Published on December 2, 2025
The United States is one of the world’s most visited countries. Millions of travellers dream of walking through New York, exploring California, or enjoying Florida’s warm beaches. But entering the U.S. is not the same for everyone. Some travellers need a visa. Some can enter without one. The rules are strict. The rules are detailed. And the rules change when global security changes.
In 2025, the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is one of the most important travel systems in the world. It allows citizens from many countries to enter America without a visa for short, easy trips. This policy shapes tourism, business travel, airport security and border management. It also influences diplomacy and global trust.
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This article explains the entire program in simple words. It tells you who can enter, how they must enter, and why the rules matter. It also explains Romania’s unusual situation, which has captured worldwide interest. Everything you read here is based only on official U.S. government sources.
The Visa Waiver Program is a special U.S. travel system. It allows citizens of approved countries to visit the United States for tourism or business without getting a B-1 or B-2 visa. They can stay for up to 90 days. They must meet strict rules. And they must follow security checks before boarding a plane or ship.
The system is run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with help from the U.S. Department of State. The goal is simple: allow safe travel while protecting national security.
Travellers using the program must also complete the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This is an online approval that checks personal and security information. Without ESTA, travellers will not be allowed to board a U.S.-bound airline.
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As of late 2025, the official U.S. State Department list shows 41 countries or territories taking part in the Visa Waiver Program. These include many European nations, Asian partners and long-standing U.S. allies. These countries are:
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 the United Kingdom.
This list is taken directly from the U.S. State Department’s official VWP page. It does not include Romania.
These 41 countries have passed strict U.S. security checks. They must share lost and stolen passport data. They must follow high law-enforcement standards. They must issue secure e-passports. They must allow U.S. citizens to visit them visa-free for the same purpose and length of time.
Two special cases appear in U.S. government rules.
Taiwan is included because U.S. law requires Taiwan to be treated like a country for the VWP. This is written into the Taiwan Relations Act.
The United Kingdom has special conditions. British citizens must have an “unrestricted right of permanent abode” in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man). Those without this right cannot use the VWP.
ESTA is a mandatory online travel approval. It checks travellers before they fly. It asks for personal details, passport information and answers to security questions. It runs these details through U.S. law-enforcement and counter-terrorism databases.
Once approved, an ESTA normally lasts two years. But airlines can refuse boarding if ESTA is missing, expired or denied. Travellers must check before every trip.
ESTA does not guarantee entry. A U.S. border officer at the airport makes the final decision.
Every traveller under the VWP must carry an electronic passport (e-passport). This passport includes a chip. The chip holds biometric information. Border officers scan the chip to confirm identity. This rule keeps the system secure and helps stop identity fraud.
Even emergency or temporary passports must be e-passports.
U.S. law includes several detailed rules for all VWP travellers. These rules allow entry without a visa, but only if every condition is met.
Visitors may enter only for tourism or business meetings. They cannot study. They cannot work. They cannot stay longer than 90 days. They cannot change their immigration status.
Travellers arriving by air or sea must show a return ticket or onward ticket. They must travel on a signatory carrier—an airline that has signed security agreements with DHS.
Travellers may be asked to show that they can support themselves and that they have a home outside the U.S. They must prove they will leave the country within the allowed period.
Travellers entering by land from Canada or Mexico must fill out Form I-94W and pay a fee if they do not already have an ESTA.
The 90-day limit cannot be extended. Travellers cannot change to another visa type while in the United States.
By entering through the VWP, travellers waive certain rights. They cannot appeal a denial of entry. They cannot contest removal except on asylum grounds. This rule is written in U.S. law and explained in the Foreign Affairs Manual.
The Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 created new restrictions. These apply even to citizens of VWP countries.
Travellers are barred from using the VWP if they have been in any of the following countries on or after 1 March 2011:
In 2021, Cuba was added.
Travellers who visited these countries must apply for a visa, even if they hold passports from VWP nations.
Dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria and North Korea are also barred.
Limited exceptions exist for diplomats, military officials or humanitarian workers.
A VWP visitor may take short trips to Canada, Mexico or certain Caribbean islands. But the 90-day period does not stop. Travellers must return within the original 90-day window.
If the 90 days expire during the trip, they cannot re-enter under the VWP.
Joining the VWP is not easy. The Foreign Affairs Manual describes several strict standards. Every new country must pass security tests and show consistent trustworthiness.
A country must show a visa refusal rate below 3 percent. Exceptions are rare and only apply when the refusal rate is under 10 percent with strong extra security measures.
The country must allow U.S. citizens to enter without visas for short visits.
Passports must meet ICAO standards. They must include biometric chips and secure printing technology.
Countries must share data on stolen passports, security threats and high-risk travellers. They must cooperate on repatriation.
The U.S. intelligence community must confirm that allowing the country into the VWP will not threaten national security.
Once added, a country is reviewed every two years. The U.S. can suspend or remove a country at any time if security risks change.
Romania became one of the most talked-about countries in 2025 because of its unexpected Visa Waiver Program story.
On 10 January 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that Romania met all requirements to join the VWP. A U.S. Embassy Romania press release confirmed this. The country achieved low visa refusal rates. It issued secure passports. It shared security data. It met all entry-control standards.
The U.S. planned to activate ESTA approval for Romanian citizens by late March 2025.
The Foreign Affairs Manual updated in January 2024 listed Romania among VWP-eligible countries, consistent with the January 2025 announcement.
The official State Department VWP list for late 2025 does not include Romania. This is significant. Travel.State.gov is the public reference for travellers.
News outlets reported that DHS rescinded Romania’s approval in May 2025 due to concerns about program integrity. The DHS press release confirming this cannot currently be accessed on the DHS website, meaning travellers cannot verify it through a government page.
This creates a rare situation where government documents disagree. Because of this, Romanian travellers must check both DHS and State Department websites before planning travel.
Here is what every traveller under the Visa Waiver Program must do:
Without ESTA, travel is not allowed.
The passport must contain a chip. It must scan properly.
No study. No work. No long stays.
No extension, no exception.
Airlines must follow U.S. rules.
Travellers must be ready to show funds, tickets and proof of living outside the U.S.
The VWP makes travel easier for millions of people. It reduces time at U.S. consulates. It encourages tourism. It helps business travellers attend meetings, conferences and trade shows. It supports air carriers and airports.
But it also plays a major security role. ESTA, e-passports and shared data help stop dangerous individuals before they reach the United States. Countries in the VWP become part of a larger global security network. They share data. They follow strict rules. They maintain strong border controls.
The program shapes diplomacy too. Joining the VWP is a sign of trust. Losing access is serious. Countries work for years to meet the requirements.
The United States’ Visa Waiver Program is one of the strongest and most secure travel systems in the world. It offers visa-free entry to citizens of 41 countries and territories, each of which meets strict security and travel standards. Every traveller must follow clear rules—use an e-passport, apply for ESTA, show proof of funds and return within 90 days.
The program is reviewed often. It can change when security needs change. That is why travellers must always check official government pages before planning a trip.
Romania’s unusual case shows how complex the system can be. The country was approved, then reportedly removed, but official confirmation remains limited. Travellers from Romania must rely on DHS and State Department sources for the most updated guidance.
In 2025, the Visa Waiver Program continues to support safe, fast and easy travel to the United States—while protecting national security and building global cooperation.
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Tags: America visa policies 2025, DHS travel guidelines, e-passport rules USA, ESTA requirements, Romania VWP status
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 2, 2025