US Visa-Free Travel

As of yesterday (September 27, 2023) Israel was added to the US Visa Waiver Program and it will begin on November 30, 2023.

(This is a picture I took in Jerusalem, Israel in October 2017.)

The VWP allows citizens from certain countries to enter the United States (all 50 States, DC and the 5 Territories) for up to 90 days for Tourism, Business or Transit. They do have to register online for the  Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), pay $21 before coming to the US and have their biometrics taken (US-VISIT) after arriving to the US.

As of September 28, 2023 there are 40 countries in the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom (only for British Citizens and not Nationals or Subjects)

Note: Israel will join on November 30, 2023.

Not included with the VWP the following Countries and Territories can also enter the US without a Visa:

Canada: for 6 months and doesn’t need ESTA or US-VISIT.

The Compact of Free Association: Palau, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia: can live, work and study in the US with no Visa and no ESTA  for 1 year (renewable.)

The Bahamas: Can travel to the US Visa Free for 6 months with no ESTA if they use one of 2 US Preclearance Airports (Nassau or Freeport.)

Bermuda: If using a Bermuda Territorial Passport: 6 months with no ESTA; if using a British Passport: 90 days, ESTA and US-VISIT.

The British Virgin Islands: If using a British Virgin Islands Territorial Passport: 6 months with no ESTA; if they travel to the US Virgin Islands first and then can go to the rest of the US; if using a British Passport: 90 days, ESTA and US-VISIT.

The Cayman Islands: If using a Cayman Islands Territorial Passport: 6 months with no ESTA; if using a British Passport: 90 days, ESTA and US-VISIT.

Turks and Caicos Islands: If using a Turks and Caicos Islands Territorial Passport: 6 months with no ESTA; if using a British Passport: 90 days, ESTA, and US-Visit.

Russia: Residents of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug who are members of the Indigenous Population do not need a Visa to visit Alaska for 90 days if they have relatives (blood relatives, members of the same tribe, native people who have similar language and cultural heritage) in Alaska. They have to be officially invited by their Alaskan relatives, notify Alaskan officials 10 days before arriving and can only enter through Gambell and Nome (they aren’t allowed to travel outside of Alaska.)

Some US Territories also allow other nationalities to visit without a visa, but they can’t then travel to the rest of the US without first getting a visa:

Guam and the Marshall Islands: Malaysia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea can visit for 45 days with no ESTA.

American Samoa: Israel can already visit for 45 days with no ESTA.