You’re Going to Have a Very Hard Time Getting Into These 8 Countries
You’re Going to Have a Very Hard Time Getting Into These 8 Countries
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https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/the-most-difficult-travel-visas
Be aware of these travel bans and visa issues.
There’s a lot you need to do to travel to an international destination, but as an American, applying for a visa is typically not one of them. The U.S. has one of the strongest passports in the world, so American passport holders can travel spontaneously to most destinations without worrying about visas. There are a few exceptions, though, and you may have to prepare in advance to cross those borders or let go of the idea altogether.
In 2025, the U.S. briefly dropped out of the top 10 on the Henley Passport Index, but it currently ranks 10th with visa-free access to 179 countries (out of 195 recognized countries worldwide). Often, travelers only need to fill out an online form before their arrival, and join the fast-track queue at immigration without sweating it out much.
However, there are a few countries around the world where even the strongest passports don’t mean much. Travelers have to go through a lengthy process to get a visa approval for these countries or pay a lot more than expected due to strict regulations. In some instances, there are outright travel bans imposed by the U.S. that make them inaccessible.
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1 OF 8
North Korea
North Korea is one of the most isolated places in the world. Travel in the country is heavily restricted, and it has strict rules for visitors. It relaxed its rules for Americans in 2010, but that curtain closed in 2017 when the U.S. decreed that American passports could not be used to visit the country.
The U.S. Department of State clearly states, “U.S. passports cannot be used to travel to, in, or through the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) unless they are specially validated for such travel by the Secretary of State.” Special validations are granted in exceptional circumstances. Also worthy of note is that there is no U.S. embassy in the country, and Sweden acts as a conduit.
The restriction was imposed after a young tourist, Otto Warmbier, 22, was detained in the country for attempting to steal a propaganda poster and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. He stayed in captivity for 15 months and was returned to the U.S. in a vegetative state on humanitarian grounds. North Korea said that he had been in a coma for a year due to botulism, but his family claimed that he had been tortured and suffered a brain injury. He died shortly after his return.
Soon after his death, the Trump administration barred all Americans from traveling to the Asian country, citing safety reasons. The ban has been in place ever since, and the State Department maintains its Level 4: Do Not Travel warning.
If you’re curious about the way of life of North Koreans, you can obtain a second passport and go with a guided group, which is the only way to travel there. You won’t be allowed freedom to roam freely and spontaneously without your guide, though.
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2 OF 8
Cuba
On paper, Americans are not allowed to travel to Cuba for tourism purposes. In reality, there are exceptions that can be used. In January, the U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a notice that Cuban authorities were denying entry to Americans upon arrival or ordering them to depart immediately.
The U.S. State Department website clearly states: “U.S. law and regulation prohibit travel to, from, or within Cuba for tourist activities.” Yet there are 12 categories of travel to Cuba, including family visits, journalistic work, professional research, religious activities, humanitarian projects, and support for the Cuban people. Most travelers, according to this Reddit thread, use support for the Cuban people as their reason to visit.
Travelers also need non-U.S.-issued medical insurance, which United includes in its ticket price. People also need an entry permit. You can get it at the airport for $50 per person, along with an additional $35.
The U.S. State Department has a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution for Cuba. The agency warns that the electrical supply in the country is unreliable and power cuts can last 12 hours or longer. Another thing travelers should note is that U.S. cards don’t work in Cuba, so you should have enough cash to cover your expenses.
PHOTO: YULIYA BATURINA/DREAMSTIME
3 OF 8
Russia
The U.S. and Russia haven’t been on the best of terms for years, and since Russia attacked Ukraine, tourism has been hit doubly. You will find few flights to the country, but it is possible to get there. In fact, conservative American families have moved to Russia as “ideological immigrants.”
Russia has an e-visa option for many countries, including Japan, Ireland, the Netherlands, India, and Italy, but American visitors need to submit documents to get an entry visa to Russia. These documents include your passport with six months of validity after the visa expiration date, an application form, an invitation letter from a hotel or a registered travel agency, a passport-size photo, and visa fees. The embassy recommends opting for a multiple tourist visa valid up to three years. It does take some planning since there are a few insurance companies and airlines to choose from.
