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United States visas
Whether you need a visa to enter the United States, or can travel under the Visa Waiver Program with an approved ESTA, depends on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. This hub explains the main routes — the Visa Waiver Program, visitor, student, exchange, work, family and immigrant visas — and links to the official travel.state.gov and USCIS sources.
Important information
Your exact requirements depend on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries may travel for tourism or business for up to 90 days with an approved ESTA; others need the visa category that matches their purpose. Citizens of Canada and Bermuda generally have different requirements. A visa or ESTA lets you travel to a US port of entry, but admission is always decided by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer on arrival. Always confirm what you need with the official U.S. Department of State guidance before you travel or apply.
US visa categories
Explore visa categories by the purpose of your trip.
- Visitor visasFor tourism, visiting family or friends, business meetings, medical treatment, transit and the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA).6 visas
- Work visasFor temporary employment — specialty occupations, intracompany transfers, extraordinary ability, treaty traders and seasonal work.8 visas
- Study visasFor academic and vocational study and approved exchange programs — the F, M and J visas.2 visas
- Family visasFor spouses, fiancé(e)s, children, parents and other relatives of US citizens and permanent residents.3 visas
- Business & talent visasFor treaty traders and investors, immigrant investors, and people of extraordinary ability or achievement.4 visas
- Settlement & citizenshipPermanent residence (the Green Card), the Diversity Visa lottery, adjustment of status and US naturalization.4 visas
- Events visasTravelling to the US for a major event, such as the FIFA World Cup 2026. There is no dedicated event visa — you enter on the standard visitor routes.1 visa
- US visa formsGuides to the official US visa forms — starting with the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application that almost every applicant must complete.1 visa
US visa application at a glance
From start to finish in five simple steps.
- 01Choose the right visa
- 02Check eligibility & documents
- 03Apply online
- 04Provide biometrics
- 05Wait for a decision
Popular US visas
View all visa types- SHORT STAYBUSINESS OR TOURISMNO WORKVisitor visa (B-1/B-2)PopularA temporary visa for business (B-1), tourism or medical treatment (B-2), or the two combined. No employment is permitted.View visa details
- SHORT STAYUP TO 90 DAYSNO VISAVisa Waiver Program (ESTA)PopularLets citizens of participating countries travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa, using an approved ESTA obtained before travel.View visa details
- STUDYACADEMIC OR VOCATIONALStudent visa (F and M)PopularFor people coming to the US to study — the F visa for academic study and the M visa for vocational or non-academic study.View visa details
- WORKOVERVIEWH L O EUS work visas (overview)PopularAn overview of the US temporary worker visa categories — such as H, L, O and E — with links to the official directory of visa categories.View visa details
- WORKEMPLOYER-SPONSOREDDEGREE-LEVELH-1B specialty occupation visaPopularLets an employer temporarily hire a foreign professional for a specialised role that normally requires at least a bachelor's degree.View visa details
- WORKINTRACOMPANY TRANSFERL-1 intracompany transferee visaPopularLets a multinational company move an employee from a foreign office to a related US office as a manager, executive, or specialized-knowledge worker.View visa details
United States — key facts
- Entry document
- Visa or ESTA
- Depends on your nationality and purpose of travel
- Authority
- U.S. Department of State
- Bureau of Consular Affairs (visas); USCIS handles in-country petitions
- Visa Waiver Program
- ESTA required
- Tourism or business for up to 90 days, for participating countries
- Visa categories
- By purpose
- Visitor, student, exchange, work, family, immigrant and more
US visas — people also ask
If you are a citizen or national of a Visa Waiver Program country travelling for tourism or business for up to 90 days, you may be able to travel with an approved ESTA instead of a visa. Otherwise you need the US visa category that matches your purpose. Check the official U.S. Department of State guidance for your situation.
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
- U.S. visas — overview (U.S. Department of State) (opens in new tab)
- All visa categories (U.S. Department of State) (opens in new tab)
- Visa Waiver Program (U.S. Department of State) (opens in new tab)
- Apply for ESTA (CBP) (opens in new tab)
- Green Card (USCIS) (opens in new tab)
- Citizenship & naturalization (USCIS) (opens in new tab)
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-20. Information only — not legal advice.