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Visa Reciprocity by Country 2024

Visa reciprocity, also known as visa insurance, is a fee that some individuals from certain countries or areas of authority have to pay once their visa application is approved.

Not all non-immigrant applicants are required to pay this fee, and it sometimes changes, so always check for the reciprocity schedule when traveling to and from the U.S. to see if you meet the requirements.

What is the Reciprocity Schedule?

The U.S. Department of State uses the reciprocity schedule to provide specific guidance for obtaining supporting documents for a green card or U.S. visa applications.

It indicates the document’s availability, where and how much it costs to get an official copy, and other details based on the country where the document was issued.

If another country rather than the U.S. issued your supporting document, you'd need to check the reciprocity schedule to ensure you’re submitting the correct version. If your documents don’t meet the reciprocity schedule guidelines, the U.S. government could reject them or request additional information, significantly delaying your application.

Reciprocity Schedule Terminology

Visa Classification: The non-immigrant visa category you’re applying for.

Fee: The reciprocity fee you’ve to pay apart from the non-immigrant visa application fee (MRV)

Number of Entries: The number of times you can seek entry into the U.S with the visa. “M” means you can have entry into the U.S multiple times; a number, like "One," indicates you can only apply once.

Validity Period: How long the visa can be used to travel to the U.S. -- date it was issued and the date it expires.

Reciprocity by Country: Using the Reciprocity Schedule

Here is some guidance on how to use the reciprocity schedule.

Open the Reciprocity Schedule

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Visa - Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country webpage (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html/) for information about the U.S. embassies and consulates in the country issuing your document and the visa services.

Filter by Country

On the left-hand red panel boxed, select the first letter of the country that issued your document. Or click "All" to see the list of available countries alphabetically.

Find Your Country.

Scroll until you find the country’s name that issued your document, then click on it. As you scroll down the page after selecting your country, skip the two sections named “Explanation of Terms” and “Visa Classifications.” which are relevant only to people applying for non-immigrant visas, not green cards.

The Visa Classifications section tells you if you need to pay a reciprocity fee. It depends on whether your country has an agreement with the U.S., where U.S. citizens get a visa application fee waiver for your country.

Search for Your Document

Scroll down until you see the name of your document. Click the plus (+) icon at the end of the gray bar.

View the Document Details

The expanded box shows whether the document is "Available." If your document is marked “N/A,” “Unavailable,” or “Generally not available,” it means that the State Department doesn’t have guidance on how to get the record, or the country doesn’t issue such documents based on its laws or other reasons.

Note that you must still provide whatever form of this document you have, either an alternative or a written statement explaining why you cannot provide the document if it’s a requirement by the U.S. government for your green card application.

Notes:

  • China (Taiwan) - Pursuant to Section 6 of the Taiwan Relations Act, (TRA) Public Law 96-8, 93 Stat, 14, and Executive Order 12143, 44 F.R. 37191, this agreement which was concluded with the Taiwan authorities prior to January 01, 1979, is administered on a nongovernmental basis by the American Institute in Taiwan, a nonprofit District of Columbia corporation, and constitutes neither recognition of the Taiwan authorities nor the continuation of any official relationship with Taiwan.

  • Czech Repubilc and Slovak Republic - The Treaty with the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic entered into force on December 19, 1992; entered into force for the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic as separate states on January 01, 1993.

  • Denmark - The Treaty which entered into force on July 30, 1961, does not apply to Greenland.

  • France - The Treaty which entered into force on December 21, 1960, applies to the departments of Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Reunion.

  • Japan - The Treaty which entered into force on October 30, 1953, was made applicable to the Bonin Islands on June 26, 1968, and to the Ryukyu Islands on May 15, 1972.

  • Netherlands - The Treaty which entered into force on December 05, 1957, is applicable to Aruba and Netherlands Antilles.

  • Norway - The Treaty which entered into force on September 13, 1932, does not apply to Svalbard (Spitzbergen and certain lesser islands).

  • Spain - The Treaty which entered into force on April 14, 1903, is applicable to all territories.

  • Suriname - The Treaty with the Netherlands which entered into force December 05, 1957, was made applicable to Suriname on February 10, 1963.

  • United Kingdom - The Convention which entered into force on July 03, 1815, applies only to British territory in Europe (the British Isles (except the Republic of Ireland), the Channel Islands and Gibraltar) and to "inhabitants" of such territory. This term, as used in the Convention, means "one who resides actually and permanently in a given place, and has his domicile there." Also, in order to qualify for treaty trader or treaty investor status under this treaty, the alien must be a national of the United Kingdom. Individuals having the nationality of members of the Commonwealth other than the United Kingdom do not qualify for treaty trader or treaty investor status under this treaty.

  • Yugoslavia - The U.S. view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that the successors that formerly made up the SFRY - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Slovenia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continue to be bound by the treaty in force with the SFRY and the time of dissolution.

