Entry Procedures
Visa and entry requirements depend on the country that issued your passport. The information here is general guidance. Always confirm the requirements for your own nationality with the official source.
This information is for general guidance only. Please verify with the embassy or official government sources before traveling.
Visa Requirements
Types of visas required and their conditions
Requirements depend on your nationality. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries can visit for up to 90 days with an approved ESTA; others need a visa (e.g. B-2 tourist). Rules change, so check the official ESTA and visa sites for your nationality before you travel.
- VWP + ESTA
- Up to 90 days
- Otherwise
- Apply for a visa
- Check
- Official site before travel
- Apply for ESTA well before departure, not at the airport
Passport Conditions
Required validity period and blank pages
Most visitors need a passport valid for the duration of their stay (some countries have a "six-month club" waiver). VWP travellers need an e-passport with a digital chip. Confirm your passport type and validity meet the current rules before you fly.
- Validity
- Cover your whole stay
- VWP
- E-passport with chip required
- Check
- Rules by nationality
- Some nationalities must have validity beyond departure — verify
Required Documents & Pre-registration
Arrival cards, health declarations, and other preparations
Carry your passport, approved ESTA or visa, return/onward ticket, and proof of accommodation and funds. CBP officers may ask about your trip. Fill in the customs declaration honestly. Having your booking confirmations and an address for your stay speeds things up.
- Core
- Passport + ESTA/visa
- Proof
- Onward ticket, hotel, funds
- Customs
- Declare honestly
- Know your first-night address for the entry questions
Pre-arrival procedure — ESTA (Visa Waiver Program): for eligible VWP nationalities travelling by air/sea for up to 90 days; others need a visa. Fee US$21. Apply early as approval can take up to 72 hours. Use the only official site; beware paid look-alike sites.
Official ESTA site (esta.cbp.dhs.gov)- Family name
- SMITH
- First / given name
- MICHAEL
- Nationality / citizenship
- Your nationality (e.g. UNITED STATES)
- Passport No.
- A1234567
- Date of birth
- 1990-05-20
- US contact / first-night address
- Hotel name & address in your arrival city
- Purpose of travel
- Tourism
How to apply
- 1 Open the official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov and start a new individual application.
- 2 Enter passport and personal information.
- 3 Answer the eligibility questions and enter your US contact / first-night address.
- 4 Review all answers and correct any errors.
- 5 Pay the US$21 fee by card and submit; note the application number.
- 6 Check status (usually within 72h); once "Authorization Approved" it is linked to your passport (save/screenshot).
ESTA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry. Eligibility, fees and conditions can change; confirm the current rules on the official site before you travel.
Last updated: 2026-08-30
Cash Import Limits
Declaration-free limits and procedures for excess amounts
You can bring any amount of money, but you must declare it to CBP if you carry more than US$10,000 in cash or monetary instruments (per family group on a joint declaration). Failing to declare can lead to seizure and penalties. There is no limit — just the declaration.
- Threshold
- Over US$10,000
- Declare
- CBP form on entry/exit
- No limit
- Just declare over the amount
- Includes cash, cheques and other monetary instruments
Duty-Free Allowances & Restricted Items
Limits on tobacco, alcohol, food, and other goods
Visitors generally get a duty-free gift/personal allowance (around US$100), plus limited alcohol (usually 1 litre if 21+) and tobacco. Crucially, you must declare all food, plants and animal products — the USDA is strict, and undeclared items bring fines even if ultimately allowed.
- Allowance
- Around US$100 gifts
- Alcohol
- ~1 litre if 21+
- Declare
- All food/plants/animal products
- When unsure, declare it — fines apply for undeclared food
Prohibited Items
Items that are strictly forbidden from import
Prohibited or restricted: illegal drugs (including cannabis, which is federally illegal even from legal states), most fresh fruit, meat and many plant/animal products, counterfeit goods, and Cuban products in some cases. Absinthe and certain items are restricted. Declare anything you are unsure about.
- Banned
- Drugs incl. cannabis
- Restricted
- Fresh food, meat, plants
- Also
- Counterfeits, some Cuban goods
- Cannabis is illegal at federal borders even for medical use
Medication Import Rules
Rules for bringing prescription and over-the-counter drugs
Bring prescription medicines in their original labelled containers with a copy of the prescription or a doctor's letter. Carry only a reasonable personal supply. Some drugs common elsewhere are controlled or banned in the US (and CBD/cannabis products are risky), so check before travel.
- Containers
- Original, labelled
- Letter
- Prescription/doctor's note
- Check
- Some meds restricted in US
- Avoid CBD/cannabis products at the border entirely
Vaccinations & Health Requirements
Required and recommended vaccines for entry
No special vaccinations are required to enter the USA for most travellers. Make sure your routine vaccines (such as MMR) are up to date. Check current CDC guidance for any entry health requirements, which can change, before you fly.
- Required
- None for most travellers
- Routine
- Keep standard vaccines current
- Check
- CDC before travel
- Requirements can change; verify close to your departure
Immigration Process
Step-by-step guide from arrival to clearing immigration
At the airport, follow signs to CBP and the "Visitors" lane. Officers take your fingerprints and photo and ask about your trip; answer briefly and honestly. Many airports have kiosks (APC) or the Mobile Passport Control app to speed things up. Allow extra time, especially at busy hubs.
- Process
- Fingerprints + photo
- Speed up
- APC kiosks / MPC app
- Time
- Allow extra at busy hubs
- Have your accommodation address and return ticket ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Practical advice for a hassle-free arrival
Sales tax is added at the register, not shown on price tags, and tipping (15–20%) is expected for many services — budget for both. The emergency number is 911. Distances are huge, so plan domestic flights or long drives between regions, and always carry photo ID.
- Prices
- Tax added at checkout
- Tipping
- Expected (15–20%)
- Emergency
- 911
- Domestic distances are large — plan flights between regions