Archive · 19 Aug 2025
US Visa Waiver Program: 2025 Updates and New Additions
The United States has a special program called the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that lets people from certain countries visit without a visa.
If you're from a VWP country, you can come to the US for up to 90 days for fun, work, or just passing through.
To do this, you need a special electronic passport and permission called ESTA.
The US checks which countries can use the program every year.
For 2025, Qatar was added, meaning its citizens can now visit without a visa, but Romania and Bulgaria were taken off the list.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens from specific countries to visit the US without a visa.
Travelers can stay up to 90 days for tourism, business, or transit under the VWP.
Eligible travelers must have an electronic passport and ESTA approval.
Qatar was added to the VWP in 2025, allowing visa-free travel for its citizens.
Romania and Bulgaria were removed from the VWP in the 2025 review.
- Who
- Citizens of 43 countries, including the UK, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Australia, Chile, and Qatar (new in 2025).
- What
- The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens from approved countries to visit the U.S. visa-free.
- When
- Changes to the program were announced for 2025.
- Where
- The program facilitates travel to the United States.
- Why
- The VWP streamlines access for millions of international visitors while maintaining security standards.
- Program Name
- Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
- Purpose of Visit
- Tourism, Business, or Transit
- Maximum Stay
- 90 days
- Required Documents
- Electronic Passport, ESTA approval
- New in 2025
- Qatar added to VWP
- Removed in 2025
- Romania and Bulgaria