Trip tools

Entry requirements checker

Most visitors from Western Europe, the UK, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa, just an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) under the Visa Waiver Program. But a past trip or a second passport can quietly take that option off the table. Answer three questions and see where you stand. For the full process, read ESTA & Entry.

1. Your nationality

2. Since March 2011, have you traveled to: Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Cuba?
(For Cuba, we mean travel on or after January 12, 2021.)

3. Do you also hold citizenship of: Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Cuba?

This is practical guidance, not legal advice, and it does not guarantee entry: a CBP officer at the border makes the final call every time. Program rules change; confirm on the official pages (esta.cbp.dhs.gov for ESTA, travel.state.gov for visas) before you book. Verified October 2026, including Romania's 2025 rescission from the program.

$40.27

ESTA fee per application (rising to $40.62 on October 16, 2026), paid on the official site only (esta.cbp.dhs.gov). Third-party sites charge more.

90 days

Maximum stay per visit under the VWP. No extensions, no switching to a work or student status while in the US.

2 years

ESTA validity (or until your passport expires). Reusable for many trips; renew it when it lapses.