42 VWP

On November 21, 2024 Qatar joined the US’ VWP.

(Key: Red = the United States

         Dark Green = Canada and 6 months Visa Free

        Light Green = Visa Waiver Countries and 3 months Visa Free

        Grey = Visa Required)

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program of the United States Federal Government that allows Nationals of specific Countries to travel to the United States for Tourism, Business, or while in Transit for up to 90 days without having to obtain a Visa.

It applies to all 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, which also have an additional program with Waivers for more Nationalities; American Samoa has a similar but separate Program.

The Countries selected for the VWP by the U.S. Government are generally regarded as developed Countries, with high-income economies and a very high Human Development Index.

Other Visa Waivers exist for Citizens of certain jurisdictions (like Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caymen Islands.)

The Countries in the Visa Waiver Program:

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

The Visa Waiver Program started in 1988 with the introduction of Visa Free Travel to the USA by the UK.

Argentina and Uruguay were part of the VWP until 2002 and 2003 respectively.

 

To be eligible for the VWP you must:

Have a Biometric National Passport

Apply, pay $21 and be approved for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) online prior to travel.

Aspiring VWP Countries:

Argentina (wants to rejoin), Brazil, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania and Uruguay (wants to rejoin.)