These 5 Countries Have Changed Entry Rules For American Citizens This Year

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Between tariff wars and rising anti-America sentiment worldwide, it’s a tricky world to navigate as a U.S. passport holder in 2025.

That’s why we’ve set out on a mission lately to update you on all of the most relevant policy changes regarding travel, which you can follow here.

As you might have noticed, entry rules for certain countries have changed quite a lot lately, from the introduction of mandatory customs forms to full-fledged visa requirements.

There is a lot to unpack here, and we will always keep you in the loop.

Be that as it may, 5 countries in particular have already made significant changes to their border policies, including 2 massively popular destinations, with immediate effect.

If you’re not careful enough, you could risk being denied boarding, or worse, refused entry at your destination, starting with Brazil:

Brazil

After mulling it over for three years, Brazil finally made good on its promise to tighten entry rules not only for Americans, but also Canadians and Australians: essentially, citizens of foreign countries that have not signed visa-waiver agreements with Brazil.

Brazilians can’t go to the U.S. without applying for a visa to the tune of $80.90, so now, Americans can’t enter Brazil without paying an $80.90 fee, and getting prior authorization. Tit-for-tat.

The good news is, unlike before, you can get the Brazilian visa online by filling out an online form, and it is valid for multiple entries within a period of 5 years, counting from the date of issue.

If you’re traveling with children, however, there’s a stack of paperwork you need to submit on top of the usual documents, which you can read in full here. Remember: unless you get the e-Visa, you can’t board Brazil-bound flights, and you’ll be systematically refused entry at the border.

United Kingdom

Similarly to Brazil, the United Kingdom (including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) also rolled out a new ‘e-Visa’ system for Americans back in January.

They call it the Online Travel Authorization, or UK ETA, and it concerns not only U.S. passport holders, but also Canadians, and every other traveler who, prior to 2025, had not been subject to visa requirements traveling to Britain.

Though it started at a cost of only £10 (British pounds), or around $13.27, the fee has already been hiked to £16, roughly $21.22, as of April 2025.

With an approved UK ETA, you can travel to the United Kingdom as many times as you want over a 2-year period, or until your passport expires (whichever comes sooner), so long as each visit does not exceed 6 months.

Antigua and Barbuda

The next one is less serious, but equally important.

A tiny two-island nation in the heart of the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda has launched a new digital arrival and departure system, replacing the printed forms you had to fill out on the spot when landing, and leaving the country.

Unlike the Brazil e-Visa, and the UK ETA, this is actually good news, as you’ll be saving time when traveling, and you can quickly complete the form online using your phone prior to heading to the airport.

There is no need to download an app, either: all it takes is signing up for the ArriveAntigua platform in your preferred browser, scan your passport (if you’re using your phone), and answer a simplified questionnaire about your stay.

Upon completion, a QR code will be sent to your email, which you can save to your phone to present at border control if you’re flying to Antigua and Barbuda, or arriving by cruise.

It’s free and easy to complete, but keep in mind it is mandatory.

Cuba

Still in the Caribbean, Cuba is officially doing away with the pink (or green) tourist cards you had to purchase at the airport prior to flying: instead, you’ll now have to get a Cuban e-Visa through an online platform.

The launch date is set for July 1, and the revamped border rules are set to significantly simplify travel to Cuba, which many travelers used to find exceedingly complex.

Now, all you have to do is complete an application online, via eVisa-Cuba, and pay a $50 fee. The major downside is, as of this stage, they do not take card payments, only money orders issued via USPS, or certified checks.

But hey, we’re slowly making progress.

The Cuban e-visa is valid for a single entry and allows you to stay on the island for up to 90 days (up from the previous 30). Once in Cuba, the e-visa can be renewed for an additional 90 days, for a total of 6 months.

Nigeria

We don’t know if anyone here is planning a visit to Nigeria, in West Africa, anytime soon, but you should know they have recently upgraded their visa policy to allow for a simpler, faster, and more secure travel experience.

Without beating around the bush, an e-Visa was launched on March 1, 2025, to the tune of $150 for U.S. applicants.

Quite pricey, yes, but at least much of the physical visa bureaucracy has been done away with: as long as you have a passport valid for at least 6 months, at least 2 blank pages left, a return ticket, and upload proof of sufficient funds for your stay, the platform should validate your request.

Don’t forget to pay the fee, of course.

Now, if you’re wondering why you would even contemplate going to Nigeria, of all places, you should know it offers a plethora of lush wildlife reserves, most notably the waterfall-dotted Yankari National Park, savannas, and otherworldly geological formations:

Think Zuma Rock, a 725-meter-tall monolith, a short drive from Abuja, the Nigerian capital, as well as one of the most modern cities in all of Africa, with skyscrapers, conference centers, and stately administrative palaces galore.

On top of that, Lagos is a vibrant city break characterized by its verdant urban parks, golden-sand beaches and raucous nightlife—plus, it hosts nonstop flights from as many as 3 U.S. cities: Atlanta, New York, and Washington.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.