The United States government has released a full list of 43 countries whose citizens can travel to America using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), bypassing the standard visa application process. The ESTA programme allows nationals from approved countries to seek authorisation to travel to the US for tourism, business, or transit purposes without going through a traditional visa application at an embassy or consulate.
Full List of ESTA-Eligible Countries
Below is the complete list of countries whose citizens qualify for ESTA travel to the United States: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
What the ESTA List Means for African Travellers
Notably absent from the list are any African nations, meaning citizens from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa must continue to apply for a traditional US visa through standard embassy channels. Most ESTA-eligible countries are in Europe, with several nations from Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific also making the cut. Qatar and Israel are the only Middle Eastern countries on the list, while Singapore and South Korea represent the broader Asian region alongside Japan, Taiwan, and Brunei.
Related Travel Updates: Sri Lanka's Free ETA
In a related development, Sri Lanka has announced that citizens of 40 countries can obtain a tourist Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) at no cost. The free ETA allows eligible travellers to stay in Sri Lanka for up to 30 days without paying visa fees, according to Legit.ng.
