Travel Requirements

Many countries around the world are either loosing or strengthening entrance requirements. US citizens enjoy the luxury of entering 166 countries visa free only requiring a valid passport. Several countries require US citizens to obtain a visa prior to travel, one of those countries was Brazil. As of July 17th, Brazil has loosened its visa requirements on the US, Canada, Japan, Australia no longer requiring a visa for up to 90 days. Countries such as Australia, Bolivia, China, Cuba, India, and Vietnam all require a visa before admittance into the country. One interesting fact, Hong Kong was transferred to China as a territory in 1997, it maintains a separate governing and economic system from mainland China. As such, Hong Kong has its own money, passport, immigration, and legal system, because of this Hong Kong does not require US citizens to possess a visa upon entry for up to 90 days for non-business travel.

The Trump administration has imposed measures to restrict US citizens to visit Cuba with no known Cuban family, therefore Americans are no longer allowed to visit Cuba by means of a cruise, recreational vehicle, aircraft, or under a people to people visa. The only caveat is if you book travel before June 5^th you may continue with your travel plans. Many cruise lines are applying for special authorization from the US government to make port in Cuba, however, there are no guarantees.

There are currently 12 approved categories of authorized travel to Cuba: family visits; official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; educational travel; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials; and certain authorized export transactions.

Last year, the Trump administration placed a travel ban on several countries that include: Venezuela, Libya, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, and North Korea.

• Venezuela: US restricts entry to certain Venezuelan government officials
• Libya: US suspends entry to Libyans as immigrants. Also, suspends entry to nonimmigrants on business and tourist visas
• Syria: US suspends entry to immigrants and nonimmigrants
• Iran: US suspends entry to Iranians as immigrants and nonimmigrants. Those with a valid student and exchange visitor visa can enter but may face enhanced screening.
• Yemen: US suspends entry to Yemenis as immigrants. Also suspends entry to non-immigrants on business and tourist visas
• Somalia: US suspends entry to Somalians as immigrants
• North Korea: US suspends entry to North Koreans as immigrants and nonimmigrants

Made effective July 1, the citizens of Jamaica and Ghana are both able to visit one another’s countries without a visa. This is in an effort to bridge and build stronger ties between Ghana, those on the continent, and the diaspora. To promote intra-African trade, investments, and tourism many countries (Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Ethiopia) have allowed other African nations admittance into their countries. This is a sentiment being express across the entire continent, due to Africans not easily able to travel amongst the 54 countries freely.

Lastly, provide a comment below indicating if travel restrictions or the visa process has discouraged you from visiting certain countries.

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