Avid travelers are always dreaming about the next trip, whether it’s an idyllic family vacation in the Caribbean, a romantic couples trip to Paris, or an immersive culinary tour in Japan. A stress-free journey is always in the forefront of every traveler’s mind when planning a trip. If you own a U.S. passport, your ease of travel increases.
According to the Passport Index, a U.S. passport currently ranks eighth in the world in terms of mobility. U.S. passport holders can currently travel to more than 120 destinations without a visa, whereas the remaining destinations require some form of visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
However, several important questions remain for some travelers, such as: What’s the difference between a visa and an eTA? How much do visas cost? What are the countries that U.S. passport holders can visit without a visa?
To bring some clarity to the visa confusion, we pulled together answers to a list of important questions to provide you with everything you need to know about traveling with or without a visa, as well as a few travel ideas to inspire your next trip.
What is the difference between a visa and a passport?
Since U.S. passport holders can enter over 120 destinations without a tourist visa, it’s easy to conflate passports and visas, but they are different.
The purpose of a passport is to verify your identity and citizenship when traveling abroad, whereas the purpose of a visa is to permit you to enter a foreign country. Think of one as an ID card and the other as an entry ticket.
You always need a passport to travel abroad, but you don’t always need a visa, especially if you are traveling for a short time or as a tourist.
Remember that a visa does not guarantee entry; officials at immigration make the final decision and can deny you even if you present a valid visa.