Overview
- More than 40 countries are eligible, including Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Norway.
- Travelers must hold an e‑passport and obtain Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval before departure.
- Visits are limited to 90 days for tourism or business, with no permission to work or study and no extensions or changes of status in the U.S.
- U.S. officers can refuse entry, and travelers with recent travel to or dual nationality with countries such as North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen or Cuba may be ineligible.
- Articles note a $21 ESTA charge (reported as a $4 processing fee plus $17 upon approval), and approvals are typically valid for up to two years.