What passport requirements must a visitor from a VWP-authorized country meet?
Individuals applying for admission as a visitor to the US under the VWP must carry passports which meet certain criteria. All passports must be machine-readable. Machine-readable passports contain two lines of text and characters at the bottom of the biographic details page. Further passport requirements apply depending on the date the passport was issued/renewed. Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 must contain a digital photograph. In addition, passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 must be e-Passports for the traveler to be eligible to enter the US under the VWP. What is ESTA, and how does it affect visitors from countries with Visa Waivers? The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the new online travel system for air and sea travelers on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This new system, called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), became accessible for voluntary completion on August 1, 2008. Under the new system, travelers for busines
