Travelers entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) face
some new requirements starting October 26, 2005. Passports issued on or after
that date must bear a digital photo of the holder. VWP travelers with valid machine-readable
passports issued prior to October 26 may continue to travel without a visa under
the program, provided they are otherwise qualified. This new requirement applies
only to passports issued on or after October 26, 2005 and only to travelers under
the Visa Waiver Program.
Why digital photographs?
This prerequisite is mandated by the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform
Act of 2002 which calls for any passport issued after October 26, 2005, and used
for VWP travel, to include a biometric identifier, such as a digital photo.
Which countries are covered under VWP?
The countries covered under the Visa Waiver Program include Andorra, Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
and the United Kingdom.
How can I check whether my passport carries digital photo?
The majority of VWP countries already issue passports with a digital photo integrated
into the data page. Visitors can tell whether their passport meets these requirements
if it contains a digital photograph that is printed on the page, not glued or
laminated into the document. Click
here for further information, including examples of passports with digital photographs.
What happens if my passport does not carry digital photo?
Travelers with passports issued on or after October 26, 2005 which do not contain
a digital photograph will be required to apply for a business (B-1) or tourist
(B-2) visa before traveling.
The majority of VWP countries already issue passports with a digital photo integrated
into the data page. However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security anticipates
that three countries-Italy, Austria and France- will not have enough digital photo
production capabilities in operation by October 26, 2005 to replace all passports
that will expire with digital photos.
In the case of Austria, DHS expects compliance with the digital photo requirement
in summer 2006. Until that time, Austrians traveling to the U.S. with passports
expiring after October 26, 2005 should plan to obtain a visa.
In the case of France and Italy, DHS recognizes that certain municipalities will
have digital photo capabilities to accommodate the new requirements as of October
26, 2005. However, neither country will have 100% coverage by the deadline. Therefore,
travelers from these countries are urged to contact their local passport issuance
offices to obtain information on whether a digital passport can be issued. If
not, the travelers from these countries will need to obtain a visa prior to travel
to the U.S.
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