Quick answer
You need ESTA if you are a citizen of one of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries and you travel to the United States by air, sea or land for tourism, business or transit for 90 days or less without a visa. If you already hold a valid US visa for your purpose of travel, you travel on the visa.
On this page
The 42 Visa Waiver Program countries
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
British citizens qualify only with the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
When you need a visa even with one of these passports
Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 you cannot use the VWP, and must apply for a visa, if:
- you have travelled to or been present in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011
- you have travelled to or been present in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021
- you are also a national of Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria
There are limited exceptions for diplomatic or military travel in the service of a VWP country. You also need a visa if you want to stay longer than 90 days, study for credit, work, or arrive on a private aircraft or another carrier that is not approved for the VWP.
Children and babies
Every traveller needs their own approved ESTA, including accompanied and unaccompanied children of any age. Each family member, including infants, must also have their own passport.
Transit
If you only change planes in the United States on the way to another country you still need ESTA or a visa. See transit through the US.
I have two passports. Which one counts?
The authorization is tied to one passport. You need an approved ESTA for the passport you will actually travel on, and it must be a passport from a Visa Waiver Program country.
I was refused a US visa. Can I use ESTA?
A recent visa refusal for any reason could lead to ESTA being denied, extra checks at the port of entry, or refusal of admission. If you are not sure you qualify, the State Department says you may apply for a visa.
Sources
Checked on 13 November 2026. Rules can change; the official pages below always take priority.