Fair warning, Russia is on Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory. The State Department warns of terrorism, wrongful detention, and unrest, and it has ordered all U.S. citizens to leave immediately.
The Russian government can detain Americans without due process, and the U.S. has limited ability to assist, with its consular services suspended. The advisory adds, “Russian authorities have questioned, detained, and arrested people for ‘acting against Russia’s interests.’ Local authorities have targeted people for posting on social media or supporting ‘anti-Russian’ groups.” In addition, they have also arrested people for criticizing the government.
The LGBTQ+ community is also not safe in the country, as Russia considers them “extremists”. The U.S. advises against bringing personal electronic devices since the authorities monitor activities, and foreigners can be punished for treason.
PHOTO: MAURICE BRAND/DREAMSTIME
4 OF 8
Turkmenistan
A landlocked nation in Central Asia, Turkmenistan is isolated from the rest of the world. In the COVID years, the authoritarian country was completely out of bounds, and even now, you cannot travel there independently.
For American visitors, a visa is required. You can apply for it in advance or get it on arrival at the Ashgabat International Airport. But the catch is that you need a letter of invitation along with an application for your visa. This letter is offered by travel companies, and the embassy notes, “ It’s very important to note that the letter has to be certified by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, and it will only be valid for 3 months from the date of certification.” You need to pay for a group tour to travel to the country, and going off on your own is not an option.
A single-entry visa starts at $35 for 10 days, and a group tour can cost hundreds of dollars.
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5 OF 8
Iran
The U.S. has a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning for Iran and it urges Americans to leave immediately. Even before the U.S.-Iran war, the two nations did not have the warmest of relationships. According to the State Department, Iran has detained Americans and imposed exit bans to prevent them from leaving. There is no U.S. embassy in the country due to their lack of diplomatic relations, so Americans should think twice before planning a trip.
With the U.S. and Israel-led attacks on Iran, travel to the country has become out of reach. Flights are not operating, and the airspace has been closed for weeks. But those who wanted to visit pre-war also were not given full autonomy over their visit.
You couldn’t make travel plans without careful planning. Americans were required to apply for a visa at least eight weeks in advance for it to be processed in time. The trip had to be booked through a recognized travel operator, and they took care of the visa. This also meant that you couldn’t independently explore the country, and without a U.S. embassy in Tehran, diplomatic assistance was offered through the Swiss embassy.
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6 OF 8
China
In 2024, China eased its visa requirements for American travelers. Now they no longer need to provide return tickets, itinerary, and invitation letters. However, Americans still need to get a visa. You need to fill out an application a month before your trip and submit documents online. When the application is processed, you need to submit your passport to the embassy within 30 days.
If you’re thinking about going to Tibet, you need a special permit to enter the autonomous region in addition to the Chinese visa. It is also important to note that independent travel is forbidden in the region, and you need to book an organized tour, and your tour company can apply for the permit for you to visit. You also have to carry this permit everywhere; it can be checked at any time.
China is on Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution warning. However, the State Department notes that China imposes exit bans on U.S. citizens and that people can be detained without access to an embassy.
PHOTO: EFIRED/ISTOCK
7 OF 8
India
Americans can apply for an e-visa for India, and the process isn’t complicated. However, the application form asks for detailed personal information of the traveler. You will have to answer questions such as your education qualification, religion, visible identification marks, and information about your family (including addresses). In addition, the country seeks your travel plans and itineraries and asks for a reference in India. You can apply online and get it in 3-4 working days.
The country is on Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory, and the U.S. advises against traveling alone as a woman. Also, satellite phones are illegal in the country, and bringing one in can result in a penalty of $200,000 or three years in prison.
PHOTO: JOE DORDO BRNOBIC/SHUTTERSTCK
8 OF 8
Chad
President Trump banned citizens of a dozen countries from entering the U.S. in 2025. This list was later updated to include more nations, but the worst-affected continent was Africa. In a reciprocal move, the government of Chad suspended all visas to American citizens, so U.S. citizens cannot travel to the country for tourism or business purposes. Meanwhile, the U.S. has a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for Chad due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.
Similarly, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have also banned U.S. citizens from entering their countries after the Trump administration restricted their citizens.
A microscope on small businesses: Spotting opportunities to boost productivity
https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/a-microscope-on-small-businesses-spotting-opportunities-to-boost-productivity?
