The U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is in the process of significant transformation as we move into 2026 and that change is expected to streamline the entry process but increase the levels of security. Most importantly, the One Big Beautiful Bill and the recent executive actions have extended the program to encompass some of the major allies within the Middle East and at the same time, stricter vetting of all travelers. To foreigners, updates of this kind imply that although traveling is becoming more affordable to some nationalities, the digital application process is currently demanding a much higher degree of personal disclosure.
New Eligible Countries: Israel and Qatar
The most notable growth of the VWP during this recent years is the inclusion of the official Qatar and Israel in the list of eligible countries. Qatar was the first Gulf country to enroll into the program in late 2024 and would be fully integrated up to 2025 and 2026. People of the two nations can now travel to the United States with up to 90 days of business or touring without having the conventional visa as long as they possess a valid biometric passport. It increases the VWP-participating countries to 42, which is a strategic move to strengthen the relationships with the dominant partners in the Middle East and Europe.
The Shift to “ESTA Mobile Only”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has started to decommission the old ESTA site to the ESTA Mobile App in a massive technical redesign. All new applicants will be expected to make the mobile application a primary portal of authorization by January 2026. The application applies high-tech liveness detection and NFC technology functions to scan the electronic chips on passports, which the government asserts is essential in fighting the emergence of a high-quality counterfeit documents. The CBP ESTA official app is recommended to be downloaded by the traveler long before the trip to prevent technical delays.
Improved Vetting: Biometrics and Social Media
The 2026 digital application has never been as extensive as it is at present. Based on the new security policies, social media identifiers (handles) within the past five years have become a compulsory field. Moreover, the new “ESTA Selfie” means that applicants will have to attach a live photo in the mobile application, which will be compared with the biometric data in the applicant passport through facial recognition program. They are aimed at detecting the possible security threats or the issues of the dual citizenship, which were formerly hard to trace by means of the regular text-based forms.
The High-Risk Travel Ban
Even when you are a citizen of the Visa Waiver countries, your eligibility could be revoked on the basis of your travelling history. By 2026, the list of countries being classified as high-risk countries has been extended. In case you have visited Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Cuba at any time since March 2011 (or 2021 in the case of Cuba), you are usually not eligible to have an ESTA. The latter you have to seek a regular B-1/B-2 visa at an American embassy. Also, new conditions have been introduced at the end of 2025, where the new, stronger holds on travelers that have been in specific restricted areas are introduced to the 39 countries with the partial entry bans that are already in place.
Essential Health Insurance and Prems
Although ESTA fee has not been raised yet (21), most travelers in 2026 are discovering that reciprocity fees are becoming more prevalent as well as mandatory insurance requirements. The U.S. is increasingly implementing evidence of travel health insurance among visitors to meet the policies of most of its VWP partners (like the new ETA-IL system of Israel). Although it is not a universal difference necessary to all 42 countries, the evidence of the coverage is strongly advised. And keep in mind that an ESTA lasts two years (or until your passport expires), although you should use each visit up to 90 days, and you can never get over with this time by making a brief visit to Canada or Mexico.
2026 VWP Quick Reference
| Key Update | Status/Requirement | Target Group |
| New Countries | Qatar & Israel | Citizens of these nations |
| Application Fee | $21 USD | All ESTA Applicants |
| Vetting | Social Media & Selfie | All Mobile App Users |
FAQs
1. Is it still possible to use the ESTA on a laptop?
In spite of the presence of informational site, the IRS and CBP are shifting over to the use of the ESTA Mobile App as the sole means of filing a new application to secure biometric and chip confirmation.
2. Is there the 90-day rule that covers trips to Canada?
Yes. Canadian, Mexican or neighbouring Island stays generally count in your 90-day limit in case you began your trip in the U.S. on a Visa Waiver.
3. What if my ESTA is denied?
Denial does not imply that you cannot come to U.S. but it only implies that you do not qualify to have the waiver. Instead, you have to request a regular visitor visa (B-1/B-2) in one of the U.S. Consulates.
Disclaimer
The material is information based. The official sources (esta.cbp.dhs.gov) will be checked because our goal is to deliver the correct information to all users according to the 2025/2026 policy changes.
