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Travel.State.Gov > U.S. Visas > Tourism & Visit > Visa Waiver Program


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 * Visitor Visa

 * Visa Waiver Program

 * Travel Without a Visa

 * Citizens of Canada and Bermuda




VISA WAIVER PROGRAM


OVERVIEW



The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables most citizens or nationals of
participating countries* to travel to the United States for tourism or business
for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Travelers must have a
valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travel
and meet all requirements explained below. If you prefer to have a visa in your
passport, you may still apply for a visitor (B) visa.




VISA WAIVER PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT AND TERRORIST TRAVEL PREVENTION ACT OF 2015



Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of
2015, travelers in the following categories must obtain a visa prior to
traveling to the United States as they are no longer eligible to travel under
the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

 * Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Democratic
   People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or
   Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for
   diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
   
   
 * Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Cuba on or
   after January 12, 2021 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or
   military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
   
   
 * Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Cuba, Democratic
   People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.




REQUIREMENTS FOR USING THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM (VWP)



You must meet all the following requirements to travel to the United States on
the VWP:



TRAVEL PURPOSE MUST BE PERMITTED ON A VISITOR (B) VISA




The following are examples of activities permitted while in the United States on
the VWP. In addition, transiting through the United States to other countries is
generally permitted for VWP travelers.

 

Business:

 * consult with business associates
 * attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or
   conference
 * attend short-term training (you may not be paid by any source in the United
   States with the exception of expenses incidental to your stay)
 * negotiate a contract

Learn more about Business Travel to the United States (PDF - 362 KB).

 

Tourism:

 * tourism
 * vacation (holiday)
 * visit with friends or relatives
 * medical treatment
 * participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service
   organizations
 * participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests,
   if not being paid for participating
 * enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a
   degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)

Learn more about Visitor Visas - Business and Pleasure (PDF - 510 KB).

 

Travel Purposes Not Permitted on Visa Waiver Program – Examples:

 * study, for credit
 * employment
 * work as foreign press, radio, film, journalists, or other information media
 * permanent residence in the United States




MUST BE A CITIZEN OR NATIONAL OF A VWP DESIGNATED COUNTRY*



You must be a citizen or national of the following countries* to be eligible to
travel to the United States under the VWP.

 * Andorra
 * Australia
 * Austria
 * Belgium
 * Brunei
 * Chile
 * Croatia
 * Czech Republic
 * Denmark
 * Estonia
 * Finland
 * France
 * Germany
 * Greece

 * Hungary
 * Iceland
 * Ireland
 * Israel
 * Italy
 * Japan
 * Latvia
 * Liechtenstein
 * Lithuania
 * Luxembourg
 * Malta
 * Monaco
 * Netherlands
 * New Zealand

 * Norway
 * Poland
 * Portugal
 * Qatar
 * San Marino
 * Singapore
 * Slovakia
 * Slovenia
 * South Korea
 * Spain
 * Sweden
 * Switzerland
 * Taiwan*
 * United Kingdom**

**To be eligible to travel under the VWP, British citizens must have the
unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.




EACH TRAVELER MUST HAVE A VALID ESTA



In order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have valid Electronic
System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to boarding a U.S. bound
air or sea carrier. ESTA is a web-based system operated by U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) to determine eligibility to travel to the United States
for tourism or business under the VWP. Visit the ESTA webpage on the CBP website
for more information.




UPDATING YOUR ESTA



In most cases, your ESTA will be valid for two years.  You also must obtain a
new ESTA if you: (1) receive a new passport, including an emergency or temporary
passport; (2) change your name; (3) change your gender; (4) change your country
of citizenship; or (5) need to change your responses to any of the “yes” or “no”
questions on the ESTA application.




VISA WAIVER PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT AND TERRORIST TRAVEL PREVENTION ACT OF 2015



Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of
2015, travelers in the following categories must obtain a visa prior to
traveling to the United States as they are no longer eligible to travel under
the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

 * Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Democratic
   People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or
   Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for
   diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
   
   
 * Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Cuba on or
   after January 12, 2021 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or
   military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
   
   
 * Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Cuba, Democratic
   People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.

These individuals can apply for visas using regular appointment processes at a
U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Consular sections overseas may be able to expedite
your interview date if there is an urgent, unforseen situation such as a
funeral, medical emergency, or school start date. For more information, please
visit the website of the Embassy or Consulate Visa Section where you will
interview.

