Global Entry Advisor

Check visa requirements for any country. Select your citizenship, residency, and destination to see visa-free, eVisa, and paper visa options on an interactive map.

FAQ

Global Entry Advisor — Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Global Entry Advisor tool do?
The Global Entry Advisor is an interactive visa requirements checker. You select your country of residency, your citizenship, your purpose of travel (e.g., tourism, relocation, work), and your destination country — and it instantly shows whether you need a visa, can get an e-visa or visa on arrival, or must apply for a paper visa through an embassy before traveling.
What do the three color categories on the map mean?
Green means No Visa Required — you can enter that country without obtaining a visa in advance. Yellow/amber means E-Visa, ESTA, or Visa on Arrival — entry is streamlined but you must complete an electronic travel authorization or obtain approval at the border. Orange means Paper Visa — you must apply through that country's embassy or consulate before your trip.
Does "No Visa Required" mean I can live or move there long-term?
Not necessarily. "No Visa Required" typically applies to short-stay tourism (often 30–90 days). If you're planning to move abroad long-term, retire, or work remotely, you will almost always need a separate long-stay visa or residency permit — even for countries that don't require a visa for tourism. Use this tool to understand entry requirements, then explore the Visa Pathways Explorer on Rewire Abroad for long-stay and residency options.
What is an e-Visa and how is it different from a visa on arrival?
An e-Visa is obtained online before you travel — you apply, pay a fee, and receive approval digitally, which you present at the border. A Visa on Arrival means you don't apply in advance; instead, you obtain the visa at the port of entry (airport or border crossing) upon arrival. Both are more convenient than a paper embassy visa, but e-Visas give you pre-travel confirmation while visa-on-arrival approval is not always guaranteed.
What is a Paper Visa and how do I apply for one?
A Paper Visa (also called an embassy or consular visa) must be applied for before you travel. You submit an application — typically including your passport, photos, financial documents, and supporting paperwork — to the destination country's embassy or consulate in your home country. Processing times range from a few days to several weeks, so always plan well in advance.
How do I use the tool to check visa requirements?
Select your country of residency (where you currently live) and your citizenship (which passport you hold) from the dropdowns. Then choose your purpose of travel — Tourism, Business, Work, etc. — and optionally search for a specific destination country. The world map updates instantly, color-coding every country based on your visa requirement, and the summary below shows the count for each category.
Why do I need to enter both "Residency" and "Citizenship" separately?
Because they can be different — and both matter. Your citizenship determines which passport you travel on and is the primary factor for visa-free access. Your country of residency can affect which consulates or embassies you can apply to for visas, and some countries have different entry rules for residents vs. citizens of the same nation.
How many countries can US passport holders visit without a visa?
U.S. passport holders currently have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 180+ countries, making it one of the strongest passports globally for travel. The exact number shifts as bilateral agreements change. Use the tool with "United States" as your citizenship to see the current, up-to-date map for your passport.
What's the difference between a tourist visa and a long-stay / residency visa?
A tourist visa (or visa-free entry) typically allows stays of 30–90 days for leisure. A long-stay or residency visa is a separate legal category that allows you to live in a country for extended periods — often one year or more, with the option to renew. Residency visas usually require proof of income, health insurance, background checks, and sometimes local bank accounts.
Can I use this tool if I have dual citizenship?
Yes — and you should check both passports. If you hold dual citizenship, run the tool twice: once for each passport. You may find one passport gives you visa-free access to a destination where the other requires a visa. Always enter the country your destination may consider your primary citizenship, and travel on whichever passport gives you the best access.
How current is the visa information in this tool?
The data is powered by VisaHQ and is updated regularly, but visa policies can change with little notice — especially around political events, public health situations, or bilateral treaty changes. Always verify requirements directly with the official embassy or government immigration website of your destination country before booking travel or making relocation plans.
Is this tool useful for digital nomads planning to work remotely abroad?
Yes, as a first filter. Select "Work" or "Tourism" as your purpose of travel to see initial entry requirements. However, many countries that allow visa-free tourism do not legally permit remote work on a tourist visa. If you're a digital nomad, you should explore countries with dedicated Digital Nomad Visa programs — many of which are listed in the Visa Pathways Explorer on Rewire Abroad.