Visa Waiver Program Requirements

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the USA (or in transit to a third country) without having to obtain a visa prior to travel.

Travellers holding a passport of one of the following nationalities are currently entitled to use the VWP:

Nationals of these countries are required to have a Machine Readable Passport in order to travel under the Visa Waiver Program. A non-Machine Readable passport can only be used to enter the United States if it contains a United States visa. Applications for U.S. visas must be made at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad well in advance of travel dates.

If passport was issued before 25 October 2005, passport must be machine readable but does not need to contain a digital photograph. If passport was issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006, it must also contain a digital photograph of the holder or an integrated chip containing information from the data page ("e-passport"). If passport was issued on or after 26 October 2006, passport must be an "e-passport".

It is important to note that families requesting entry on the Visa Waiver Program will require individual passports for each traveller, including children and infants.

To enter the U.S. under the VWP, travellers from participating countries must be seeking entry for 90 days or less, as a temporary visitor for business or pleasure.

If travel starts on 12 January 2009 or after, passenger will be required to receive an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) from US Customs prior to travel to the US.

For details on the Visa Waiver Program click on the following link www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_novisa_waiver.html.

For additional information see the US-VISIT website at www.dhs.gov/us-visit .

It is the traveller's responsibility to check that they have the necessary documentation required for their trip.