ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program: Visiting the US Without a Visa

ESTA is not a visa. It is an online travel authorization that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) checks before you board a plane or ship to the United States. It is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which lets citizens of partner countries visit without going to an embassy for an interview.

An approved ESTA only lets you travel to the United States. The CBP officer at the airport still decides whether to admit you.

Canadian citizens do not use ESTA; they are generally visa-exempt for visits. Mexican citizens need a visa or Border Crossing Card. If you are not from a VWP country, see the B-2 tourist visa or B-1 business visa.

About 40 countries take part. They include the United Kingdom, most European Union countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Chile, and Israel. Countries are added and occasionally removed, so always check the official list on travel.state.gov before you plan.

You must travel on the passport of a VWP country. A permanent resident of a VWP country who holds a non-VWP passport cannot use ESTA.

Allowed

• Tourism, holidays, and visiting family or friends
• Medical treatment
• Business meetings, conferences, and contract negotiations
• Short recreational study that does not earn credit
• Transit through the United States to another country

Not allowed

• Any work for a US employer or paid work in the United States
• Study for academic credit
• Working as crew on a ship or plane
• Working as foreign media (journalists need an I visa)
• Staying longer than 90 days

If your plans do not fit, apply for the right visa, such as the F-1 for study or a work visa like the H-1B.

• 90 days maximum. You cannot extend an ESTA stay. In a real emergency (for example, a hospital stay or cancelled flight), CBP or USCIS may grant a short period of "satisfactory departure", but you cannot count on it.
• Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean count. If you enter the United States and then visit Canada, Mexico, or nearby islands, that time usually counts toward your 90 days.
• No change of status. You generally cannot switch to another visa type from inside the country. A narrow exception applies to some immediate relatives of US citizens; get legal advice before relying on it.
• Return ticket. If you arrive by air or sea, you need a return or onward ticket.
• Waiver of rights. By using the VWP, you give up the right to challenge a CBP refusal at the border or to contest removal, except to apply for asylum.
• Frequent long visits can make officers doubt that you live abroad, even if each trip is under 90 days.

Even if you hold a VWP passport, you usually need a visa instead if you:

• Traveled to or were present in Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011, or in Cuba on or after January 12, 2021 (limited exceptions exist, such as official government or military travel)
• Are also a national of certain countries, such as Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria
• Were previously refused admission, deported, or overstayed a US visit
• Have certain criminal convictions
• Were denied an ESTA, or answer "yes" to any eligibility question

A past US visa refusal does not automatically make you ineligible, but you must disclose it, and CBP may deny your ESTA. If ESTA is denied, you can apply for a visitor visa at a US embassy. The CBP website lists the full eligibility questions.

The 2026 travel ban (Proclamation 10998) does not name any Visa Waiver Program country. It can still matter to dual nationals: the ban applies by nationality, although people traveling on a non-listed country's passport are exempt.

Many travelers from VWP countries can choose. This table shows the main differences:

Choose a visitor visa if you need to stay longer than 90 days, if you might need an extension, or if you are not eligible for ESTA. Choose a work or study visa if you plan to work or earn credit. Our US visit hub compares all the short-stay options.

The ESTA fee rose from $21 to $40 on September 30, 2025, under a 2025 federal law that also allows inflation adjustments. Pay only on the official site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, or the official ESTA Mobile app from CBP. Many lookalike websites charge far more for the same form. Read our guide to avoiding immigration scams.

ESTA travelers do not pay the new $250 Visa Integrity Fee, which applies to people issued nonimmigrant visas.

Social media questions

In December 2025, CBP proposed making 5 years of social media history a required part of the ESTA application. The comment period closed in February 2026. Answer whatever the current official form asks, and answer honestly.