or is it necessary that the US visa should be on a valid passport? Thank you.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Aishwarya! Your US visa in your expired passport is still valid. So when you travel to the US or any country that accepts a US visa, you just have to carry both passports. Present both passports at the time of flight check-in and immigration.
Aishwarya says
Thank you so much for the response!
Narsinh says
Hi, I have a multiple-entry US VISA for 10 years ( B1/B2 ) expiring in Sept 2025. My son has just moved to Canada on a student visa. We want to pay a visit to him and also travel to some places. My query is should I apply for a tourist VISA or a family visa for CANADA? Thanks.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Narsinh! You must apply for a Canada VISITOR visa. Visitor visas can be for tourism or family. You will be asked to select your purpose of visit in your visa application. You can select family visit as your purpose.
Morize says
Hi! Does anyone here have tried traveling to Cuba straight from Canada/US using their Philippine passport with a valid Canada TRV/US B1/B2 visa? Appreciate your responses!
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Morize! Quite a few Filipino readers have traveled to Cuba from the US using their US B1/B2 visas pre-covid. I don’t have any info post-covid, but I don’t think anything has changed. Amerian Airlines operates direct flights from Maimi to Cuba and you can get a tourist card at the time of check-in.
Nathan says
Hello. I refer to this page frequently. Could you please add a change/ update log? I see the last update as Nov 9, 2022, but I couldn’t check what the update was. Thanks,
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Nathan! Thanks for referring to this page frequently. I currently don’t maintain a log but I will definitely consider your suggestion. I maintain a master database and when things change in that database, I will update the article accordingly. The changes can be sometimes as simple as updating a broken link to a source to more complex updates such as adding a new country or removing an existing country. Again, thanks for the suggestion and I will look into adding a log.
Mark says
I just wanna add that Bahrain offers Visa on Arrival for US visa holders for 2 weeks for 5 BHD.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Mark! Thanks for the info! I will research and add Bahrain to the list. Thanks again!
Kumar says
Thiru, A few updates I wanted to bring to your attention:
1. Bahrain allows Indians with a US visa to get VOA
2. Malaysia’s TWOV has resumed
3. Taiwan is now open for tourism and Indians with a valid or expired US visa can get a free entry certificate
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Kumar! Thanks for the info! I will add Bahrain and Taiwan. But Malaysia’s TWOV seems to be still suspended. At least that’s what my sources are saying. Do you have a link that says otherwise?
Sudhi says
Hi, I see in your comments about your visit to Latin America from the USA. Do you have any article that you can share about itineraries and how many days are required to cover? And did you do multiple trips to Latin America? Also is it good for families with kids or solo? Any tips and cautions for Indians and without Spanish knowledge? Thanks.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Sudhi! Unfortunately, I don’t have any articles on traveling in Latin America. I don’t write about travel since there are tons of blogs on that topic. My focus and expertise are only on visas, so I write about visas extensively.
Some trips back in 2014/15 are trips I did from the US. The trips from 2016 and after are all continuous long-term trips spanning multiple countries at a time. A lot of countries are safe for kids, like Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, etc. Basic Spanish is essential for traveling in Latin America. English is only spoken in very touristy areas. Outside those areas, knowledge of basic Spanish is very much essential.
Naz says
Hi, I’m an Indian passport holder, I went to S.Korea last month and had to apply for a visa since a US visa is accepted only if you are flying in from the US. The same goes for Egypt, a valid US visa is not enough. Kindly update the information provided.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Naz! Correct, for South Korea, you must be in transit to the US or from the US. The visa is called “tourist in transit (B-2-1)”. For example, if you plan to go from India to South Korea and then to the US, you can use your US visa. The other way round is also allowed.
I’m not really sure about Egypt. All my sources say that you can use a valid “used” US visa. Do you know any source/link that you must travel directly from the US in order to get VOA in Egypt?
Praveen says
Hey Thirumal, great content and really appreciate the hard work. Can I get into Colombia and Chile with an “unused” B1/B2 visa?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Praveen! If you are holding an Indian passport, then YES. You can use your “unused” US B1/B2 visa to enter Colombia and Chile. Your US visa doesn’t have to be “used” for these two countries.
Divya says
Hi Thirumal, thanks for the informative post. I noticed you mentioned that there is a 6 month US visa validity requirement beyond the intended stay for entry to countries like Nicaragua, Honduras, Columbia, Costa Rica, and Panama. I am traveling to these countries via Cruise in December. At that time my H1B would have a validity of just 3 months(Apr 04, 2023 expiry).
I have two questions really.
1. Did you mean 6-month passport validity or 6-month visa validity?
2. If you meant visa validity, then what are my options to still be able to travel on the cruise?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Divya! (1) I meant 6-month VISA validity. Your H1B must be valid for 6 months on the day of arrival in those countries. Not sure how strict they are at the seaports but the airlines followed these rules strictly. Once an airline denied me boarding to Costa Rica because of I had fewer than 6 months on my H1B. But luckily I had a Canada visa, so I was able to use that to fly.
(2) The immigration officers never paid that much attention to my US visa expiration date. As long as I had a US visa that is still valid, they were fine with it. So you may be able to get away with less than 6-month validity. But you will have to get an official confirmation for just in case.
Kailas Perumal says
Hi, I will be traveling from Dublin to Dubai by SWISS Airlines. From Dubai, I will be traveling to Trivandrum via Mumbai. The layover time is 3.30 hrs.
1) Is it possible to book checked baggage directly from Dublin to Trivandrum SWISS Airlines and Air India Express?
2) How to collect and rebook my trip at Dubai Airport?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Kailas! You haven’t mentioned if you had booked those tickets under one itinerary. In that case, the airlines may codeshare and transfer your baggage. But to answer your questions, I would assume that you have booked these tickets separately.
1) No. Since these two are different airlines booked separately, you would need to collect your baggage in Dubai and recheck in.
2) After your arrival in Dubai, you will have to go through immigration in order to claim your checked baggage. Then you should follow the signs to “transfers or departures”. You will stop by the Air India check-in desk to check in and drop off your bags.
Qabas says
Hi, thanks for all the information. I am From Oman and I hold a 10-year valid US tourist visa Type/Class B1/B2. I would like to visit Canada!!! How can I do it, any help. Thanks.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Qabas! You would need to apply for a Canada tourist visa. The visa process can be a bit fast if you have traveled to the US previously. I have a detailed guide on Canada visa, please refer to the guide.
Ikhlas says
What is the best visit visa to hold to travel to multiple countries for Indians?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Ikhlas! A US visa is the best. But a US and Schengen visa combination is the ultimate. I have a detailed article with examples on this topic. You can check it out.