The United States on Tuesday revealed its updated list for the 2025 Visa Waiver Programme (VWP).
This programme allows citizens from participating nations to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without needing a visa for tourism or business purposes.
The United Kingdom, along with several other nations, was not included in the list this year, though it can still qualify under certain conditions.
Notably, no African country, including Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, made the cut.
The list saw some changes, with Romania being added to the program this year.
In total, 40 countries are now part of the Visa Waiver Programme, allowing their citizens to travel to the U.S. without a visa.
To travel without a visa, citizens of these countries must get approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before their trip. This step is mandatory even though the VWP offers visa-free travel.
The U.S. government has also strengthened security measures, giving priority to countries with solid diplomatic relationships and strong border control standards.
The full list of 2025 VWP participants includes:
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
Following recent acts of tit-for-tat diplomacy by countries targeted by the United States, it is expected that some of the excluded countries may announce their counter measures in due course.