  • The E-3 visa is for nationals of the Commonwealth of Australia who wish to enter the United States to perform services in a "specialty occupation." The term "specialty occupation" means an occupation that requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge, and attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty (or its equivalent) as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States. The definition is the same as the Immigration and Nationality Act definition of an H-1B specialty occupation.

  • Bolivia - Bolivian nationals with qualifying investments in place in the United States by June 10, 2012 continue to be entitled to E-2 classification until June 10, 2022. The only nationals of Bolivia (other than those qualifying for derivative status based on a familial relationship to an E-2 principal alien) who may qualify for E-2 visas at this time are those applicants who are coming to the United States to engage in E-2 activity in furtherance of covered investments established or acquired prior to June 10, 2012.

  • Ecuadorian nationals with qualifying investments in place in the United States by May 18, 2018 continue to be entitled to E-2 classification until May 18, 2028. The only nationals of Ecuador (other than those qualifying for derivative status based on a familial relationship to an E-2 principal alien) who may qualify for E-2 visas at this time are those applicants who are coming to the United States to engage in E-2 activity in furtherance of covered investments established or acquired prior to May 18, 2018.

  • Israel: Pursuant to a treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation between the United States and Israel that entered into force on April 3, 1954 entitled nationals of Israel to E-1 status for treaty trader purposes. Nationals of Israel are not entitled to E-2 classification for treaty investor purposes under that treaty. Public Law 112-130 (June 8, 2012), accords nationals of Israel E-2 status for treaty investor purposes if the Government of Israel provides similar nonimmigrant status to nationals of the United States. The Department has confirmed that Israel offers reciprocal treaty investor treatment to U.S. nationals and E-2 visa may be issued to nationals of Israel beginning on May 1, 2019.

  • New Zealand: Public Law 115-226, enacted on August 1, 2018, accorded nationals of New Zealand to E-1 and E-2 status for treaty trader/treaty investor purposes if the Government of New Zealand provides similar nonimmigrant status to nationals of the United States. The Department has confirmed that New Zealand offers similar nonimmigrant status to U.S. nationals and E visas may be issued to nationals of New Zealand beginning on June 10, 2019.

