US ESTA Visa Waiver Program: 42 Countries That Can Enter Without a Visa
- The US government confirmed that citizens of 42 countries can visit America for up to 90 days without a traditional visa under the Visa Waiver Program
- Applicants need a valid e-passport and approved ESTA authorisation, with the online process taking an average of 23 minutes to complete
- No African country is included in the programme, meaning South Africans and other African passport holders must still apply through a US embassy
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The United States government has released updated guidance on the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), a programme that lets citizens of 42 countries travel to the US for up to 90 days without a standard visitor visa.
The ESTA falls under the broader Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which covers tourism, business, and transit trips. According to the US government, completing the online application takes an average of 23 minutes, making it significantly more straightforward than the traditional B1/B2 visa route, which requires an in-person consulate appointment.
Who qualifies for ESTA travel?
To be eligible, travellers must hold a valid, ICAO-compliant e-passport containing an embedded electronic chip, with at least six months of validity remaining beyond their planned departure date from the US. The ESTA authorisation must be approved before boarding any US-bound carrier.
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The 42 participating countries are spread across Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas and the Middle East. European nations make up the largest share, with 33 countries on the list including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. The Asia-Pacific group includes Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and New Zealand, among others. Chile is the sole representative from the Americas, while Israel and Qatar represent the Middle East.
No African countries on the list
For African travellers, the news is less welcome. Not a single African nation qualifies for the Visa Waiver Program. South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and all other African countries remain outside the programme, meaning passport holders from these countries must go through the full consular visa application process at a US embassy or consulate.
Even citizens of qualifying VWP nations are not guaranteed ESTA eligibility. Dual nationals who also hold citizenship in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen are disqualified. The same applies to anyone who has travelled to those countries on or after 1 March 2011, or to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021. Those individuals must apply for a traditional visa regardless of their primary passport.
The updated guidance signals no immediate expansion of the programme to new regions.
Source: Getty Images
More on SA travel and visa options abroad
- Briefly News recently reported on three European countries where South Africans can buy residency through investment routes, with costs ranging from around R5.3 million to over R10 million.
- A property guide revealed South Africans can buy a 3-bedroom home in Bali for as little as R600,000 under a leasehold agreement.
- Japan confirmed 32 countries eligible for its Working Holiday visa scheme, letting young adults travel and work in the country without a job offer.
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Source: Briefly News
