Wondering about visa fees by country when traveling around the world? We share the dirty details of the total amount we — as American citizens — have spent on tourist visas in different countries during our 13-years of travel around the world.
Please note that this visa fee amount — and the bureaucratic hassles connected with obtaining visas — will vary drastically depending upon your nationality, when you apply (as visa regulations change regularly) and even where you apply.
In chronological order of our trip, the chart lists 1) countries where paid tourist visas were required; 2) visa cost per person; 3) length of visa; and 4) where the visa was received (embassy or land border/airport). Of course, we visited other countries along the way, but if you don't find the country listed that means that our entry was free.
In the early days when we were traveling full time we picked up most of our visas on the road by going to a country's embassy one or two countries prior to entering the country. However, if you are not on a continual journey like this, it is easier and less stressful to obtain your visas before leaving home. In addition, many countries have now enabled e-visas (e.g., online application) or visas upon arrival at an international airport or land border. So much easier.
For American citizens, the U.S. State Department's travel section and Country Pages are a useful place to start. It also has important COVID-19 related travel information available.
Update: You can find updated EU COVID-19 related border crossing information and here is a worldwide map with updated COVID-19 travel restrictions. This coronavirus travel restrictions page from our partner, Get Your Guide, is also quite good.
Visa Fees by Country for American Citizens
| Country | Visa Cost | Length of Tourist Visa | Where We Received Visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | $130 | 3 months, multi-entry | Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic |
| Laos | $35 | 30 days | Airport border, Luang Prabang Airport |
| Cambodia | $20 | 30 days | Land border, Mekong Delta between Vietnam and Cambodia |
| Armenia | $35 | 30 days | Land border between Georgia and Armenia |
| Azerbaijan | $100 | 30 days | Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia |
| Turkmenistan | $71 | 10 days | Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia |
| Uzbekistan | $100 | 30 days | Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Kazakhstan | $25 | 30 days | Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan |
| Kyrgyzstan | $55 (now free for U.S. citizens) | 60 days | Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan |
| Tajikistan (+ GBAO permit for Pamir Mountains) | $65 | 30 days, starting on the date of issue | Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan |
| China | $120 | 60 days | Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan |
| Burma (Myanmar) | $30 | 30 days | Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand |
| India | $90 | 6 months | Visa center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Nepal | $40 | 30 days | Land border with India |
| China | $160 | 30 days | Embassy in Singapore |
| Bolivia | $135 | 5 years | Embassy in Lima, Peru |
| Paraguay | $65 | Life of the passport | Embassy in Lima, Peru |
| Thailand | $20 | 60 days | Embassy in Toronto, Canada |
| Jordan | $30 | 30 days | Border, Amman Airport |
| Bangladesh | $130 | 60 days | Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand |
| Indonesia (Bali) | $25 | 30 days | Border, Bali Airport |
| Tanzania | $100 | 90 days | Border, Kilimanjaro Airport |
| Iran | $80 (€70) | 20 days | Embassy in Istanbul, Turkey |
| Turkey | $30 | 90 days | Border, Istanbul Airport |
| Egypt | $15 | 30 days | Border, Cairo Airport |
| Ethiopia | $50 (+ passport photo) | 30 days | Border, Addis Ababa Airport |
| Uganda | $50 | 30 days | Border, Entebe Airport (Note: as of July 2016 this is no longer possible) |
| Tanzania | $100 | 5 years | Border, Kilimanjaro Airport |
| Rwanda | $30 | 30 days | Land border between Uganda and Rwanda |
| India | $190 | 10 years, multiple entry | Visa Service in San Francisco |
| Haiti | $10 | 30 days | Border, Port-au-Prince Airport |
| Australia | $15 ($20 AUD) | 90 days | Online Application |
| Brazil | $45 | 2 years, multiple entry | E-visa. (From July 2019 no visas required for U.S. citizens). |
| Madagascar | $37 | 30 days | Visa upon arrival at airport |
| Comoros Islands | €30 | 45 days | Visa upon arrival at airport |
| Nepal | $25 | 15 days | Visa upon arrival at airport |
| Bhutan | Comes with your official Bhutan tour, which is a minimum $200-$250/person/day | Length of tour | Visa sent in advance by tour company by PDF |
| Grand Total in USD (per person) | $2,222 |