The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Qatar will be added to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) no later than December 1, 2024. Qatar becomes the 42nd country to be included in the VWP and the first Gulf country.

The Visa Waiver Program permits nationals from designated countries to travel to the U.S. for business visits or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa. Prior to traveling to the U.S., intending visitors must first obtain an electronic ESTA authorization. ESTA applications are available online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov or may be downloaded from the “ESTA Mobile” app. Once secured, ESTA authorization to travel to the U.S. is generally valid for up to 2 years. Note that securing an ESTA authorization does not guarantee admission to the U.S. All non-citizens entering the U.S. pursuant to the VWP are subject to inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to ensure that the individual is admissible to the U.S. and that the purpose of the visit is consistent with the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program.