US passport transit cheat sheet
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The table
| Hub | Stay airside without a visa? | Leave the airport? | Visa-free stay | Before you arrive | Free transit tour? | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo (NRT / HND) | Yes | Yes, visa-exempt | 90 days | — (none found) | None found | MOFA Japan: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html ; Embassy of Japan in the USA, transit: https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/visa-transit.html |
| Taipei (TPE) | Yes | Yes, visa-exempt | 90 days (counted from the day after arrival; can't be extended) | Online arrival card (TWAC) within 7 days before arrival | Yes: Free Half-Day Tour, for 7–24 h layovers | BOCA: https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-149-4486-7785a-2.html ; tour: https://halfdaytour.taiwan.net.tw/ |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | Yes | Yes, visa-free | 90 days | — (none found) | None from the airport; it points to the HKTB | ImmD: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/visit-transit/visit-visa-entry-permit.html |
| Doha (DOH) | Yes; no transit visa needed if you stay airside | Yes, visa on arrival / visa-free entry | Up to 90 days per stay (the visa is valid 2 years, multiple entry) | Passport valid 3+ months; confirmed hotel booking | Paid only (Discover Qatar, from QAR 115; needs 6+ h) | Visit Qatar: https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/plan-your-trip/visas ; HIA: https://dohahamadairport.com/airport-guide/at-the-airport/transfers |
| Dubai (DXB) | Yes | Yes, visa stamped on arrival | 90 days (multiple entry, valid 6 months) | Passport valid 6 months | None found; Emirates Dubai Connect free hotel for eligible 6–26 h connections | Emirates: https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visa-information/ ; u.ae: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/transit-visa |
| Istanbul (IST) | Yes (single-ticket international transfers skip passport control) | Yes, visa-exempt | 90 days in any 180 | Passport valid 6 months is advised | Yes: Touristanbul (Turkish Airlines, 6–24 h, one PNR, 235 ticket) | MFA Türkiye: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa ; TK: https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/flights/fly-different/touristanbul/ |
| Singapore (SIN) | Yes | Yes, no visa needed | Set by e-Pass on entry (90 days commonly cited; not confirmed, so check with your airline) | SG Arrival Card | Yes: Free Singapore Tour, for 5.5–24 h layovers | ICA: https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore/visa_requirements ; tour T&Cs: https://fst.changiairport.com/terms-and-conditions |
| Manila (MNL) | Yes (same-terminal, single-ticket international transfer) | Yes, no visa needed | 30 days initially (extendable by 29) | eTravel within 72 h before arrival | None found | BI: https://immigration.gov.ph/visas/visa-waiver/ ; PAL transfer guide: https://www.philippineairlines.com/content/dam/palportal/migration/files/beforeyoufly/attheairport/connectingflights/transfer-guide_as-of-19aug24.pdf |
| Bangkok (BKK) | Not confirmed; check with your airline | Yes, visa-exempt | 30 days (the 60-day scheme was revoked from Sept 15, 2026) | Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC); confirm the current TDAC rules with your airline | Not confirmed | Thai Govt PR Dept: https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/48/iid/538547 ; Royal Thai Consulate-General Chicago: https://cgchicago.thaiembassy.org/th/content/thailand-visa-exemption-stay |
| Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | Not confirmed; check with your airline | Yes, no visa for short visits | 90 days (per US State Dept; not confirmed on the Malaysian Immigration page, so check with your airline) | Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), within 3 days before arrival | Not confirmed | Malaysian Immigration: https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/visa/visa-requirement-by-country/ ; MDAC: https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/register ; US State Dept: https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/malaysia.html |
| Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | Yes, if you stay in the international transit area going on to a third country (based on Vietnam's Entry/Exit law; not confirmed on an official page, so check with your airline) | Visa needed: apply for the official e-visa | E-visa up to 90 days, single or multiple entry | E-visa at the official portal before travel | Not confirmed | Vietnam e-visa portal: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt ; US Embassy Vietnam: https://vn.usembassy.gov/vietnamese-visas-and-entry-exit/ |
| Seoul (ICN) | Not confirmed; check with your airline | Yes, visa-free | 90 days per US State Dept (not confirmed on an official page; check with your airline) | K-ETA not required through Dec 31, 2026 (temporary exemption); it may be required from Jan 1, 2027 | Not confirmed | Embassy of Korea in the USA, K-ETA exemption notice: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-en/brd/m_4500/view.do?seq=761106 ; K-ETA: https://www.k-eta.go.kr/portal/apply/index.do ; US State Dept: https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/south-korea.html |
Quick reads
- Easiest long-layover hubs for US passports: Taipei, Istanbul and Singapore, which all have free official transit tours, plus Hong Kong (visa-free, 24-minute train to the city).
- Watch for paperwork: Doha (confirmed hotel booking), Singapore (SG Arrival Card), Manila (eTravel), Taipei (TWAC), Bangkok (TDAC), Kuala Lumpur (MDAC), Vietnam (e-visa required).
- Overnight at Narita: you can't stay airside from midnight to 06:00, so you must enter Japan. That's fine for US passports. Source: https://www.narita-airport.jp/en/airportguide/connect/inter-inter/
Philippine passport holders: one-line contrast
| Hub | Philippine passport, one-line status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Visa needed to enter; same-day airside transit OK; transit visas discontinued July 1, 2026 | MOFA Japan, Embassy of Japan (Tokyo hub page) |
| Taipei | Visa-exempt 14 days until July 31, 2027, with hotel proof and funds | BOCA |
| Hong Kong | Visa-free 14 days | ImmD |
| Doha | Paid visa (visa on arrival or Hayya, QAR 100); QAR 100 transit visa for tours | Visit Qatar, Discover Qatar |
| Dubai | Pre-approved visa needed to leave the airport (48 h / 96 h transit visas via UAE airlines) | u.ae, Emirates |
| Istanbul | Visa needed; e-Visa only with a valid US, UK, Ireland or Schengen visa or residence permit | MFA Türkiye |
| Singapore | No visa needed (stay length set by e-Pass) | ICA |
| China (any 240-hour port) | Not eligible for 240-hour transit; only 24-hour airside | NIA (see the China transit guide) |
Sources
All URLs are listed in the table above. Last checked: 2026-10-18.
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