United States visa Waiver Program countries

Who can use the programme (participating countries)

The VWP is made up of a fixed roster of designated countries, and it currently spans the low forties in number. Membership is dominated by countries in Europe alongside a group of partners in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and elsewhere. Recent additions have included Croatia, Israel, Qatar and Romania, which shows the list is actively maintained rather than static.

Because countries are added (and can in principle be removed), the only authoritative, up-to-date roster is the State Department's Visa Waiver Program page. Check it directly before you rely on your nationality being covered.

• Coverage includes most of Western and Central Europe, the UK and Ireland, and Nordic and Baltic states
• It also includes several Asia-Pacific partners such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei and Taiwan
• Other members include Chile, Israel, Qatar, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein and Iceland
• The exact count and full list are maintained by the State Department and can change; verify it on travel.state.gov

The e-passport requirement

To travel under the VWP you must hold an electronic passport (e-passport). An e-passport is a secure travel document with an embedded electronic chip that stores the holder's biographic and biometric data, marked by a small camera-style symbol on the front cover.

This has been a firm requirement for all VWP travellers since 1 April 2016. A passport that is not chip-enabled cannot be used under the programme even if you are a citizen of a participating country. If your passport is not an e-passport, you would need to obtain one or apply for a standard visa instead.

If you who want to apply for the ESTA Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program only allows visitors with passports that have certain security measures to travel. The following are the requirements for the Visa Waiver Program:

All Visa Waiver Program countries must issue passports that include a digital photograph on the data page, or its nationals will be forced to seek a visa to enter the United States. A digital photograph, as opposed to one that is glued or laminated into the passport, is one that is printed on the page. It appears to be similar to the one to the right.

• Must have followed the terms of all previous entries to the United States and not been declared ineligible for a visa in the United States.
• Must never have been convicted of, or arrested for, a moral turpitude-related offence or crime.
• Must not be inadmissible to the United States for any other reason, such as health or national security.
• You must be planning a trip to the United States for leisure, business, or transit.
• On the biographic page of the passport, there must be a machine-readable zone.
• The passport must be an electronic passport with a digital chip carrying the passport owners biometric information.
• To use the VWP, all travellers must have an e-passport as of April 1, 2016. An e-Passport, signified by the symbol, is a more secure passport with an electronic chip placed within. E-Passports are issued by the appropriate passport issuing authority and must comply with international standards for the security and storage of information related to the passport and bearer.

ESTA: applying and what it costs

Every VWP traveller must have an approved ESTA tied to the passport they will travel on. Apply well ahead of travel; while many applications are approved quickly, processing is not guaranteed to be instant, so CBP advises applying as soon as you begin trip planning. An approved ESTA is generally valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and covers multiple trips within that window.

The ESTA fee is $40.27. The base component rose from $21 to $40 on 30 September 2025 under the legislation commonly called the One Big Beautiful Bill, with the $40.27 amount reflecting an inflation adjustment effective 1 January 2026. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount on the official site. Critically, apply and pay ONLY through the official government site at esta.cbp.dhs.gov — many lookalike third-party sites charge extra for the same free-to-file service.

• One approved ESTA is required per traveller, matched to the passport used
• Typical validity: two years, or until passport expiry if sooner
• Fee: $40.27 (subject to change) — confirm the current figure on the official site
• Apply and pay only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov; avoid third-party charge-adding sites

The 90-day limit and permitted activities

The VWP allows a maximum stay of 90 days per admission for tourism, permitted business (such as meetings, conferences or negotiations), or transit. The 90 days cannot be extended, and you generally cannot change to another status while in the US on the programme.

The activities allowed mirror the B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visa categories. You cannot use the VWP to work for a US employer, study for credit, or take up permanent residence. If your visit needs more than 90 days, or involves work or study, apply for the appropriate visa rather than travelling visa-free.

Conditions and exceptions to watch

Even nationals of participating countries can be barred from using the VWP in certain situations and must instead apply for a visa. This includes people who have previously been refused a US visa or denied entry, those with certain criminal or immigration histories, and — under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act — travellers who have been present in specified countries (such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and North Korea) on or after set dates, or who hold dual nationality with certain of those countries.

