The US has released its 2025 Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) showing which countries can enter the US without a visa. Romania joins the list for the first time, the UK is excluded except under specific circumstances. No African countries including Nigeria, Ghana or South Africa are on the list.
Romania’s addition comes after years of working on data-sharing agreements and border management reforms.
The US State Department said Romania’s “commitment to screening travellers” was a key factor.
This brings the total number of VWP countries to 40 making entry easier for millions.
The 2025 programme prioritises countries with robust border controls and aligned security protocols. Biometric screenings and real-time intelligence sharing are now central to the VWP.
According to the US Bureau of Consular Affairs these measures aim to “balance travel with threat prevention”.
Countries without advanced passenger data systems or stable diplomatic relations with the US are excluded.
The VWP allows for short-term visits (up to 90 days) for tourism, business or transit without a visa. Eligible travellers must get approved via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before departure.
As stated on the official ESTA website “Approval does not guarantee entry, as final decision is made by US Customs and Border Protection officers at ports of entry”.
BriefNaija learnt that individuals can still apply for a visa if you prefer.
The UK being absent from the main list has raised questions but British citizens can still participate if they meet “specific conditions”.
Analysts believe this is related to data privacy agreements or reciprocal travel agreements. Meanwhile the exclusion of African countries is due to irregular migration and document fraud as noted in a 2023 Homeland Security report (source).
The 40 eligible countries are from Europe, Asia and the Americas. European countries dominate the list with recent additions like Croatia and long-standing members like France and Germany.
Chile is the only South American country, Qatar and Singapore represent the Middle East and Asia. See full lost below.
1. Andorra,
2. Australia,
3. Austria,
4. Belgium,
5. Chile,
6. Czech Republic,
7. Croatia,
8. Denmark,
9. Estonia,
10. Finland,
11. France,
12. Germany,
13. Greece,
14. Hungary,
15. Iceland,
16. Ireland,
17. Italy,
18. Israel
19. Norway,
20. Poland,
21. Portugal,
22. San Marino,
23. Singapore,
24. Slovakia,
25. Japan,
26. Slovenia,
27. Latvia,
28. South Korea,
29. Liechtenstein,
30. Spain,
31. Lithuania,
32. Sweden,
33. Luxembourg,
34. Switzerland,
35. Malta,
36. Netherlands,
37. New Zealand,
38. Qatar,
39. Romania
40. Monaco
Changes to the 2025 programme include longer ESTA validity periods and tighter airline compliance. These follow 2023 reforms which cut processing times by 30% according to consular data.
The updates are to encourage tourism and business travel while maintaining security—a critical balance for the US economy which generated $230 billion from VWP travellers in 2022 (source).
The Visa Waiver Programme is evolving with the world and new technology.