Among other African countries, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana are not listed in the United States of America’s (USA) new visa waiver programme for 2025 as the country introduces policy updates on permit privilege eligibility and others.

The US Department of State recently announced the 2025 visa waiver programme (VWP) update, featuring a revised list of eligible countries and new travel policies.

This update simplifies visa-free entry into the United States for millions of people worldwide, making business, tourism, and transit travel more accessible.

However, as the new VWP brings exciting opportunities for international travellers from many countries, some others are regretting the new development.

The 2025 visa waiver programme includes 40 countries whose citizens can now travel to the United States without a visa.

This year, Romania has joined the list as a new entrant. However, Taiwan and the United Kingdom remain eligible under specific conditions.

The list has Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, and Israel.

Others include Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Japan, Slovenia, Latvia, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Spain, Lithuania, Sweden, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Qatar, others.

The visa waiver programme allows travellers from eligible countries to visit the United States without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

Instead of going through a lengthy visa process, eligible individuals can apply for an electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA) before departure.

While most of the VWP list remains unchanged, adding Romania marks a significant update. The U.S. has also focused on enhancing security checks and prioritising countries with strong diplomatic ties and border security standards.

Nevertheless, Romania, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom are excluded from the U.S. visa and interview waiver programme for 2025. (BusinessDay)