Are there any circumstances in which holidaymakers can use the VISA waiver program?
Yes there are. From October 26 2004 you need a machine readable passport. Most UK passports are now machine readable. From this date children need to have their own machine readable passports to use the VISA waiver program. If your child is on your passport it will be far easier to get them their own passport than apply for a VISA. If your passport was issued between 26th October 2005 and 25th October 2006 your passport must be machine readable, and contain either a digital photograph or an integrated computer chip. If your passport was issued after 26th October 2006 it must be an “e-passport” which contains an integrated computer chip that holds the same information printed on the passport’s data page.
