A visa waiver is a type of permit for travellers that do not need an entry visa. Visa waiver programmes allow security checks to be carried out on visa-free travellers.
Visa waivers are not the same as visas. Visa waivers are for travellers permitted visa-free entry to a foreign country. Visitors who are not visa-exempt cannot travel with a visa waiver, they must instead hold a valid visa.
Several countries across the world have visa waiver programmes to facilitate safe visa-free travel. Although every visa waiver programme is different, the aim is to improve border management and increase security.
Another name for a visa waiver is an electronic travel authorisation. Both names refer to this special entry permit for visa-free visitors.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A VISA WAIVER OR TRAVEL AUTHORISATION
Visa waivers differ from country to country. However, there are some common characteristics that many share. Visa waivers are generally:
- Valid for multiple entries
- Valid for 2 or 3 years
- Issued electronically
- For short stays
- For purposes like tourism and business
To apply for a visa waiver, travellers are generally required to register online, providing basic personal details and passport information. The process is simpler than applying for a visa.
BENEFITS OF VISA WAIVER PROGRAMMES
Visa waiver programmes are becoming increasingly common across the world.
Benefits of visa waivers include:
- Better safety and security - travellers are screened even if they do not need a visa
- Improved border management - authorities have more information about who is entering and exiting the country
- Increased tourism - it’s easier to apply for a travel authorisation than a visa, encouraging international travel
- Faster application and less paperwork - applicants can get travel authorisation quickly online without trips to an embassy
EXAMPLES OF VISA WAIVER PROGRAMMES ACROSS THE WORLD
ESTA AND THE UNITED STATES VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
The United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is one of the best-known programmes. Visa-exempt visitors can apply for ESTA to visit the US for up to 90 days. The US Visa Waiver Program was launched in the late 1980s.
CANADA’S ETA FOR VISA-EXEMPT FOREIGN VISITORS
The Canadian government introduced its visa waiver scheme in 2016. Visitors need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to visit Canada without applying for a visa.
With an eTA, foreigners can stay in Canada visa-free for up to 6 months.
EVW AND ETA TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED KINGDOM VISA-FREE
Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries can currently apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) instead of a visa for the UK. The United Kingdom is also planning a new ETA for other visa-exempt foreign visitors.
ETIAS IS THE NEW VISA WAIVER FOR EUROPE
ETIAS, the new EU visa waiver, will be operational from 2026 .
Passport holders from countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States need to apply for ETIAS under the EU’s visa waiver scheme.
The ETIAS visa waiver is linked to the passport. It’s valid for 3 years, or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner. With the approved ETIAS, non-EU nationals can visit the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days per 180-day period.
EU-THIRD COUNTRY BILATERAL VISA WAIVER AGREEMENTS
Bilateral visa waiver agreements allow some non-EU passport holders to stay in certain Schengen countries without a visa beyond the 90-day limit.
Whilst the Schengen Area visa waiver programme applies to the entire region, bilateral visa exemption agreements are made between some third countries and individual EU Member States.
Most bilateral agreements allow travellers to spend an additional 3 months in Europe without a visa. However, the duration of stay and other conditions vary depending on the nationality of the visitor, their destination, and the type of passport.
The non-EU citizen should ask for permission to stay in the country longer. It is up to the authorities of that Member State to accept or deny the request.
CAN I VISIT DIFFERENT COUNTRIES UNDER AN EU BILATERAL AGREEMENT?
The applicant must remain in the specific EU territory for the entire extension period.
As the arrangement is made with an individual European nation and not the entire Schengen Area, it is not possible to travel from country to country after the initial 90-day period.
This condition also means that visitors must leave the Schengen Area through that specific country where the extension was applied.
EXAMPLE OF HOW AN EU BILATERAL VISA WAIVER AGREEMENT WORKS
The following example of an ordinary US passport holder who has been granted permission to stay in Spain under a bilateral agreement shows how it works:
- Step 1: spend 90 days anywhere in Schengen Area without a visa (by applying for ETIAS from 2026 )
- Step 2: request permission from Spanish authorities to extend the stay
- Step 3: remain in Spain for an additional 90 days without a visa
In this case, the US citizen must not go to any other EU Member State during the additional period. On departure, they must fly directly to a third country, without transiting anywhere in the Schengen Area.
EU COUNTRIES WITH BILATERAL VISA WAIVER AGREEMENTS
In total, 23 Schengen countries have entered into bilateral visa exemption agreements with third countries:
Travellers who would like to stay in one of the listed countries without a visa for more than 90 days should check whether their country of nationality has a bilateral visa waiver agreement with the intended destination.