Entry/Exit Requirements

Entry Requirements at a Glance

How different passports are treated entering United States of America. Don't see yours? Check any passport instantly »

Passport	Requirement	Typical stay	Approval Rate
Australia	ESTA	90 days	77.1%
Bangladesh	Visa required	—	38.6%
Brazil	Visa required	—	85.1%
Canada	Visa not required	180 days	—
China	Visa required	—	79.8%
Germany	ESTA	90 days	87.8%
India	Visa required	—	78.0%
Nigeria	Not admitted	—	43.0%
Philippines	Visa required	—	69.2%
Singapore	ESTA	90 days	81.4%
United Arab Emirates	Visa required	—	97.8%
United Kingdom	ESTA	90 days	79.6%
Vietnam	Visa required	—	77.9%

Sourced from live visa requirement data. Provided for general guidance only and may not reflect the latest rule changes — confirm with the relevant embassy or consulate before booking travel. Approval rates link to the full Visa Statistics breakdown.

United States of America Visa FAQ

Do I need a visa to visit the United States?

It depends on your citizenship. If you are a citizen of one of the roughly 40 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, you can travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days with an approved ESTA instead of a visa. If your country is not in the VWP, you will need to apply for a B1/B2 visitor visa before you travel.

How much does an ESTA cost, and how long is it valid?

The ESTA application fee is $40.27 per traveler. Once approved, an ESTA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows multiple entries during that period, each for a stay of up to 90 days.

What is the B1/B2 visa fee and how do I apply?

The standard application fee for a B1/B2 visitor visa is $185 per applicant. You apply by completing the DS-160 form online, paying the fee, and scheduling an interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate; the fee is valid for one year, so you must interview within that window or pay again.

What is the I-94 and do I need one?

The I-94 is your official arrival/departure record showing how long you are authorized to stay in the U.S. Most air and sea travelers receive it automatically and electronically; you can retrieve and print your electronic I-94 anytime at the CBP website.

Does my passport need extra validity to enter the U.S.?

Generally, your passport only needs to remain valid for the duration of your intended stay — the U.S. does not have a blanket six-months-beyond-stay rule for most nationalities. Some bilateral agreements set their own terms, so confirm your specific requirement on travel.state.gov before you fly.

Source: CBP — Official ESTA Application Portal; U.S. Department of State — Visa Fees / Visitor Visa Information; CBP — ESTA Fee Announcement.

United States of America Entry/Exit General Information

Unlike most pages on this site, this page addresses travelers coming TO the United States rather than U.S. citizens traveling abroad. Before booking travel to the U.S., check your passport's validity: as a general rule it should remain valid for your entire planned stay, though the U.S. does not universally require six months of validity beyond your visit the way many other countries do. It is worth confirming your specific requirement with your airline and on travel.state.gov, since incorrect assumptions here are a common reason travelers get turned away at check-in.

If you hold a passport from one of the roughly 40 Visa Waiver Program countries, the fastest route into the U.S. is an ESTA rather than a visa. You apply directly through the official government portal, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, by submitting your passport details and a short questionnaire online; approval is typically issued within minutes to 72 hours, though it is best to apply at least 72 hours before departure. The ESTA fee is $40.27 per traveler, and an approved ESTA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever happens first, permitting multiple visits of up to 90 days each for business or tourism. Only apply through the official esta.cbp.dhs.gov site — third-party sites often charge marked-up "service fees" for the same government form.

If your country is not part of the Visa Waiver Program, you will need a B1/B2 visitor visa before traveling. The process starts with the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application online, followed by payment of the $185 application fee and scheduling of an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate responsible for your region. Most applicants attend an in-person interview where a consular officer determines whether to issue the visa; processing and interview wait times vary significantly by post, so start well in advance of your intended travel dates.

Regardless of how you qualify to travel, every visitor is issued an I-94 arrival/departure record at the border, documenting your authorized length of stay. Most air and sea arrivals receive this electronically at no extra cost; you can look up and print your own I-94 anytime after arrival through the official CBP website.

Because U.S. entry rules — including fees and country-specific entry restrictions — can change with limited notice, always verify current requirements directly on esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov before finalizing travel plans, and check whether any additional entry restrictions currently apply to your country of citizenship.