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Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows travelers from certain countries to enter the United States for a short period for tourism or business without a visa.  Not all countries participate in the VWP, and not all travelers from VWP countries are eligible to use the program.

Travelers are generally eligible to enter the United States on the Visa Waiver Program if:

1. They have a Machine Readable Passport from an eligible country that is valid for at least six months past your stay in the United States;
2. The purpose of travel to the United States is tourism or business;
3. They will stay less than 90 days in the United States;
4. They have not previously been found ineligible for a visa;
5. They do not have a criminal record or other condition making them ineligible for a visa;
6. They possess a return ticket; and
7. They enter and exit the United States on the passport from the country eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, not the Israeli passport.

Travelers that do not meet these requirements must apply for a visa to enter the United States.  

Countries Eligible for the Visa Waiver Program

Bearers of a valid Machine Readable Passport from the following countries are eligible to travel to the United States on the Visa Waiver Program:

Note: While Canada is not included in the Visa Waiver Program, citizens of Canada generally do not need a visa to the United States for short trips of tourism or business.  For more information, follow this link to the U.S. Embassy in Canada.  

Machine Readable Passports

In order to travel to the United States without a visa, all citizens of the countries listed above must have their own Machine Readable Passport, including children. Machine Readable Passports include two typeface lines at the bottom of the biographic page that can be swiped by the U.S. immigration officers to confirm the passport holder's identity quickly. If you do not have a Machine Readable Passport, you will need to apply for a visa.

Passports Issued after October 26, 2005

Bearers of Machine Readable Passports issued after October 26, 2005 have additional requirements to travel on the Visa Waiver Program.  If you hold a passport issued between October 26, 2005 and October 25, 2006, the Machine Readable Passport must also contain a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page.

If you hold a passport issued on or after October 26, 2006, the passport must contain an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

If you hold a Machine Readable Passport issued after October 26, 2005 that does not meet these requirements, you will need to apply for a visa.

More Information

If you have any questions regarding whether your passport is Machine Readable or has the features required after October 26, 2005, please consult the Embassy of the country that issued your passport.

For more information on the Visa Waiver Program, follow this link.