The Visa Waiver Program

Participating Countries Pending Countries Electronic System for Travel Authorization

Citizens of certain countries do not need to obtain a visa in their passport if they are coming to the U.S. for periods of less than 90 days and will be entering as visitors either for business or for tourism. In order to enter the U.S. under the visa waiver program, the following must apply:

• the duration of the stay is 90 days or less,
• the purpose is primarily for tourism or business,
• they must have a machine readable passport valid for six months past the date of their intended stay,
• they must not be coming to study, and,
• effective as of January 12, 2009, must have applied for travel authorization under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, which is free and is NOT the same thing as a visa.

Likewise, U.S. citizens do not require a visa to enter those countries.

Participating Countries

The following countries are part of the Visa Waiver Program:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• The Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Portugal
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• San Marino
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• The United Kingdom

Pending Countries

The following countries have signed memoranda of understanding with the U.S. that lays the foundation for their eventual participation in the Visa Waiver Program. They are not yet approved:

• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Greece
• Poland
• Romania