Citizens from 43 countries are now able to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without needing a visa, thanks to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
However, travelers must fulfill specific criteria and secure approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding their flight.
ESTA is an online platform overseen by US Customs and Border Protection that assesses eligibility for visa-free travel under the VWP. It is essential to keep in mind that the stay must not exceed 90 days, and travelers need to apply for ESTA ahead of time.
The VWP allows travel for tourism or business purposes. Participating countries include the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, among others. However, countries such as Nigeria and India are not included in the program.
Even if you are a citizen of a VWP country, you will not be eligible for ESTA if:
1. You have visited or been present in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011.
2. You have visited or been present in Cuba on or after January 12, 2021.
3. You hold dual nationality with Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.
If any of these conditions apply to you, you will need to apply for a standard B-1/B-2 visitor visa rather than using the VWP.
Here is a list of countries whose citizens can enter the US without a visa for 90 days:
1. Andorra
2. Australia
3. Austria
4. Belgium
5. Brunei
6. Chile
7. Croatia
8. Czech Republic
9. Denmark
10. Estonia
11. Finland
12. France
13. Germany
14. Greece
15. Hungary
16. Iceland
17. Ireland
18. Israel
19. Italy
20. Japan
21. Latvia
22. Liechtenstein
23. Lithuania
24. Luxembourg
25. Malta
26. Monaco
27. Netherlands
28. New Zealand
29. Norway
30. Poland
31. Portugal
32. Qatar
33. Republic of Korea (South Korea)
34. Romania
35. San Marino
36. Singapore
37. Slovakia
38. Slovenia
39. Spain
40. Sweden
41. Switzerland
42. Taiwan
43. United Kingdom