Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The program was established in 1986 with the objective of promoting better relations with U.S. allies, eliminating unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulating the tourism industry, and permitting the Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas.

Currently, 27 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Ability to travel under VWP is based on nationality, not place of birth.

Canada, Mexico and Bermuda are not participants in the Visa Waiver Program.

Conditions for Using VWP (Instead of Obtaining a Visa)

Nationals of the 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program may use the program if:

• The purpose of their stay in the United States is 90 days or less for tourism or business;
• They present a valid machine-readable passport (of any type - regular, emergency, diplomatic, official, etc.).Please see the section below for more information on machine-readable passports. Depending on when VWP travelers’ passports were issued, other passport requirements apply:
  • Passports issued before 10/26/05 - no further requirements
  • Passports issued between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 - digitized photograph on data page
  • Passports issued on or after 10/26/06 - integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport)
  • Holders of Austrian, Italian, French and German temporary passports:
    • Austria: Austrian passports issued since 10/26/05 with Austrian visa foils including digital photos are valid for VWP travel; passports issued since 10/26/05 without such foils require a visa for travel to the U.S.
    • Italy: Depending on which district office issued them, some Italian passports issued since 10/26/05 include digital photos and are valid for VWP travel; passports issued since that date that do not include the digital photo require a visa for travel to the U.S.
    • France: No regular French passports issued since 10/26/05 are currently eligible for VWP travel; once their e-passport production begins, passports with the digital photo (and chip) will be acceptable for VWP travel, and those without the digital photo will require a visa for travel to the U.S.
    • Germany: DHS has determined that as of May 1, 2006 German temporary/emergency passports will no longer be valid for travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program; holders of German temporary or emergency passports that intend to travel to or through the United States must either obtain a regular German passport for VWP travel or apply for a visa to travel to the U.S. Holders of regular, official and diplomatic passports are subject to standard VWP biometric passport requirements.
  • Temporary, emergency, official and diplomatic passports are exempted from biometric digital photo and chip requirements, but must be machine-readable.
• They have complied with the conditions of previous admissions under the Visa Waiver Program, and have not been found ineligible for a U.S. visa; and
• If arriving by air or sea, they are traveling on an approved carrier and have a return trip ticket to any foreign destination other than the U.S. or adjacent islands; or
• If arriving by land, they can demonstrate the intent to stay 90 days or less in the U.S. and sufficient funds to support themselves in the U.S. VWP nationals resident in Mexico, Canada or adjacent islands are generally exempted from requirements to show onward travel to other foreign destinations.

Bearers of official and diplomatic passports can enter the United States under the VWP provided they are entering for a B-visa purpose. If they are coming for an A or G purpose, including a temporary assignment of less than 90 days, the traveler must obtain an A or G visa. Representatives of the foreign press, radio, film, journalists or other information media engaging in that vocation while in the U.S. may not enter the U.S. on the Visa Waiver Program. These professionals must obtain a nonimmigrant media (I) visa.

Please note that families seeking to enter the U.S. under the VWP need to obtain an individual machine-readable passport which meets program requirements for each traveler, including infants.

Travelers who do not meet the conditions noted above must apply for a visa. In particular, a visa must be requested if the traveler:

• Wants to remain in the U.S. for longer than 90 days, or envisions that they may wish to change their status (from tourism to student, etc.) once in the United States;
• Wants to work or study in the United States, wants to come to the U.S. for other purposes not allowed on a visitor visa, or intends to immigrate to the U.S.;
• Does not have a machine-readable passport (MRP) as of June 26, 2005, or is unable to meet other requirements outlined above for passports issued on or after October 26, 2005.
• Intends to travel by private aircraft or other non-signatory air or sea carriers to the U.S.;
• Has been refused a visa or admission to the U.S. before, or did not comply with the conditions of previous VWP admissions (90 days or less stay for tourism or business, etc.); or
• Has a criminal record or other condition making them ineligible for a visa.

VWP at Ports Of Entry

Detailed information about admissions and entry to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program can be obtained from DHS’ Customs & Border Protection Bureau. Since September 30, 2004, VWP travelers have been enrolled in the DHS US-VISIT program when they arrive at U.S. ports of entry. Please click here to learn more about the US-VISIT program.

Travelers should be aware that by requesting admission under the Visa Waiver Program, they are generally waiving their right to review or appeal a CBP officer’s decision as to their application for admission at the port of entry. Likewise, if the traveler is later found to have violated the conditions of admission under the Visa Waiver Program, they do not have the right to contest a removal order.

There is a $6.00 land border fee for VWP travelers arriving at land ports of entry, per 8 CFR § 103.7(b)(1).

More on Machine-Readable Passports

• A machine-readable passport has certain biographical data entered on the data page in accordance with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Doc 9303, Part 1 Machine-Readable Passports.
• These standards address issues like the size of the passport and photograph, arrangement of data fields, and the two lines of printed machine-readable data that appear at the bottom of the page. Machine-readable passports can be read by scanning the two lines of printed data through special readers.
• Travelers should contact their country’s passport issuing agency or authority if they have any doubts related to whether their passport is machine-readable.
• An e-passport (sometimes referred to as a biometric passport) incorporates data related to an individual’s identity; current ICAO guidelines call for e-passports to include facial recognition data. The contours of individuals’ faces are digitally mapped and stored on the chip so that a comparison of facial data for the bearer of the passport and the facial data of the person to whom the passport was issued can be made.