An approved ESTA is permission to travel to a port of entry, not a guarantee of admission; the CBP officer decides at the border. If you are ineligible for the VWP for any reason, the standard route is a visitor visa applied for with the DS-160 form through a US embassy or consulate.

ESTA Visa Waiver Process

The ESTA visa applications information submission is completed online with no in-person requirements. After your submission, your details will be reviewed for errors and processed via the Department of Homeland Security system.

Results are usually determined within 24 hours of submission and the travel authorization is electronically linked to the passport used on the application. The authorization is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever occurs first.

Entry To The United States

An ESTA visa waiver enables a foreign person to go to a United States port-of-entry (usually an airport) and request to be granted permission to enter the country. We can ensure your ESTA visa waiver application goes smoothly, however, entrance to the USA is not guaranteed by an approved ESTA.

At the port of entry, authorities from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have the power to grant or refuse entrance to the United States. The CBP officer will give you an entry sticker or a paper Form I-94, known as an Arrival/Departure Record, if you are permitted to enter the United States.

Travelling Without an ePassport

If your passport lacks this function, you can still travel without a visa if you meet the following criteria:

All Visa Waiver Program countries must include a machine-readable zone on their passports. A machine-readable passport features two lines of text at the bottom of the personal information page, along with the bearers image, in the form of letters, numbers, and chevrons ().

• You are a citizen of a country that joined the Visa Waiver Program before 2008 and have a valid passport with a machine-readable zone issued before October 26, 2005, or you are a citizen of a nation that joined the Visa Waiver Program after 2008.
• You have a "e-Passport," which has an integrated computer chip that can save biographic information from the data page, as well as a digital photograph and other biometric data.
• If your passport was issued on or after October 26, 2005, and it does not match the above criteria, you will need to apply for a visa.

Required For An ESTA

ESTA applications are completed entirely online, no supporting documents are required. You will just require your passport on hand to enter in your details on the electronic form.

Once submitted, you will receive a result within 24 hours, no further action is required after the initial submission.

For detailed information on specific parts of the USA visa process, you can refer to the links in the table on the right to find the answer to your query. If you are unable to find any particular information, please contact us via email.

What to do if your ESTA visa is refused?

Had extensive criminal histories in the past and was convicted; thus, he or she is appealing or disputing the verdict. In the past, VISA or ESTA applications had been denied. Previously, overstayed when visiting the United States. Before applying for an ESTA visa, you should evaluate all possible backgrounds.

What countries are eligible for an ESTA?

Visitors that travel from countries who are participating in the Visa Waiver Program are in deed eligible for an ESTA Visitor Visa Waiver. These countries include but are not restricted to: United Kingdom (UK), British Citizens Ireland, Irish Citizens New Zealand (NZ), New Zealand Citizens

Is an ESTA the correct type of visa do I need to travel on holiday to USA as a tourist?

You will need an ESTA for any vacations / holidays to America. Every member of your family will require an ESTA, regardless of age. This is valid for 90 days, you can travel to multiple states during this time. Any travel longer than that will require a full visa.

What if my ESTA is rejected?

You can appeal any rejections at the embassy. You may want to seek legal help / advice for future Visa Applications.

How long can I stay in USA if I have an ESTA?

90 days. Once your ESTA is granted it lasts for up to two years. During this period, you are allowed to make an any number of trips to the United States. Each isolated stay can last a maximum of 90 days

What visa do I need as a traveler to USA for business visits, is it an ESTA?

In some cases you can get an ESTA for a business visit, providing it is unpaid. It is okay for the company to pay for any expenses such as accommodation or flights. If you will be paid for any of your time spent in the US, you will need to apply for either a B1 Visafor Business Visitors or another of the many work visas available.

What options do i have if i want to stay longer than 3 months?

If you wish to stay in the USA for over 90 days You must apply for a stay in the U.S. for more than 90 days, regardless of your reasoning. Apply for a B1 visa if you are traveling to the U.S. for employment or business purposes (which involve remuneration).

Can I work with an ESTA in the USA?

Working with an approved ESTA visa waiver in the USA is allowed, provided you do not take direct employment with an American firm. Travellers are no allowed to take payment for any work done in the USA, as long as the paying party is located outside of the United States of America.