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MSMEs are vital for growth and jobs, but struggle with productivity. The route to higher productivity lies in creating a win-win economic fabric for all companies.
Chapter 6.
Delivering a win-win future
Productivity is a hot-button issue for economies navigating particularly turbulent times. Indeed, accelerating productivity growth may be the only route out of current financial stress, reconfiguring global trade patterns, and shifts in companies’ manufacturing and services footprint to build resilience that delivers rising wealth and robust growth in GDP and incomes.
This research indicates that narrowing the MSME productivity gap with large companies can yield considerable value, and that large companies, policy makers, and MSMEs themselves can contribute to capturing that value by acquiring key competencies.
Improving the productivity of small businesses merits immediate attention. It may be a self-resolving issue—a natural progression as employment shifts to larger enterprises as economies develop. As discussed, this progression can play out in different ways. Some MSMEs may scale into larger companies, others may be acquired by larger enterprises, and some may cease operations and make room for new businesses. Indeed, previous MGI research suggests that high-growth emerging economies tend to be the ones where large companies are allowed to scale rapidly. However, the extent of this natural progression is limited. Even in the most advanced economies, MSMEs continue to contribute the majority of all workers employed by businesses. Change is also likely to be slow. The clear implication is that, overall, MSMEs will continue to play an important role in the long term, and that acting now to boost their productivity growth can make the difference to economy-wide growth.
But given the enormous variation in productivity performance evident at the subsector level and even among enterprises with different business models, getting the conditions right for raising productivity requires a microscopic view to help prioritize, design, and implement solutions.
Three considerations can help shape stakeholder actions
Even with an abundance of initiatives and examples of efforts that stakeholders can make, understanding how to capture the MSME productivity opportunity is a complex exercise. Opportunities vary a great deal on the ground, and there are few one-size-fits-all solutions. Intentional measures targeted at helping small enterprises may even raise questions about how this might affect the overall productivity of economies. We suggest three considerations for stakeholders as they develop their approaches.
Creating a win-win economic fabric is important
The global business landscape is deeply interconnected. The success or failure of large companies can have ripple effects throughout entire economic ecosystems. As such, stakeholders, including policy makers, regulatory bodies, associations, and large companies, need to foster the right enabling conditions for the growth and prosperity of all enterprises. These conditions may require measures that go beyond conventional policies focused on MSMEs, such as facilitating access to credit for MSMEs and encouraging training for MSME employees. In addition to such measures, it may involve strategies to build “collective productivity.”
Strengthening networks and interactions between large and small businesses can yield productivity gains in the win-win domains and in domains where large companies outperform their peers but smaller ones lag behind. Where small businesses outperform while larger ones do not, there would be a benefit in enabling those small enterprises to evolve into large ones or merge with them to promote business dynamism. When both large and small companies lag behind their peers, more fundamental steps to improve the economic fabric as a whole may be needed; for instance, investing in physical and digital infrastructure, establishing transparent and fair regulatory frameworks that boost competition, reducing trade barriers, and ensuring equal access to financial capital.
Prioritization can pay off
Stakeholders first need to decide which economic domains to focus on to make MSMEs more productive. Failing to prioritize which opportunities to pursue can lead to a dilution of efforts and place a burden on the often-limited resources at hand. Some countries have selected and supported “national champion” sectors, as has happened with beverage manufacturing in Italy, automotive manufacturing in Japan, and R&D in Israel. Such prioritization requires meticulous identification of the nation’s competitive advantages and a keen eye for demand trends, as well as allocating resources toward innovation, facilitating access to capital, and cultivating supportive networks.
A granular and tailored approach matters
Measures designed to help MSMEs improve their performance tend to be broad, but the granular lens of this research reveals that different subsectors have varied needs. Stakeholders may need to design a menu of measures for each prioritized opportunity.58 In other words, taking a microscopic approach that reflects the dynamics of each subsector and country and that addresses barriers to productivity and scale in that context is warranted.
All stakeholders can boost MSME competencies through a variety of proven approaches
All stakeholders—policy makers, large companies, and MSMEs themselves—can adopt strategies designed to boost productivity, which may involve structural changes that go beyond traditional approaches. Policy makers can provide access to better infrastructure, while large companies can help MSMEs build scale-related competencies. MSMEs can collaborate with others to achieve network efficiencies.
