As of December 1, 2024, Qatar will be the 42nd member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Citizens of member countries of the VWP may enter the United States for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa. In return, U.S. citizens may enter member countries under the same conditions.
Citizens of countries participating in the VWP may travel to the United States as visitors for business or pleasure without first obtaining a visitor (B-1 or B-2) visa from a U.S. Consulate. Instead, they apply online for authorization to travel to the United States through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). VWP travelers are not permitted to board a carrier to travel to the U.S. by air or sea unless they have ESTA clearance. VWP admittees may enter for periods of up to 90 days, provided that they are eligible for admission under applicable law.
There are now 42 VWP countries:
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.
The Secretary of Homeland Security announced the designation of Qatar in the VWP on September 24, 2024. Eligible Qatari passport holders with ESTA clearance will be able to visit the United States without visas only from December 1, 2024.
© Jewell Stewart Pratt Beckerson & Carr PC 2024