By Anas Abbas
The United States has unveiled its list of countries eligible for the 2025 Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), notably excluding all African nations except the United Kingdom.
While the UK retains eligibility under certain conditions, countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa are excluded from this visa-free travel initiative.
Among the updates, Romania has been welcomed as a new participant in the 2025 VWP, which largely maintains the existing roster of eligible nations. The US government has focused on enhanced security measures and prioritized countries that demonstrate strong diplomatic relationships and robust border security practices in its selection criteria.
The Visa Waiver Programme, as outlined by the US Bureau of Consular Affairs, allows citizens from participating countries to visit the United States for tourism or business purposes for stays of up to 90 days without needing a visa.
However, travellers must first secure a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to their journey and meet all other stipulated requirements. Those who prefer to have a visitor visa can still apply for one.
The 2025 programme introduces several policy updates regarding eligibility, adjustments to the list of participating countries, and new travel regulations to streamline visa-free entry for millions of travellers globally.
The list of 40 countries whose citizens can travel to the US without a visa under the 2025 VWP 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, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Romania.