Which countries are in the US Visa Waiver Program in 2026?
TL;DR: As of 2026, 42 countries and territories participate in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), letting their citizens visit the US for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa, using an approved ESTA instead. Qatar is the most recent addition, joining November 21, 2024; Israel joined September 29, 2023.
The claim
Being from a VWP country does not mean visa-free travel — it means ESTA-instead-of-visa travel, and ESTA can still be denied.
The evidence
The US Department of Homeland Security's official VWP country list confirms 42 current program countries, including long-standing members like the UK (since July 1, 1988) and Japan (since December 15, 1988), plus recent additions Poland (November 11, 2019), Croatia (December 1, 2021), Israel (September 29, 2023), and Qatar (November 21, 2024) (dhs.gov/visa-waiver-program). The State Department confirms VWP travel is capped at 90 days for tourism or business purposes, and requires an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) instead of a visa (travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html).
VWP vs standard B1/B2 visa
| Feature | Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) | B1/B2 Visitor Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible nationalities | 42 designated countries | Any nationality |
| Application | Online ESTA, no interview | DS-160 + in-person interview |
| Typical approval time | Minutes to 72 hours | Weeks to months (interview wait times vary) |
| Maximum stay per trip | 90 days | Typically up to 6 months, officer's discretion |
| Extend or change status inside the US | No | Sometimes, depending on circumstances |
| Validity | ESTA valid 2 years or until passport expires | Visa often valid 10 years for many countries |
Step-by-step: traveling on the Visa Waiver Program
- Confirm your citizenship matches one of the 42 current VWP countries on the DHS or State Department list.
- Apply for ESTA online at least 72 hours before travel (though it is often approved within minutes).
- Pay the ESTA fee and wait for authorization status: "Approved," "Travel Not Authorized," or "Pending."
- Travel to the US on a valid e-passport from your VWP country, presenting your approved ESTA at check-in and entry.
- Stay for business or tourism purposes only, for up to 90 days, with no option to extend your stay or change to another visa status from inside the US.
FAQ
Is Qatar really in the Visa Waiver Program now? Yes. Qatar joined the VWP on November 21, 2024, becoming one of the newest member countries alongside Israel, which joined September 29, 2023.
Can I work in the US while on ESTA/VWP status? No. VWP entry only permits tourism or business activities like meetings and conferences — not employment for a US company.
What happens if my ESTA is denied? You cannot travel under the Visa Waiver Program and must instead apply for a full B1/B2 visitor visa through the standard DS-160 and interview process.
Can I extend my 90-day stay if I entered on VWP? No. Unlike some visa categories, VWP entrants generally cannot extend their stay or change their status while in the US — you must depart within the 90 days.
Does the UK still require its own entry system for US travelers, separate from VWP? The Visa Waiver Program only governs entry into the United States; separate systems like the UK's ETA or Europe's ETIAS govern US citizens' travel to those destinations and work independently of the US VWP list.
See also: /answers/esta-denied-what-next and /answers/us-visa-stamping-third-country-2026.
By Pinal Dave Last updated: 2026-07-30