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Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Arabian government only allows tourists who have been sponsored by a legal resident or citizen.

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Saudi Arabia - However sponsorship alone doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be awarded a visa, as the application process is highly selective.

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Iran - The US diplomatic mission in Iran has been extinct since the 1979 hostage crisis. This means that there is no American embassy on Iranian soil.

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Iran - Some visitors, however, can apply for an Iranian visa through the Pakistani embassy in Washington, D.C., but then they need to prove that they’re traveling with a tour group.

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North Korea - North Korea requires all visitors to book a full package tour before visiting, and tourists must stay with their tour guides the entire time.

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North Korea - The lack of North Korean embassy in the US means that visitors need to travel to China before booking a tour.

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Syria - A tourist visa for Syria is nearly impossible to get.

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Syria - Each visa has to be approved through a complex process, which means potential visitors face an indefinite wait to be approved or declined.

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Bhutan - The tiny Himalayan kingdom doesn’t allow independent travelers. To gain access, interested visitors must hire a travel agent, who will require upfront payment of the entire trip.

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Bhutan - The government also mandates a minimum amount that tourists must pay per day if they wish to visit, which ranges from $200 to $300 depending on the season.

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Russia - This is a particularly difficult vacation choice for Americans, as they must answer more than twice as many extremely detailed questions than visitors from other parts of the world.

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Russia - Even if you do qualify for a visa, you can only stay for 30 days.

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Eritrea - Eritrean citizens enjoy about as much personal freedoms as North Koreans, according to Freedom House.

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Eritrea - It’s not surprising that this authoritarian, highly militarized state doesn’t want foreigners strolling down its streets. The process takes about eight weeks and offers no guarantees visitors will be approved.

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Somalia - Decades of war and terrorism have left the African country in a constant state of violence, which means the government makes it harder for potential tourists to acquire visas.

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Somalia - Like Iran, the government requires a legal resident or citizen to sponsor any potential tourists. Additionally, few hotels and guesthouses accept tourists, and when they do, they riddle their properties with armed guards.

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Sudan - A tourist visa for Sudan can take years. This is especially true for Americans, given the two countries’ rocky relationship following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

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Sudan - The government strictly controls the number of tourists it lets in, in addition to the locations they are allowed to visit and the photos they are permitted to take.

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Angola - The visa process for Angola is particularly harsh. The government requires all applicants to pay an application fee, an invitation fee, flight and their hotel before knowing if they'll get the visa.

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Angola - The process is even harsher for Americans because the US government supported the rebels during the country’s 27-year-long civil war.

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Yemen - The Middle Eastern country has seen tumultuous days in the past several years, and is a dangerous destination for all tourists. There is an increased risk for Americans however, as there is a prevalent anti-American sentiment there.

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Yemen - Given that Yemen is in the midst of a civil war that started in 2015, its government has suspended the issuance of visas.

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Nauru - The tiny Micronesian island relaxed some of its most restrictive visa rules after the 2008 dismantling of the Pacific Solution, a series of measures implemented to prevent refugees from reaching Australia as well as establishing internment camps.

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Nauru - However, Americans seeking to visit the island still need to submit criminal records and certificates of medical fitness as part of their application.

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Chad - The central government requires potential visitors to show an invitation letter from a citizen or a hotel.

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Chad - Some hotels will issue the letter if the visitor pays their stay in advance. Many of these hotels charge a couple hundred dollars a night, and if you’re denied entry, they don’t refund your money.

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Libya - The Libyan-American relationship has been tense for most of the 21st century. Following the 2012 Benghazi attacks, the US closed its embassy in Tripoli, the country’s capital.

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Libya - Americans are allowed to visit Libya, but the visa process is complicated. The country’s government requires that a Libyan sponsor applies for the visitor’s visa in Libya.

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Algeria - This North African country refuses entry to all prospective visitors who have visited Israel, or even those with passport stamps from Israel’s neighboring countries, Egypt and Jordan.

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Algeria - Besides this, the Algerian government requires proof of accommodation, which means paying for the hotel stay before applying for a visa. Of course, the money is nonrefundable if the visa is denied.

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