The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows visitors from select countries to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or transit purposes for 90 days or less without the need to obtain a visa. So, in 2025, it hasn’t changed in terms of popularity either. There are some slightly interesting changes in the list of eligible countries for good (depending on how you look at it).
Citizens of those countries can travel for 90 days for tourism, business, and transit to the United States if they meet certain requirements. One of those (and this is online) is the ESTA system, before you get on the aircraft.
US Visa Waiver Program 2025
Two major things changed this year. Qatar, the new list of countries in the Visa Waiver Program here and the updated countries that are now officially in the Visa Quota Program and Qatar will soon have visa-less US travel, as we previously assumed here. Romania actually did make the list at first, but was removed after further examination.
But those incremental changes are also a reminder of how a list like this can swing according to how well a country satisfies the United States’ security and travel standards. If you intend to travel under the VWP, we suggest that you check the list of VWP countries on their official site before making travel plans.
Understanding How the VWP Works
Visiting across a border in order to enter the country without requiring a visa may seem simple enough, but there are still some protocols to adhere to. Your country must at least be on the official VWP list. You must apply for online travel authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
It takes minutes and costs a bit of money. You can pay to stay for up to 90 days, and for this, you require an accepted passport only. It’s not a visa, but it will get you to the door, and through it once you are on the flight, and into the United States, where a border officer has the last word.
Eligibility for the US Waiver Program
Some of the eligibility criteria are:
- It’s available to citizens of VWP countries only.
- Travel is for tourism, business, and transit only.
- You can’t study or work on the VWP; you need a visa for that.
- Travelers would be disqualified if they had visited specific banned countries in the last five years.
- Dual nationals of those countries subject to the restriction may also not be eligible for the VWP.
The 43 Countries on the List Now
The program includes 43 countries. The bulk are in Europe, with the others in the Asia-Pacific and South America. They already included the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Australia, and Chile. Qatar is the latest, one more sign of its warming relations with the United States.
The list is generally quite stable, but travellers are recommended to double-check to be sure before visiting, since political and security concerns could result in shifts, as Bulgaria has only recently been dropped from the list, or as Romania is for the time being.
Benefits and Common Mistakes
The VWP’s winning card is its simplicity. No embassies to trudge to, no long waits for visas. Travelers must follow the rules with extreme diligence. One common mistake is overstaying. Taking an overstay of 90 days (or even one day) can ban from any future travel under the VWP. The second is to confuse travel’s purpose.
If an individual tries to work or attend school as a non-immigrant when he is VWP-visiting, they could be caught and will be eliminated. So, the program is flexible, but it also has its demands.
What can you do in Your Travel Plans
Even if you are from an approved country, you might still not be eligible to use the program if you have visited a few other countries in recent years.
If you have visited any of these countries after certain dates or if you are a dual national of any of them, then your ESTA would likely be denied, and you would need to get a full visa instead. The policies are part of a string of efforts by the United States government to impose more control over national security.
Planning is Key
If you are not a U.S. citizen and you are visiting from one of the countries in the Visa Waiver Program, you may want to think ahead. Ensure that your passport is electronic, with the required period of validity. If you can, then it’s worth filling out your ESTA application a few days before you travel, in case something goes wrong, or the application needs reviewing.
You might also print details of your hotel stay or return flight (along with your phone number and fare information), in the event border officials require that information upon arrival.
Key Point to Remember
It is convenient and green, especially for road messengers. That clears the way for millions of passengers, from 43 countries off the list in 2025, including a newcomer from Qatar.
You should still follow every rule and regularly check for updates and, yes, you should be truthful when filing your ESTA application. Violations might result in your being turned away and can result in being barred from future travel.
FAQs
What countries are included in the 2025 Visa Waiver Program?
This even includes the 43 nations here, including amongst others, the UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Qatar.
Can I work in the U.S. on the Visa Waiver Program?
No, the program is for short stints only whether as a tourist, a business traveler, or someone in transit, but not for work.
Romania is still in the program?
No, a review has been necessary; it showed that Romania should be included in the project at an early stage, and the project had to leave even 2025.
