Top 3 Hardest Visas to Get in the World (Even If You Have a “Strong” Passport) 🔒

I used to think my South Korean passport was a golden ticket. “Oh, visa-free to 190+ countries? I’m basically royalty.” Then I tried applying for visas that actually test your soul. Spoiler: some countries don’t care how many stamps you have — they just don’t want you there. Here are the top 3 hardest visas I’ve personally researched, attempted (or watched friends fail at), and cried over.

1. Turkmenistan – The Visa That Makes North Korea Look Easy

Yes, you read that right. Getting a tourist visa for Turkmenistan is harder than getting into North Korea as a tourist.

I have a friend who spent 7 months trying. He’s a travel blogger with 50k followers, speaks Russian, has a clean record — and still got rejected twice. The rejection rate is rumored to be 80–90%. Why? Because you basically need a government-issued Letter of Invitation (LOI) from a registered Turkmen travel agency. And those agencies only issue LOIs if they’re sure you’ll actually book an expensive guided tour with them (minimum $100–200 per day, cash only, no refunds).

Real cost I’ve seen quoted in 2026: $500–$1,500 just for the LOI + visa fee + agency service. Processing time? 2–6 months if you’re lucky. If they don’t like your itinerary or your face on the photo, they just ghost you. No explanation. No appeal.

Pro tip from someone who almost went: If your passport has an Israeli stamp or you’ve been to Armenia/Azerbaijan in a way they don’t like… forget it. They’ll reject you without saying why. Turkmenistan is the ultimate “you’re not cool enough” club.

2. Equatorial Guinea – Oil Money, Zero Tourists

Unless you’re an oil executive or a diplomat, this tiny West African country might as well have a “Do Not Enter” sign at the airport.

I know exactly two people who’ve managed to get in as tourists in the last 5 years. One was a journalist with a major outlet; the other had a high-level government connection in Malabo. Everyone else I know who tried got rejected — even with invitations from local companies.

Requirements that will break you:

• Letter of invitation from a registered Equatorial Guinean company or government entity (good luck finding one that responds)
• Proof of hotel booking for every single night (pre-paid, non-refundable)
• Yellow fever certificate + sometimes extra health checks
• Bank statements showing insane amounts of money (they want to see you won’t become a burden)
• Police clearance certificate from your home country

Visa fee? Around $200–300, but the real pain is the embassy in your country might only be open 2 days a week, and they’ll make you wait 3–6 months. One friend paid $800 to an “expedited service” agency — they took the money and disappeared. Classic.

Why is it so hard? The government doesn’t want tourists. They want oil money and zero outsiders asking questions. If you’re not bringing investment or drilling rights, they’d rather you stay home.

3. Bhutan – The “Happiest Country” That Doesn’t Want You

Bhutan is famous for its Gross National Happiness index and stunning Himalayan views… and for making it extremely difficult and expensive to visit.

They have a strict “High Value, Low Volume” tourism policy. Translation: You’re welcome… if you can pay a fortune.

2026 daily Sustainable Development Fee (SDF): $100 per person per day (down from $200 in previous years, but still a lot). Plus you must book everything through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator — no independent travel allowed.

Total cost for a 10-day trip? Easily $2,000–$4,000 per person (including the fee, guide, hotels, food, internal transport). Visa itself is “easy” once you pay — the tour agency handles it — but the price tag is the real barrier.

I almost went in 2025 but backed out when the quote came: $3,200 for 8 days. For that money I could’ve done Thailand + Vietnam for a month. Bhutan basically says: “Come see our happiness… but only if you’re rich enough to deserve it.”

Honorable Mentions That Almost Made the List

• Saudi Arabia – Used to be impossible, now “easy” with eVisa… but still rejects people randomly if they have Israeli stamps or certain job titles.
• North Korea – Yes, you can go on a guided tour. It’s expensive and controlled, but at least the process is straightforward compared to Turkmenistan.
• Eritrea – Another “you need a miracle” visa. Takes 3–6 months and almost always rejected unless you have family there.

Final Thoughts

Having a strong passport is great… until you realize some countries don’t care. Turkmenistan, Equatorial Guinea, and Bhutan have taught me humility. Sometimes the hardest part of travel isn’t the flight or the jet lag — it’s convincing a government that you’re worthy of stepping on their soil.

Have you ever been rejected for a visa that felt impossible? Or actually made it into one of these countries? Tell me your war stories in the comments — I need solidarity 😅🔒