Policy makers can boost access to technology, new markets, and finance
Supportive policy interventions can create advantages of scale for MSMEs and help overall business dynamism. The following three broad contributions stand out:
- Being intentional in improving technology access and building management skills of businesses. Singapore’s GoBusiness initiative provides financial support for all businesses that adopt technology solutions to improve their business processes, aligned to industry road maps. Governments can also make direct investments in digital infrastructure that helps businesses expand their market reach. For example, in India, the Open Network for Digital Commerce aims to build an e-commerce platform, which can particularly assist small retailers in reaching new consumers because they lack the resources and financial capacity to develop their own platforms. The Help to Grow program in the United Kingdom aims to help small businesses scale up by offering management courses taught by entrepreneurs and industry experts to develop leadership skills and establish business networks.
- Opening up access to new markets. One example is Europe’s “Small Business, Big World” initiative, which offers guidance on customs procedures, trade regulations, and market entry requirements in various countries to enable SMEs to expand their export activities. Canada’s CanExport program supports MSMEs in exploring new export opportunities, enabling them to participate in trade shows, conduct market research, and develop marketing materials for the international market.
- Boosting financial infrastructure that helps underfinanced MSMEs. An open data framework, for instance, can enable financial institutions to use nontraditional data sources for credit underwriting, targeted at a range of underfinanced companies, including MSMEs. An Experian study showed that including utility data allowed 20 percent of “thin-file” credit customers with scant documentation to support their credit application to become “thick-file” customers who have higher loan approval rates. For small businesses, this can increase access to financing, provide greater convenience, and improve product options. Financial institutions could also benefit from efficiency improvements, better fraud prediction, and reduced friction and cost of data intermediation. Governments can also help businesses improve their working capital management by improving tax-related infrastructure and systems. In Latin America, countries such as Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru have launched initiatives aimed at radically simplifying business registration and tax payment processes. One reform enabled businesses to formally register in a day.
In addition to these interventions, policymakers can also facilitate the availability of globally consistent yet granular data to enable all stakeholders to take a microscopic approach to understanding and thereby improving the productivity of MSMEs.
Large companies can boost the competencies of MSMEs within their value chains
As discussed earlier in this report, networks and linkages between MSMEs and large companies benefit the growth and performance of both. One study of small businesses in New York found that seven out of ten of them increased their revenue within two years of becoming part of a corporate supplier base. A 2023 study of Belgian companies found that when MSMEs started supplying superstar companies for the first time, their productivity increased by about 8 percent after four years. They also achieved an increase in sales to businesses other than the new superstar partner.
But it is not a one-way street. As noted earlier, large companies also appear to benefit when their MSME partners and suppliers are more productive. This could be because large companies often depend on MSMEs in most parts of the value chain, from development to supply, production, service delivery, distribution, sales, and post-sales. For example, a large logistics player works with local delivery partners for last-mile delivery, and a small recruiting agency might help a large company fill key positions. Large companies, therefore, had an incentive to raise MSME capabilities. The following three ways are pivotal:
- Assisting MSME partners to build digital and R&D capabilities. Unilever’s open innovation platform Foundry connects its different divisions with startups to engage in joint ideation and mentorship opportunities, for instance. Google helps small businesses that purchase ad placements from it in gaining a deeper understanding of customer behavior and in improving the utilization and efficiency of ad spaces. In India, Maruti Suzuki set up a “comprehensive excellence” program for its main MSME suppliers. In 2018–19, 50 percent of the company’s suppliers met the performance standards laid out and reported improved efficiency, more interest from investors, and broader access to procurement and R&D opportunities. Nestlé’s Nescafé Plan has provided training to small coffee farmers for techniques to increase crop yields.
- Conferring MSME partners with the ability to build workforce capabilities. One example is Apple, which launched a $50 million fund in collaboration with the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration to provide learning and skills development opportunities for the employees of its suppliers. In India, Walmart launched a Supplier Development Program to train and prepare 50,000 small businesses to better integrate into global supply chains.
