 |
Passport Information
Passports and other documentary requirements
It is the responsibility of the passenger to gather information about and obtain the required travel documents and visas that he/she needs for the destination country.
In general, all passengers, including U.S. citizens, must be in possession of a valid and unexpired passport to travel to the United States.
All passengers, except U.S. citizens, must also be in possession of a valid and unexpired visa, except:
- Lawful Permanent Residents of the U.S. who are in possession of a valid I-551 Permanent Resident Card (Green Card);
- Canadian citizens entering the U.S. for business/tourism; and
- Passengers who are eligible to enter the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - see information below.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Not all countries participate in the VWP. Some restrictions and conditions apply to this program as explained below.
Passengers travelling to the U.S. under the VWP must have a valid ticket for a confirmed return or onward flight from the U.S. within 90 days or arrival in the U.S. , prior to entering the U.S. An onward flights to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and/or the Caribbean is insufficient to satisfy this requirement, unless the passenger is a lawful resident of one of those countries.
ALL passengers travelling to the United Stated under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must carry with them an unexpired passport that is valid for at least six months beyond intended stay in the U.S. and is Machine Readable (MRP). If the passport was issued on or after October 26, 2005 , the passport must contain a digital photograph. A digital photo is one that is printed on the passport page, not a photograph that is glued or laminated into the passport.
If the passport was issued on or after October 26, 2006, the passport must contain an electronic chip (e-passport). Regardless of the date of issue, children MUST have their own passport that satisfy the above requirements in order to enter the U.S. on the VWP). An e-passport is identified by the following symbol on its cover:
As of January 20, 2010, citizens of the following countries are eligible to enter the U.S. on the VWP: Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom ( United Kingdom Passports: Only those British Passport holders who are "British Citizens" or "British Subjects - With Right of Abode" are eligible to travel on the VWP. Holders of all other British Passports are ineligible).
In addition to the 27 countries listed above, the following eight countries are now also eligible for the VWP: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Republic of Korea and the Slovak Republic. Citizens of these eight countries must carry passports with the integrated chip (e-Passports) in order to enter the U.S. under the VWP - regardless of the date the passport was issued. Lastly, as of 5th of April 2010, citizens of Greece are also eligible for the VWP, provided they carry an e-Passport issued on or after August 26 2006 by the AEA AA-NCP (Hellenic Police)
Passengers are directed to contact the authority responsible for issuing passports in the home country to obtain more information about their passports.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, your National Consulate or Embassy can answer any questions you may have concerning your individual requirements for travel documentation and will be happy to assist you in any way they can.
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (ESTA)
All passengers travelling to the U.S. under the VWP must obtain an Electronic System Travel Authorization (ESTA), in advance of departure. Applications for ESTA can be made at the following website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
PLEASE NOTE: Due to a directive from the U.S. authorities, passengers from VWP countries can expect to be denied passage if they have neither a valid ESTA nor a visa presented prior to departure. Violations are subject to penalties and other by-laws.
For more information about the Visa Waiver Program visit this website.
