THE COMPLETE LIST OF VWP COUNTRIES
The famous ESTA or Electronic System for Travel Authorization is the result of collaboration between the USA and countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program.
WHAT IS THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM?
The Visa Waiver Program is supported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS). This system enables many foreign nationals to travel to the United States without a visa.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM?
The ESTA was set up to help the American authorities control immigration and thus enhance security on American soil. It also facilitates administrative formalities for travelers wishing to visit the United States. Last but not least, the ESTA is also designed to finance tourism projects on American soil, thanks to the application fee you pay when you apply.
COUNTRIES COVERED BY VWP
As you can see, not all countries are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program. To date, the following countries have joined the VWP:
| Germany | Greece | Norway |
| Andorra | Hungary | New Zealand |
| Australia | Ireland | Portugal |
| Austria | Italy | Czech republic |
| Belgium | Iceland | UK |
| Brunei | Japan | Saint Martin |
| Chile | Netherlands | Singapore |
| South Korea | Latvia | Slovakia |
| Croatia | Liechtenstein | Slovenia |
| Denmark | Lithuania | Sweden |
| Spain | Luxemburg | Swiss |
| Estonia | Malta | Taiwan |
| Finland | monaco | |
| France | Poland | Israel (2023) |
Other countries may soon join the VWP list, so stay tuned!
The ESTA visa is valid for two years, day for day, so you can make one or more trips to the U.S. during this period. The ESTA visa has been subject to a fee since 2010.
IS IT ENOUGH TO BE A NATIONAL OF ONE OF THE VWP COUNTRIES TO QUALIFY FOR ESTA?
The answer is no! In fact, even if you are a citizen of one of the countries involved in the program, that’s not always enough. Other criteria come into play when issuing the ESTA. Here is a list of the conditions required to enter the USA with ESTA authorization:
- a biometric or electronic passport if you do not already have one;
- have a return ticket before leaving for the United States;
- stay a maximum of 90 days in the United States;
- travel to the USA for tourism, business or transit.
Our advice to travelers: you need to apply fairly quickly, as soon as your planned travel date is known. The document is issued within 72 hours, but it’s best to plan ahead to avoid being issued too late in the event of an error. If you’d like some assistance, don’t hesitate to apply online at usa-visas.net. A team will take care of your application, filling in the ESTA form for you, and all you have to do is think about New York, Los Angeles, Miami or the state you’re going to discover during your trip to the USA. All you have to do is fill in a simple form, and the team will take care of everything. The American dream begins as soon as you obtain your ESTA!