The United States government has announced the updated 2025 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) list, revealing the countries whose citizens can visit the US without a visa for up to 90 days.
Notably, the United Kingdom was excluded from the program but remains eligible under specific conditions.
Furthermore, no African country, including Nigeria, Ghana, or South Africa, was added to the list. Meanwhile, Romania was newly included, marking a significant change in this year’s update.
According to the US Bureau of Consular Affairs, the VWP enables citizens of eligible countries to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or transit purposes without requiring a visa.
However, travellers must first obtain authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before their departure.
“Travellers must have a valid ESTA approval prior to travel and meet all requirements explained below. If you prefer to have a visa in your passport, you may still apply for a visitor visa,” the US agency stated.
The US government has placed a strong emphasis on security measures, prioritizing countries with well-established diplomatic
ties and stringent border security regulations. The revised list aims to facilitate smoother travel while ensuring national security.
As of 2025, 40 countries are part of the Visa Waiver Program. The updated list includes:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Chile
- Czech Republic
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Israel
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Romania
While the exclusion of African nations has raised concerns among some travel analysts, the US government has reiterated that the list is based on strict eligibility criteria, including border security policies, immigration control measures, and diplomatic relations.
