United States

• Max stay · 90 days

CBP says the Visa Waiver Program lets citizens of 42 countries travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa; ESTA applicants must be citizens or eligible nationals of a Visa Waiver Program country, and the application fee is $40.27 (an approved ESTA is valid for two years or until the passport expires). Under 8 CFR 212.1 a visa is generally not required for Canadian citizens. The non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa fee is $185, and the State Department tells visa applicants to find a U.S. embassy or consulate that processes visas in their country of nationality or residence. A December 2025 presidential proclamation suspends and limits the entry of nationals of the countries it lists, subject to exceptions and case-by-case waivers.

Passport validity

CBP says visitors must have passports valid for six months beyond their intended stay, and that citizens of the countries on its exemption list need only a passport valid for their intended period of stay. The list includes the UK, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, India and the Bahamas, among others.

Return or onward ticket

Under 8 CFR 217.2, Visa Waiver Program travellers arriving by air or sea must have a round-trip ticket out of the United States, one that ends in contiguous territory or an adjacent island only if they live there. Those arriving at a land border must show evidence of financial solvency and a home abroad to which they intend to return.