What countries will likely be added next to the VWP?

The VWP is a program of the United States federal government that allows nationals of specific countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism, business, or transit without a visa for up to 90 days.

Which Countries Are Currently Members Of The Visa Waiver Program?

There are currently 43 countries participating in the VWP. Romania is the most recent country to be added in January 2025. Citizens of Romania were initially scheduled to be eligible to apply for ESTA starting March 31st 2025, however this has been postponed pending a review on Romania’s compliance.

Asia

Brunei
Israel
Japan
Korea
Singapore
Taiwan

Europe

Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania (postponed, pending review)
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Oceania

Australia
New Zealand

South America

Chile

Middle East

Qatar

While we cannot predict with any certainty which countries will join the VWP program next, some nations that have expressed interest or meet the eligibility criteria include:

Romania – Romania was added to the VWP in January 2025, yet is undergoing a compliance review before being fully admitted.
Bulgaria – Similar to Romania, Bulgaria has shown interest in VWP membership.
Cyprus – Cyprus has also been exploring the possibility of joining the program.
Brazil – Although not traditionally considered a candidate, Brazil’s growing economy and strong ties with the U.S. could make it a contender in the future.

Please note that these are just speculative suggestions – official decisions depend on various political, economic, and security considerations.

What Is The Process For a Country To Apply For The Visa Waiver Program?

The process involves several key steps and criteria as outlined below:

Designation as a Program Country

The country seeking to join the VWP must be designated by the American Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, as what is referred to as a “program country”.

Permanent residents of designated countries who are not their nationals do not qualify for a visa waiver.

Criteria for Designation

The criteria for designation as program countries are specified in Section 217(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1187).

These criteria emphasize passport security, a nonimmigrant visa refusal rate below 3%, and a reciprocal visa waiver for U.S. nationals, among other requirements.

Application Process

Countries interested in joining the VWP must meet stringent requirements related to border management, low non-immigrant visa refusal rates, electronic passport issuance, timely reporting of lost and stolen passports, and counter-terrorism information-sharing.

The application process involves demonstrating compliance with these requirements to be considered for inclusion in the program.

Approval and Implementation

Once a country meets the necessary criteria and requirements, the U.S. government may approve its inclusion in the VWP.

Upon approval, the country’s nationals can then travel to the United States for tourism, business, or transit for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa, provided they obtain pre-clearance through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

What Is The Timeline For a Country To Be Approved For The Visa Waiver Program?

The timeline for a country to be approved for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) involves various important steps and can vary based on the country’s compliance with the program’s requirements.

Nomination and Formal Application

Once a country expresses interest in joining the VWP, the Department of State formally nominates the country for entry into the program.

For example, in the case of Poland, the U.S. Ambassador stated that Poland would fully qualify for the VWP within 3 to 6 months after September 2019, depending on bureaucratic procedures. The country gained membership of the group on November 19, 2019.

Similarly, Croatia’s progress towards joining the VWP was marked by a drop in the refusal rate for business and tourist visas, paving the way for its nomination and eventual inclusion in the program.

Official Announcement and Approval

After the nomination, the Secretary of State or Homeland Security officially announces the country’s approval to join the VWP.

For instance, Croatia was formally nominated to join the VWP on August 2, 2021, and officially announced to join the program before December 1, 2021, with the actual inclusion occurring on October 23, 2021.

Implementation

Once a country is approved, it becomes a member of the VWP, allowing its citizens to travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa, provided they obtain pre-clearance through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

What Are The Requirements For a Country’s Citizens To Take Part In The Visa Waiver Program?

The requirements for a country’s citizens to participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) include the following:

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

Citizens or nationals from all VWP countries must obtain approval through ESTA before traveling to the United States under the program.

The term ESTA refers to an automated system that determines whether or not a prospective visitor qualifies to travel to the U.S. under the VWP for tourism or business purposes.

Maximum Stay and Travel Purposes

Participants in the VWP are allowed to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business visits of not longer than 90 days without the need for a visa.

Travelers must adhere to the 90-day limit and travel only for approved purposes under the VWP.

Eligibility Criteria

Citizens of participating countries must hold valid e-passports with an electronic chip and be traveling for business, pleasure, or transit for less than 90 days.

Travelers must not plan to study, work, or remain in the U.S. for more than 90 days to be eligible for visa-free travel under the VWP.

Additional Requirements

Travelers must have onward or return tickets and carry a copy of their itinerary if traveling on an electronic ticket.

Those entering the U.S. by air or sea must travel on carriers participating in the VWP and have received travel authorization through ESTA.

Travelers entering the U.S. by land must possess a completed form I-94W and pay a fee of $6.00 in U.S. dollars.

What Are The Consequences Of Overstaying The Visa Waiver Program?

The most important consequences of overstaying the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) include:

Ineligibility For The VWP In The Future

If you overstay the 90-day limit under the VWP, you will become ineligible to use the VWP to enter the U.S. in the future. This means you will have to apply for a regular B-1/B-2 visitor visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, which can be more difficult to obtain.

Accrual of “Unlawful Presence”

Overstaying the VWP period also means that you will accrue “unlawful presence” in the U.S. Accruing more than 180 days of unlawful presence can result in a 3-year bar on re-entering the U.S., while overstaying for more than 1 year can lead to a 10-year bar.

Difficulty Changing Immigration Status

Overstaying the VWP can make it much harder to change your immigration status or obtain a green card later on. This is because you will have violated the terms of your initial entry, closing doors on future opportunities.

Legal Consequences

Overstaying the VWP can lead to detention, deportation, and difficulties finding employment in the U.S. due to the lack of legal immigration status. It can also strain relationships with U.S. authorities and violate the social contract of honesty and respecting the law.

How Has The Visa Waiver Program Impacted Tourism In The United States Since It Came Into Operation?

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) has had a significant impact on tourism in the United States since its inception. The program, which originated in 1986 as a pilot public diplomacy initiative to facilitate tourism and reciprocity of travel among countries friendly with the U.S., has led to various positive outcomes for the U.S. tourism industry:

Economic Contribution

The VWP has been instrumental in boosting the U.S. economy through tourism. For example, in 2014, the 20.3 million visitors who came to the U.S. via the Visa Waiver Program generated a total of $190 billion in economic output and supported close to 1 million jobs in the U.S.

Direct travel spending in the U.S. in 2014 amounted to $927 billion. This generated around $2.1 trillion in economic output plus nearly $141 million in tax income.

Job Creation

The VWP has played a role in creating job opportunities in the U.S. The economic impact analysis of the expansion of the VWP to countries like South Korea showed that visits from these countries increased significantly, leading to job creation and economic growth.

For instance, spending by South Korean visitors to the U.S. increased from $2.7 billion to $4.2 billion over a period, supporting 36,200 jobs in the U.S. by 2012.

Tourism Expenditure

Visa waiver travelers generally spend more than other international travelers, contributing significantly to the U.S. trade accounts and helping to balance the country’s trade balance.

The VWP has been a key factor in attracting tourists to the U.S., with visa waiver travelers accounting for more than half of the overseas visitor market from 1991 to 2000.

What Is The Current Economic Output Generated By The Visa Waiver Program?

The latest data we have is for 2018. In that year, according to an analysis by the U.S. Travel Association, VWP travelers generated $190 billion in economic output and supported nearly one million jobs in the United States.