Requirements using ESTA (Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

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 Visa Waiver Program (ESTA)

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. 

Andorra	Liechtenstein
Australia	Lithuania
Austria	Luxembourg
Belgium	Malta
Brunei	Monaco
Chile	Netherlands
Croatia	New Zealand
Czech Republic	Norway
Denmark	Poland
Estonia	Portugal
Finland	San Marino
France	Singapore
Germany	Slovakia
Greece	Slovenia
Hungary	South Korea
Iceland	Spain
Ireland	Sweden
Italy	Switzerland
Japan	Taiwan*
Latvia	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.

Travel Purpose Must be Business or Tourism

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

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

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)

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

Each Traveler Must Have a Valid ESTA

In order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) 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 under the VWP to the United States for tourism or business.

Updating Your ESTA

In most cases, an approved ESTA is valid for two years of use.  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.

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). 

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.