The US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for 2025 includes 42 eligible countries whose nationals can enter the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa. The list features major European Union members (excluding Bulgaria and Cyprus), the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and other nations including Chile, Israel, and Qatar. Romania was added in early 2025, reflecting compliance with program requirements. No new countries from the Americas were added in 2025. Travellers must have authorised electronic travel approval (ESTA) to use the program.
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Eligible Countries Overview
Europe: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and recently Romania.
Asia-Pacific: Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan.
Americas & Middle East: Chile, Israel, Qatar.
Important Conditions for VWP Entry
Travellers must have a passport from a designated VWP country.
Approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) is required before travel.
Visits are limited to tourism, business, or transit purposes.
Applicants must not have certain travel or dual nationality restrictions related to specific prohibited countries.
This updated list ensures smooth travel for eligible nationals while maintaining security and reciprocal agreements with participating countries.
Exclusions and recent policy changes 2025:
The US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) in 2025 has key exclusions and recent policy changes to note:
Exclusions: Individuals who have traveled to or hold dual nationality in certain countries—specifically Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen (travel after March 1, 2011), and Cuba (travel after January 12, 2021)—are not eligible for the VWP. Some exemptions apply for diplomatic, military, humanitarian, or legitimate business reasons. Additionally, Indian nationals remain excluded due to factors like reciprocity and immigration policies. Citizens from 19 countries face travel restrictions and visa bans which also affect eligibility.
Policy Changes 2025: Starting September 2, 2025, the US Department of State rolled back the visa interview waiver policy, requiring almost all nonimmigrant visa applicants—regardless of age—to attend in-person interviews. This includes categories that were previously exempted such as children under 14 and adults over 79. Only a narrow group of applicants will retain interview waivers, potentially causing longer visa processing times and travel delays. This change affects the broader visa process but intersects with VWP travel rules indirectly in terms of increased scrutiny and interview requirements for eligible travellers.
Security and Compliance: Countries maintain their VWP status by meeting strict US requirements on passport security, visa refusal rates, data-sharing, and terrorism prevention. Travellers must have an approved ESTA and an e-passport embedded with biometric data. The maximum stay under the VWP remains 90 days for business, tourism, or transit purposes. Overstays and previous violations can disqualify travellers.
These exclusions and updates reflect ongoing US security priorities while facilitating visa-free travel for compliant countries under updated protocols.