Citizens of 41 countries are now eligible to visit the United States without a visa for up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
However, to qualify, they must meet certain eligibility criteria and secure valid approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
This move is part of the US government’s effort to encourage tourism, not only to major destinations like New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles but also to lesser-known towns and rural areas across the country.
Countries eligible for the VWP include: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, 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 and United Kingdom.
To be eligible for entry under the VWP, travelers must ensure their stay does not exceed 90 days and that they have an approved ESTA before boarding.
However, even if you are from one of the eligible VWP countries, you will still need to apply for a visa if you have visited or were present in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen after March 1, 2011 or visited Cuba after January 12, 2021 or have dual nationality of Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.
