Entry rules
United Statesentry requirements
Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, Australia and 24 EU countries, need an approved ESTA before traveling to the United States, even just to change planes. The official fee is US$40.62. Canadians don’t need an ESTA or a visa for most visits.
Checked against official sources Oct 29, 2026 · Sources
Do you need a visa or travel authorization?
| Passport | What you need | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. citizens | Citizen | No limit |
| British citizens | ESTA required Official fee US$40.62. About ESTA British citizens with the right of permanent abode only; other British nationality types need a visa. | 90 days |
| Canadians | No visa needed No ESTA or visa for most Canadian visitors. Stays longer than 30 days require registration with U.S. authorities, which is automatic if you were issued an I-94 record. | Usually up to 6 months (the border officer decides) |
| Australians | ESTA required Official fee US$40.62. About ESTA | 90 days |
| EU citizens | ESTA required Official fee US$40.62. About ESTA 24 of the 27 EU countries are in the Visa Waiver Program. Different for: BG (visa), CY (visa), RO (visa). Use the trip check for your country. | 90 days |
Passport rules
Citizens of the UK, Canada, Australia and every EU country need a passport valid for their whole stay (they are on CBP’s “six-month club” list; other nationalities may need six months beyond their stay). Visa Waiver travelers must have an electronic passport with a chip.
- Canadians: By air, a passport valid for your stay (or a NEXUS card at designated airports).
- EU citizens: An electronic passport valid for your stay. National ID cards are not accepted.
Airlines check this at check-in. If your passport is close to the limit, renew it first: see the 6-month passport rule explained.
Changing planes in United States
- U.S. citizens: Nothing extra if you stay airside.
- British citizens and Australians: No airside transit: entry rules apply. There is no airside transit in the United States: you pass U.S. immigration, so you need an ESTA or visa even to connect.
- Canadians: Nothing extra if you stay airside. No ESTA or visa, but you pass U.S. immigration with your Canadian passport.
- EU citizens: No airside transit: entry rules apply. There is no airside transit in the United States: you pass U.S. immigration, so you need an ESTA (or, for Bulgarian, Cypriot and Romanian citizens, a visa) even to connect.
More: Do I need a transit visa?
Good to know
- Arriving by land and required to have an I-94? The fee is US$30 at the border.
- U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must enter the United States on their U.S. passport.
Official links
Watch for look-alike sites. Use only the official addresses above. Sites that “process” your application charge extra for the same official form. How to spot a fake visa site.
Where official sources differ
- Processing time: a 2018 CBP notice advises applying at least 72 hours before departure; the current DHS Visa Waiver page says most applicants get an answer right away. We use 72 hours as the safe margin.
Official sources
- Official ESTA Application Website (CBP) – FAQ and payment text ·
U.S. Citizens are not required to have an ESTA and are required to use their U.S. passport to travel to the U.S.
· checked 2026-10-29 - DHS – Visa Waiver Program (last updated 10/28/2026) ·
The following countries are currently designated for participation in the VWP.
· checked 2026-10-29 - GOV.UK FCDO – USA entry requirements (updated 18 August 2026) ·
To enter or transit through the US, you must have either an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) or a visa.
· checked 2026-10-29 - travel.gc.ca – United States travel advice (last updated 15 October 2026) ·
Canadian visitors can usually stay in the United States for 6 months without a visa.
· checked 2026-10-29 - CBP – Visa Waiver Program (last modified Nov 12, 2024) ·
permits citizens of 42 countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa.
· checked 2026-10-29 - CBP Carrier Liaison Program – Six-Month Passport Validity Update (December 18, 2025) ·
Citizens of the countries listed below are exempt from the six-month rule and need only have a passport valid for their intended period of stay.
· checked 2026-10-29 - CBP – FAQs about the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA (last modified Jan 24, 2025) ·
As of April 1, 2016, all travelers must have an e-passport to use the VWP.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Federal Register 2026-20185 (published 2026-10-01): Certain DHS Immigration-Related Fees Required by HR-1: FY2027 Adjustments for Inflation ·
the total fee to apply for a CBP Form I-94 at a land border port of entry for FY 2027 will continue to be $30, consisting of the $6 land border fee and the $24 HR-1 fee.
· checked 2026-10-29
If an official page says something different from this page, the official page is right. Tell us and we’ll fix it.
Get an email when these rules change
Only when an official entry rule we track changes: a new travel authorization, a fee, a start date or a passport rule. At most once a week, with the official source for every change.