Download Table Data

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Country
E1 Effective Date
E1 # of Entries
E1 Validity Period
E1 Visa Reciprocity Fee
E2 Effective Date
E2 # of Entries
E2 Validity Period
E2 Visa Reciprocity Fee
Additional Details
Albania01-04-1998Multiple36 MonthsNone
Argentina12-20-1854Multiple60 MonthsNone12-20-1854Multiple60 MonthsNone
Armenia03-29-1996Multiple60 MonthsNone
Australia12-16-1991Multiple48 Months357412-27-1991Multiple48 Months3574
Australia also has a unique E-3 classification, effective Sept. 02, 2005, with a 24-month validity p...
Austria05-27-1931Multiple60 Months3105-27-1931Multiple60 Months31
Azerbaijan08-02-2001One3 MonthsNone
Bahrain05-30-2001One3 MonthsNone
Bangladesh07-25-1989One3 MonthsNone
Belgium10-03-1963Multiple60 Months42010-03-1963Multiple60 Months420
Bolivia11-09-1862Multiple60 MonthsNone06-06-2001One3 MonthsNone
Qualifications for E-2 status were raised significantly as of 2022.
Bosnia and Herzegovina11-15-1982Multiple12 MonthsNone11-15-1982Multiple12 MonthsNone
Brunei07-11-185341 MonthsNone
Bulgaria06-02-1954Multiple60 Months162
Cameroon04-06-1989Multiple Multiple12 Months Less than 12 Months240 60
Canada01-01-1994Multiple60 Month4001-01-1994Multiple60 Months40
Chile01-01-2004Multiple60 Months26501-01-2004Multiple60 Months265
Colombia06-10-1948Multiple60 MonthsNone06-10-1848Multiple60 MonthsNone
Costa Rica05-26-1852Multiple60 Months29105-26-1852Multiple60 Months291
Croatia11-15-1982Multiple60 Months39511-15-1982Multiple60 Months395
Czech Republic01-01-1993Multiple60 Months22
Denmark07-30-1961Multiple60 MonthsNone12-10-2008Multiple60 MonthsNone
Does not apply to Greenland.
DR Congo07-28-1989Two3 MonthsNone
Ecuador05-11-19973 MonthsNone
Qualifications for E-2 status were raised significantly in 2018.
Egypt06-27-1992One3 MonthsNone
Estonia05-22-1926Multiple60 MonthsNone02-16-1997Multiple60 MonthsNone
Ethiopia10-08-1953Multiple60 MonthsNone10-08-1953Multiple60 MonthsNone
Finland08-10-1934Multiple24 Months29212-01-1992Multiple24 Months292
France12-21-1960Multiple25 MonthsNone12-21-1960Multiple25 MonthsNone
Also applies to the overseas departments of Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Reunion.
Georgia08-17-1997Multiple12 MonthsNone
Germany07-14-1956Multiple60 MonthsNone07-14-1956Multiple60 MonthsNone
Greece10-13-1954Multiple60 MonthsNone
Grenada03-03-1989Multiple60 MonthsNone
Honduras07-19-1928Multiple60 Months19507-19-1928Multiple60 Months195
Ireland09-14-1950Multiple60 MonthsNone11-18-1992Multiple60 MonthsNone
Israel04-03-1954Multiple52 MonthsNone05-01-2019Multiple24 MonthsNone
Italy07-26-1949Multiple60 Months30807-26-1949Multiple60 Months308
Jamaica03-07-1997Multiple60 MonthsNone
Japan10-30-1953Multiple60 MonthsNone10-30-1953Multiple60 MonthsNone
Also applies to the Bonin Islands and the Ryukyu Islands.
Jordan12-17-2001One3 MonthsNone12-17-2001One3 MonthsNone
Kazakhstan01-12-1994Multiple12 MonthsNone
Kyrgyzstan01-12-1994Two3 MonthsNone
Latvia07-25-1928Multiple60 MonthsNone12-26-1996Multiple60 MonthsNone
Liberia11-21-1939Multiple60 MonthsNone11-21-1939Multiple12 MonthsNone
Lithuania11-22-2001Multiple12 MonthsNone
Luxembourg03-28-1963Multiple60 MonthsNone03-28-1963Multiple60 MonthsNone
Mexico01-01-1994Multiple12 Months4201-01-1994Multiple12 Months42
Moldova11-25-1994Two3 MonthsNone
Mongolia01-01-199736 Months65
Montenegro11-15-1882Multiple12 MonthsNone11-15-1882Multiple12 MonthsNone
Morocco05-29-1991Multiple60 MonthsNone
Netherlands12-05-1957Multiple36 Months222812-05-1957Multiple36 Months2228
Also applies to Aruba and Netherlands Antilles.
New Zealand06-10-2019Multiple60 MonthsNone06-10-2019Multiple60 MonthsNone
Norway01-18-1928Multiple60 Months40001-18-1928Multiple60 Months400
Does not apply to Svalbard.
Oman06-11-1960Multiple6 MonthsNone06-11-1960Multiple6 MonthsNone
Pakistan02-12-1961Multiple60 MonthsNone02-12-1961Multiple60 MonthsNone
Panama05-30-1991Multiple60 MonthsNone
Paraguay03-07-1860Multiple60 MonthsNone
Philippines09-06-1955Multiple60 Months81309-06-1955Multiple60 Months662
Poland08-06-1994Multiple12 MonthsNone08-06-1994Multiple12 MonthsNone
Republic of the Congo08-13-1994One3 MonthsNone
Romania01-15-1994Multiple60 MonthsNone
Senegal10-25-1990Multiple12 MonthsNone
Serbia11-15-1882Multiple12 MonthsNone11-15-1882Multiple12 MonthsNone
Singapore01-01-2004Multiple24 MonthsNone01-01-2004Multiple24 MonthsNone
Slovakia01-01-1993None
Slovenia11-15-1982Multiple60 Months34511-15-1982Multiple60 Months345
South Korea11-07-1957Multiple60 MonthsNone11-07-1957Multiple60 MonthsNone
Spain04-14-1903Multiple60 Months31404-14-1903Multiple60 Months234
Applicable to all territories.
Sri Lanka05-01-1993Multiple36 MonthsNone
Suriname02-10-1963Multiple60 MonthsNone02-10-1963Multiple60 MonthsNone
Sweden02-20-1992Multiple24 MonthsNone02-20-1992Multiple24 MonthsNone
Switzerland11-08-1855Multiple48 Months23511-08-1855Multiple48 Months235
Taiwan11-30-1948Multiple60 MonthsNone11-30-1948Multiple60 MonthsNone
Agreement is administered on a nongovernmental basis and constitutes neither recognition of the Taiw...
Thailand06-08-1968Multiple6 Months1506-08-1968Multiple6 Months15
Togo02-05-1967Multiple36 Months21002-05-1967Multiple36 Months210
Tunisia02-07-1993Multiple60 MonthsNone
Turkey02-15-1933Multiple60 MonthsNone05-18-1990Multiple60 MonthsNone
Ukraine11-16-1996Two3 MonthsNone
United Kingdom07-03-1815Multiple60 MonthsNone07-03-1815Multiple60 Months105
Applies only to British territory in Europe (the British Isles except for Republic of Ireland, the C...
showing: 79 rows

What is the visa reciprocity schedule?

In the US, the visa reciprocity schedule is what is used to show what documents are needed by those who are looking to get a visa so they can enter the US.

Frequently Asked Questions