US Visa Waiver Program – Eligibility, Benefits & Required Documents

The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of 40 countries to visit the US for business or vacation without a visa for 90 days. These must match B1 or B2 visa purposes.

The Department of Homeland Security runs the program to increase visitor security and allow US citizens to travel freely to the other 40 countries. It benefits everyone and makes travel safer.

If you meet the requirements and are from a country the US likes, you won’t need a visa. The VWP stamp on your passport is all you need to enter the US.

What Are the 40 Visa Waiver Countries?

The 40 Visa Waiver Countries are the following:

• Andorra(1991)
• Australia(1996)
• Austria(1991)
• Belgium(1991)
• Brunei(1993)
• Chile(2014)
• Czechia(2008)
• Denmark(1991)
• Estonia(2008)
• Finland(1991)
• France(1989)
• Germany(1989)
• Greece(2010)
• Hungary(2008)
• Iceland(1991)
• Ireland(1995)
• Italy(1989)
• Japan(1988)
• South Korea(2008)
• Latvia(2008)
• Liechtenstein(1991)
• Lithuania(2008)
• Luxembourg(1991)
• Malta(2008)
• Monaco(1991)
• Netherlands(1989)
• New Zealand(1991)
• Norway(1991)
• Poland(2019)
• Portugal(1999)
• San Marino(1991)
• Singapore(1999)
• Slovakia(2008)
• Slovenia(1997)
• Spain(1991)
• Sweden(1989)
• Switzerland(1989)
• Taiwan(2012)
• United Kingdom(1988)
• Croatia(2021)

Do I Qualify to Travel to the United States Under the Visa Waiver Program?

In order to qualify for the US Visa Waiver Program, you must fulfill the following criteria:

• Be a citizen of the 40 allowed countries.
• Have a visa waiver ESTA approval.
• Have an e-passport.
• Prove that you will return to your home country after your VWP stamp expires.

The US’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) accelerates Visa Waiver applications. Simply submit your personal information on their website to find out if you qualify for the Visa Waiver.

ESTA under the VWP requires an e-passport. E-passports differ in two ways:

Changes to the Visa Waiver Program in 2016

In 2016, the US Department of Homeland Security started implementing a change in the Visa Waiver Program under the “Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015”. Since then, certain travelers would no longer be eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.

The following groups of people are affected by that change:

• Nationals of visa waiver countries who have been in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 01, 2011. It should be noted that there are some exceptions for diplomats and military personnel.
• Nationals of visa waiver countries who also hold a nationality of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.

Since Cuba was added to the “state sponsor of terrorism” list (SST) in 2021, US embassies have explained the new ESTA amendments. According to authorities, only international travelers who visited Cuba before January 2021 can utilize their ESTA to enter the US. Visitors to Cuba after January 2021 must apply for a visitor visa instead of an ESTA.

What Documents Do I Need to Travel under the Visa Waiver USA?

The ESTA approval and the e-Passport are the only documents required to obtain the Visa Waiver stamp on your passport. Your e-Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you plan to leave the United States.

You can begin arranging travel arrangements to the United States once you have received approval from the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

Benefits and Limitations of Travelling Under the VWP

Visa Waiver Program benefits are plenty. No visa application is necessary. You can receive VWP approval and book US travel with minimal computer work. If you need to get to the US quickly for business, the VWP lets you bypass significant processing waits.

If you enter the US with a VWP, you can also visit Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands for the duration of your VWP. So reentering the US while the VWP is valid is fine. Other visas prohibit it.

Things you are allowed to do with the Visa Waiver Program

With the VWP you are allowed to go into the US for these activities only:

• Negotiate contracts
• Consult with business associates in the United States
• Settle estates
• Attend conferences, educational, professional, or business events
• Have a vacation in the US
• Tour various cities in the US
• Visit friends or family
• Participate in social events hosted by various organizations
• Visit the country for medical treatments
• Participate in events or contests related to music or sports, for which you will not receive payment
• Enroll in short study courses for which you will not receive credit (ex. cooking classes)

Things you are not allowed to do with a Visa Waiver Program

However, you are not allowed to travel with these activities in mind:

• Become a full or part time student
• Perform and get paid for it
• Work in press or journalism
• Engage in any form of employment
• Enter as a crewmember on an aircraft or ship
• Seek permanent residence in the United State

What if I cannot get a Visa Waiver?

If your Visa Waiver or Electronic System for Travel Authorization application was denied, you have one last option. B1/B2 US visas are available. If your visa is denied again, examine your eligibility for a US visa. B1 and B2 visa applications save time.

If you fly on a non-VWP-approved airline or private plane, you cannot receive a Visa Waiver.

Can I get a Green Card on an American Visa Waiver?

The Visa Waiver lets you visit the US for vacation or business for 90 days. You must also establish you will come home. This makes getting a Green Card on a Visa Waiver very impossible.

Permanent residence is only feasible if you marry a US citizen or join family in the US. Even if you obtain a job in the US, you cannot alter your status to a dual-intent visa.

Can I bring my dependents with a USA Visa Waiver?

Visa Waivers are individual. If you and your spouse or children want to visit the US together, you must individually secure a Visa Waiver.

Even toddlers need a valid passport to acquire the Visa Waiver. Thus, you need one Visa Waiver per dependent to enter the US.

Do I Need to Obtain Health Insurance as a Visitor in the United States?

Visiting the US does not require health insurance. You should purchase health insurance before visiting the US due to its high healthcare costs.

A broken leg or arm costs $2,500, but a night in a US hospital costs over $10,000.

US visitor travel insurance plans are explained here:

• Travel Insurance for visitors to the USA
• Travel Insurance for visiting parents in the USA
• Pregnant Women Travel Insurance
• Health insurance for persons with pre-existing conditions

How Does a Country Join the Visa Waiver Program?

To become part of the Visa Waiver Program, a country must meet these conditions:

• Issue e-passports.
• Have enhanced law enforcement and security data sharing with the United States.
• Report stolen and lost passports.
• Have a less than 3% refusal rate of B visas.
• Have good counterterrorism, border control, law enforcement, and other security standards.