VWP

Government & Politics abbreviation · Public Program

VWP
Stands forVisa Waiver Program
CategoriesGovernment & Politics

VWP stands for Visa Waiver Program, a public program abbreviation.

Program that lets citizens of about 40 participating countries, including most of Europe, Japan, South Korea and Australia, visit the United States for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa, after obtaining ESTA approval.

Example: Because Croatia joined the VWP, its citizens no longer need a visa for short trips.

Usage notes

It started as a pilot in 1986. Countries must meet requirements on visa refusal rates, security information sharing and passport standards; Croatia joined in 2021 and Israel in 2023. Travelers who have visited certain countries, including Iran and Cuba, since set dates must apply for a visa instead.

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