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Visa Waiver Program: Passport Requirements Timeline

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a new fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Voluntary ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to the United States, and Visa Waiver Program travelers are encouraged to apply for authorization as soon as they begin to plan a trip to the United States.

Beginning January 12, 2009, eligible citizens or nationals from all Visa Waiver Program  countries must obtain approval through ESTA prior to traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.

As of October 26, 2006, any passport issued on or after this date by a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country must be an e-Passport  for VWP travelers to be eligible to enter the United States without a visa.

Outlined below are important changes in passport and e-Passport requirements for travelers from VWP countries applying for admission to the United States. Please check with the passport issuing agency in your country if you have specific questions.

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Passports issued on or after October 26, 2006: e-Passports

Depiction of e-Passport symbol on front of passport

New passports issued by Visa Waiver Program countries must be e-Passports, which include an integrated computer chip capable of storing biographic information from the data page, as well as other biometric information, such as the required digital photograph of the holder. You can identify an e-Passport by the symbol (see image at right).

If your passport does not have this feature, you can still travel without a visa if it is a valid passport issued:

If you were issued a passport on or after October 26, 2006, and it is not an e-Passport, you will need to obtain a visa. Please see “Getting a Visa” below.

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Passports issued October 26, 2005 - October 25, 2006: Digital Photographs

Depiction of passport with Digital Image

Older, but still valid passports issued or renewed/extended by Visa Waiver Program countries between October 26, 2005, and October 25, 2006, must include a digital photo printed on the data page, or the traveler will be required to obtain a visa. A digital photo is one that is printed on the page, not a photo that is glued or laminated into the passport. It looks like the image at the right.

If your passport does not have this feature, you can still travel without a visa if you:

If you are issued a passport on or after October 26, 2005, and it does not meet the requirements in either Sections A or B, you will need to obtain a visa. Please see “Getting a Visa."

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Passports issued before October 26, 2005: Machine-Readable Zones

Machine Readable Passport Sample

Older, but still valid passports issued by Visa Waiver Program countries before October 26, 2005, must have a machine-readable zone. A machine-readable passport has two lines of text as letters, numbers and chevrons (<<<) at the bottom of the personal information page, along with the bearer’s picture. It looks like the image at right.

If your passport does not have this feature, you have two options:

Please contact your passport-issuing agency or your local embassy if you have questions about your country’s production of a qualifying e-Passport.

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Visa Waiver Program Countries

There are currently 37 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program:

Note: Eligible Taiwan passport holders may begin traveling to the United States without visas under the Visa Waiver Program beginning on November 1, 2012.

For more information on the Visa Waiver Program please visit the State Department's Travel Web site.

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