The United States has announced an updated list of eligible countries for the 2025 Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and one notable omission stands out—no African country was included.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a special initiative that allows citizens of select countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business without obtaining a visa.
Administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in coordination with the State Department, the program permits travelers to stay for up to 90 days, provided they secure prior approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and meet all necessary requirements. Those who prefer having a visa in their passport may still apply for a visitor (B) visa instead.
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In the recently released 2025 list, nations from Europe, Asia, and parts of the Middle East qualified for visa-free travel to the U.S. The most striking update this year is the removal of the United Kingdom from the general list of beneficiaries.
However, British citizens remain eligible under specific conditions. According to U.S. authorities, “To be eligible to travel under the VWP, British citizens must have the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.”
Another major development is the inclusion of Romania, which now joins the ranks of countries whose citizens can travel to the U.S. visa-free for up to 90 days.
Despite these changes, what has drawn significant attention is the continued exclusion of African countries. Nations like Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana remain ineligible for the program. This omission raises questions about the criteria used for selection and whether future expansions could include African countries.
The U.S. government has reiterated its focus on security and border control in selecting VWP participants. Countries must demonstrate strong commitments to international cooperation, law enforcement, and stringent security measures. The selection process also considers diplomatic relations, political stability, and efforts to combat terrorism, organized crime, and illegal immigration. As a result, only countries with a robust history of cooperation with the U.S. benefit from the program.
For a country to qualify for the Visa Waiver Program, it must meet several requirements, including:
- Enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the U.S.
- Issuance of e-passports
- A visitor (B) visa refusal rate of less than three percent (for initial designation)
- Timely reporting of lost and stolen passports
- High standards for counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security
- Final designation as a VWP country is at the discretion of the U.S. government, and meeting the baseline requirements does not guarantee approval.
Below is the full list of countries eligible for the 2025 U.S. Visa Waiver Program:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Chile
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan*
- United Kingdom**
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