- Lending weight to the reputation of MSMEs when requesting finance. For example, DuPont leveraged its relationship with a financial institution to secure working capital credit for its MSME suppliers in rural areas, thereby strengthening its supply chain and increasing sales. Large financial institutions have a particularly important role in providing affordable credit and better product options to MSMEs. Innovative underwriting approaches that use alternative credit data can help; an Experian survey found that 70 percent of small businesses are willing to furnish additional financial information if it will improve the chances of loan approval or reduce borrowing rates.
MSMEs can collaborate with one another to achieve network efficiencies
Collaboration among MSMEs can help build their capabilities. In Europe, for instance, 30 to 40 percent of SMEs do not belong to any formal network, but can still forge collaborations. That collaboration can even be at the level of individual MSMEs. Innovative companies cooperate on business activities with other organizations more than those that are not innovative. One OECD study of SMEs operating in Association of Southeast Asian Nations economies found that they perform better when they are allied with large enterprises, but also when they strike partnerships with other MSMEs. Japan’s Small and Medium Enterprise Agency has shown that SMEs that have partnered with other small enterprises in order to implement technology solutions in their operations have 76 percent more sales per employee than those that haven’t taken this route. For example, a small sheet-metal processor in Japan wanted to incorporate in-house cloud computing into its operations and partnered with two other enterprises in the same sector, but with different specialties. Together, the three companies built a joint order reception system, which enables them to collaborate on a range of projects with the same clients. All three MSMEs improved the digital and management capabilities of their manufacturing operations.
Broader MSME collaborations at the association or group level can help more small businesses raise productivity through knowledge sharing, mentoring, networking, and online platforms. The SME Finance Forum works with more than 240 active member institutions—financial institutions, technology companies, development finance institutions, and relevant large corporations—to facilitate resources to help MSMEs bridge their financial access gap. The DIGITAL SME Alliance in Europe launched a platform for traditional SMEs to access a catalog of digital solutions ranging from videoconferencing to AI modeling.
Other companies can also facilitate the creation of such MSME networks. For example, IBM, in collaboration with other Fortune 500 companies, launched a Supplier Connection initiative that connects small suppliers to one another and to large businesses to access new opportunities. SABI, an African digital infrastructure provider, fosters connections between MSME merchants, wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers. It also provides them with enterprise resource planning tools, B2B commerce interfaces, and financial services, enabling MSMEs to reach new customers, improve their cash flow, and streamline their logistics.
Raising productivity is, and always has been, the optimal route to healthier incomes and business resilience. In a world beset by uncertainty amid geopolitical tensions and shifts in manufacturing and services footprints, raising the game of the world’s MSMEs—which are so central to jobs, livelihoods, value creation, and economic growth—is a priority. The potential is large, but efforts to capture it need to be thoughtful and very likely targeted. Only by having a granular understanding of MSME productivity can effective action be taken. That action can create a win-win for all companies, small and large.
This Luxury Resort Makes a Belize Vacation Shockingly Easy
Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection
https://www.fodors.com/world/mexico-and-central-america/belize/experiences/news/this-luxury-resort-makes-a-belize-vacation-shockingly-easy
If you think getting around Belize is tricky, think again.
On my first trip to Belize, I pieced everything together myself, including internal flights, ferries, transfers, and tours. This time, I found a setup that made it easier to get straight to the best parts.
With Alaia Belize on Ambergris Caye, that starts with a 15-minute flight from the mainland to San Pedro, followed by a quick ride to the resort, so a Belize getaway feels much more manageable from the start.
What makes this setup so appealing is how easily it pairs a luxury stay with some of Belize’s classic outings. Alaia’s Beyond the Reef experience includes snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley along the Belize Barrier Reef, then heading to Caye Caulker for lunch and time to wander the island’s main road past souvenir shops and local grills.
The resort can also arrange mainland excursions or a scenic flight with Tropic Air over the Great Blue Hole, a massive marine sinkhole that’s become one of the country’s top sights for scuba diving and flyovers. And its on-site dive center offers even more ways to get on the water, from snorkel trips and local dives to PADI certification, sport fishing, and sunset cruises.
For anyone thinking about Belize, this is a smart way to do it: one luxury base with concierge-planned excursions, plus on-property experiences ranging from poolside cabanas and spa treatments to a mixology class, chef’s table experience, and multiple restaurants, including rooftop and seaside dining.
Altogether, it adds up to an un-Belize-ably easy escape.
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