If an individual who is exempt from the Act because of his or her diplomatic or
military presence in one of the seven countries is denied ESTA, he or she may go
to the CBP website, or contact the CBP information Center. The traveler may also
apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection strongly recommends that any traveler to the
United States check his or her ESTA status prior to making any travel
reservations or travelling to the United States. More information is available
on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website. 




HAVE THE CORRECT TYPE OF PASSPORT



You must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your planned
departure from the United States (unless exempted by country-specific
agreements). For families, each member of your family, including infants and
children, must have a passport. 





In addition, you must have an e-passport to use the VWP. An e-passport is an
enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip. The chip can be
scanned to match the identity of the traveler to the passport. E-Passports must
be in compliance with standards set by the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO). You can readily identify an e-passport, by a symbol on the
cover. See the example below. More information about e-passports is available on
the DHS website.






EMERGENCY AND TEMPORARY PASSPORTS



If you use an emergency or temporary passport to enter the United States on the
VWP, the passport must be an e-passport. This includes VWP travelers who are
transiting the United States. 

More information on frequently asked questions about VWP can be found at the
following websites:

 * DHS Visa Waiver Program Requirements
 * CBP Visa Waiver Program
 * CBP ESTA



MAY I APPLY FOR A VISA INSTEAD OF USING THE VWP?




Yes, you may apply for a visitor (B) visa if you prefer to do so or if you are
not eligible for VWP travel. Additionally, you need to apply for a visa if you
will be traveling on a private aircraft or other non-VWP approved air or sea
carrier. Review the approved carriers list. Also, if you intend to stay longer
than 90 days, then you need to apply for a visa. 



I WAS DENIED A VISA UNDER SECTION 214(B). MAY I USE THE VWP?




A recent visa refusal for any reason could result in denial of ESTA
authorization, additional review at the port of entry, or denial of admission to
the United States. If you are uncertain if you qualify for VWP travel, you may
apply for a visa.



TRIPS TO CANADA, MEXICO, OR NEARBY ISLANDS




If you are admitted to the United States under the VWP, you may take a short
trip to Canada, Mexico, or a nearby island and generally be readmitted to the
United States under the VWP for the remainder of the original 90 days granted
upon your initial arrival in the United States. Therefore, the length of time of
your total stay, including the short trip, must be 90 days or less. See the CBP
website. Citizens of VWP countries* who reside in Mexico, Canada, or a nearby
island are generally exempted from the requirement to show onward travel to
another country* when entering the United States. Learn more on the CBP website.



HOW CAN A COUNTRY* JOIN THE VWP?




A country* must meet various requirements to be considered for designation in
the Visa Waiver Program. Requirements include, but are not limited to:

 * enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United
   States;
 * issuing e-passports;
 * having a visitor (B) visa refusal rate of less than three percent (for
   initial designation);
 * timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports; and
 * maintenance of high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and
   document security standards.

Designation as a VWP country* is at the discretion of the U.S. government.
Meeting the objective requirements of the VWP does not guarantee a country* will
receive VWP designation.

 



ENTERING THE UNITED STATES




An approved ESTA allows you to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an
airport) and request permission to enter the United States, but an approved ESTA
does not guarantee entry into the United States. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission
to the United States. Learn more on the CBP website.



EXTENDING YOUR STAY




If you enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, you are not
permitted to extend your stay in the United States beyond the initial admission
period. You must depart the United States on or before the date on your
admission stamp when you entered the United States. See Extend Your Stay on the
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.



CHANGE OF STATUS




If you enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, you are not
permitted to change status in the United States. See Change My Nonimmigrant
Status on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.



WHAT IF I AM TRAVELING TO GUAM OR THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS?




Citizens of Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand,
Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Kingdom do not
need a visa or ESTA to visit both Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands because
of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, though they must complete Form I-736 prior
to travel.  People's Republic of China Passport holders also do not need a visa
if they complete Form I-736 for temporary admission into the Northern Mariana
Islands. For more information on the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, click here




REFERENCE



* With respect to all references to “country” or “countries” on this page, it
should be noted that the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Pub. L. No. 96-8, Section
4(b)(1), provides that “[w]henever the laws of the United States refer or relate
to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such
terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan.” 22 U.S.C.
§ 3303(b)(1). Accordingly, all references to “country” or “countries” in the
Visa Waiver Program authorizing legislation, Section 217 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1187, are read to include Taiwan. This is consistent
with the United States’ one-China policy, under which the United States has
maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan since 1979.




MORE INFORMATION



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