US Excludes UK, Others from List of Eligible Countries for Its Visa-Free Entry in 2025
- The US released the list of eligible countries for its 2025 Visa Waiver Programme on February 25, excluding the UK and all African countries
- The addition of Romania marked a significant update, with the US prioritising countries with diplomatic ties and border security standards
- The programme allows citizens of 40 participating countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without requiring a visa
Washington, D.C. – The US released the list of eligible countries for its 2025 Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) on February 25.
The United Kingdom was excluded from the programme but remains eligible under specific conditions.
Additionally, the list does not include any African country such as Nigeria, Ghana, or South Africa.
Source: Getty Images
Changes and focus of US visa-free entry
While most of the VWP list remained unchanged, the addition of Romania marked a significant update.
The US has focused on enhancing security checks and prioritising countries with strong diplomatic ties and border security standards.
According to the US Bureau of Consular Affairs website, the Visa Waiver Programme allows most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.
The agency stated: “Travellers must have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travel and meet all requirements explained below. If you prefer to have a visa in your passport, you may still apply for a visitor visa.”
Source: Getty Images
US visa waiver: policy updates and simplified travel
The new Visa Waiver Programme for 2025 introduces policy updates on permit eligibility and revisions to the list of participating countries, as well as new travel policies.
This update simplifies visa-free entry into the United States for millions worldwide, making business, tourism, and transit travel more accessible.
The 2025 Visa Waiver Programme includes 40 countries whose citizens can now travel to the United States without a visa.
See the full list below:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Chile
- Czech Republic
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Israel
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Japan
- Slovenia
- Latvia
- South Korea
- Liechtenstein
- Spain
- Lithuania
- Sweden
- Luxembourg
- Switzerland
- Malta
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Qatar
- Romania
- Monaco
No direct impact on current visa processes – Lawyer
Immigration and Corporate Lawyer Rogers Acheru has stated that the decision of the United States to exclude Nigeria from its 2025 Visa Waiver Programme is not unexpected.
Acheru told Legit.ng:
"The decision by the United States to exclude Nigeria from its Visa Waiver Program (VWP) in 2025 is not entirely surprising, given the program’s strict eligibility criteria. The VWP is typically reserved for countries with strong diplomatic ties, low visa overstay rates, and robust security protocols."
He explained that the exclusion does not directly impact current visa application processes for Nigerians, as the country has never been part of the VWP.
"Nigeria has never been a part of the VWP, so this exclusion does not change existing visa application processes for Nigerians traveling to the US. However, it reinforces the continued need for Nigeria to apply for visas through the standard channels," Acheru said.
He further noted potential economic and diplomatic concerns arising from this exclusion.
"This decision signals that Nigeria has not met the U.S’s requirement for visa-free entry, which may reflect concerns about issues such as overstays, security, or governance. It could also impact Nigeria’s perception in global mobility rankings," he said.
According to him, Nigerian travelers will continue to face lengthy visa application processes, which could affect business engagements, tourism, and international collaborations.
Despite the exclusion, Nigerians, he said, still have several visa options for traveling to the US for business or tourism, including the B1 visa for business visitors, B2 visa for tourism, F1 student visa, H-1B work visa, and O visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities.
"While Nigeria’s exclusion from the VWP limits the ease of travel, Nigerian citizens can still explore these alternative visa options through proper documentation and adherence to US immigration regulations," he concluded.
Nigeria urged to engage US on visa waiver inclusion
Nigeria’s exclusion from the 2025 US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) has raised concerns about its impact on travel, business, and diplomacy.
Immigration lawyer Ayeni Omonike who spoke to Legit.ng, noted that while the decision may stem from past visa compliance issues, Nigeria has shown significant improvement in adherence to US immigration laws.
She explained that Nigerians must now navigate complex visa processes, which could delay business trips and discourage tourism. However, alternative options like the B-1 and B-2 visas remain available, despite the challenges of obtaining them.
Ayeni urged diplomatic efforts to address the exclusion, stating,
"I hope that the Nigerian government will engage in constructive dialogue with U.S. authorities to address any concerns underlying this exclusion and to advocate for Nigeria’s future inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program. In doing so, the government might consider pursuing bilateral agreements that leverage Nigeria’s abundant natural resources—particularly minerals that could be of strategic interest to the United States. By forging such partnerships, both nations stand to benefit from strengthened travel and economic ties, as well as deeper cultural and educational exchanges."
Kenya approves visa-free entry for Nigerians
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Kenyan government declared its intention to grant visa-free entry to visitors from countries on the continent.
BBC reported that a cabinet statement said the ETA would be dropped for all African countries except Somalia and Libya due to security concerns.
The country said the objective was encouraging visa openness among African countries and enabling more seamless cross-border activities.
The government also suggested that the visa-free program was intended to bolster transactions and business operations between Kenya and others.
The term 'visa-free access within Africa' refers to nationals of one nation visiting another without a visa or through streamlined visa applications.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from immigration lawyers for this report.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
