Bolivia and Uzbekistan Drop Visa Requirements for Americans

"On December 1, 2025, Bolivia began allowing United States citizens to visit the South American country without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism and business purposes, streamlining travel logistics for stateside visitors. In addition to the US, Bolivia also lifted visa requirements from seven other countries: South Korea, South Africa, Bulgaria, Malta, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel."

"Uzbekistan's announcement comes at a time when the Central Asian country, best known for its ancient Islamic architecture and cornerstone role in the Silk Road, is seeing a boom in US travelers. Intrepid Travel, a global tour operator, saw an almost 60% spike in US bookings to Uzbekistan from 2023 to 2025, Leigh Barnes, president of Intrepid Travel's Americas division, tells Condé Nast Traveler. In January alone, 40% of Intrepid's bookings were for its premium trips to Uzbekistan."

"Yves Marceau, the company's vice president of product, tells CNT that US bookings to Uzbekistan grew 96% from January 2025 to the same time in 2026. "We're seeing strong and growing interest in destinations that offer deep cultural immersion and a real sense of discovery, and Uzbekistan is a standout example of that trend," Marceau says. "The 'Stans' as a region have been gaining momentum across all our travel styles and traveler demographics.""

Bolivia began allowing United States citizens to visit without a visa on December 1, 2025, for up to 90 days for tourism and business, and also lifted visa requirements for South Korea, South Africa, Bulgaria, Malta, Romania, the United Arab Emirates and Israel. Uzbekistan enacted a 30-day visa-free program for Americans on January 1, 2026. Both countries expect visa-free access to stimulate local economies and boost U.S. tourism. Intrepid Travel reported an almost 60% increase in U.S. bookings to Uzbekistan from 2023 to 2025, with 40% of January bookings for premium trips. G Adventures reported a 96% rise in U.S. bookings year over year.

Read at Conde Nast Traveler