The United States has released its updated list of countries eligible for the 2025 Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing visa-free travel for up to 90 days for tourism or business.
Notably, no African nation has been included to benefit from the 2025 U.S. visa waiver program.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the 2025 U.S. visa waiver program, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in coordination with the State Department, permits citizens of 42 designated countries to enter the U.S. without a visa for stays of 90 days or less.
For 2025, the U.S. expanded the program to include Romania (effective March 31, 2025) and Qatar (added November 21, 2024), bringing the total to 42 countries.
The list primarily features nations from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with notable absences from Africa and other regions.
The full list of the countries eligible for the program includes; the United Kingdom, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan.
The travellers from these 42 countries must have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval before travelling to the U.S.
Under the U.S. visa waiver program and the Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, the citizens of these countries are required to travel without a visa to the U.S. with a valid ESTA approval before boarding the mode of travel they’ve chosen to visit the country.
To apply for the VWP, eligible travellers must follow these steps:
- Confirm Eligibility
- Citizenship: You must be a citizen of one of the 42 VWP countries.
- Passport: You need a valid e-Passport (with an embedded electronic chip) issued by a VWP country.
- Purpose: Travel must be for tourism, business, or transit, lasting 90 days or less.
- No Prior Issues: You must not have been denied a U.S. visa, violated U.S. immigration laws, or been arrested for certain crimes.
- Apply for ESTA Authorization
- Access the ESTA Website: Visit the official Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov).
- Complete the Application:
Provide personal details (name, passport number, etc.). Answer questions about health, criminal history, and travel plans.
Pay the $21 fee ($4 for the application, $17 for processing, as of 2025). - Submit Early: Apply at least 72 hours before travel, though approval is often faster.
- Receive ESTA Approval
- Processing Time: Most applications are processed within minutes, but it can take up to 72 hours.
- Status Check: You’ll receive one of three responses:
Approved: Valid for two years or until your passport expires, allowing multiple entries.
Pending: Check status later on the ESTA website.
Denied: You must apply for a nonimmigrant visa (e.g., B-1/B-2) at a U.S. embassy.
- Travel to the U.S.
- Present Documents: At the port of entry, show your valid e-Passport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will verify your ESTA approval.
- Entry Conditions: Approval doesn’t guarantee entry; CBP officers make the final decision. You may need to show proof of onward travel or sufficient funds.
- Stay Limits: You cannot extend your stay beyond 90 days or change your status (e.g., to a student or work visa) while in the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program.
