US entry requirements: Mandatory documents for traveling

The United States is one of the best holiday destinations in the world, and it’s easy to see why. You could enjoy amazing beaches, explore the best wine destinations USA, or just let loose at possibly the best amusement park ever: Disney World. 

However, it is known that the US is pretty strict when it comes to letting people in the country. Here you will learn about the US travel that all tourists need to follow.

US entry requirements

Passport

Having a valid US passport is, asides from the visa, the main aspect of the US entry requirements. You must have a US passport validity of at least 6 months from the start of your trip. Your visa will be linked to your passport so if your passport expires, you will lose your visa as well.

Visa

You will need to acquire one of these types of visas to follow the entry requirements for USA.

• The immigrant visa: for people who want to reside permanently in the country. They must apply for the Green Card or permanent residence permit. To learn about the difference between a visa and a Green Card, read our guide.
• The non-immigrant visa: it’s for people who are going to stay a short time in the country but are not eligible for the ESTA.
• ESTA USA or online travel authorisation: for members of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that wish to go to the United States for pleasure for 90 days or less. Check if your nationality is part of the VWP here.

Almost every foreigner is going to need a visa or ESTA to comply wit the US entry requirements. However, people from Canada or Bermuda can visit the country with only their passport.

To learn more about every type of visa to the US, you can visit this article: How to apply for tourist visa to USA. Additionally, if you want to travel to the US and you have been to Cuba, you won’t be allowed to get an ESTA document. You can learn more about what happens after traveling to Cuba and wanting to travel to the US.

Vaccines

There is no mandatory vaccine entry requirements to USA. You could get the Hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccines just to be safe, but you are not obligated to. 

In addition, people flying to the United States are going to need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The CDC explains what a full treatment looks like so visit their website before your trip. 

Travel insurance

Even though the US has access to a good healthcare system, it is private and extremely expensive. Getting travel insurance would keep you and your wallet safe in case of an emergency. However, it's worth noting that it's not one of the mandatory US entry requirements.

Currency

The American currency is the US dollar. One dollar equals 0,92 euros. 

No matter where you’re going, you should always try to get some of the local currency for small expenditures like taxis or street vendors, and this applies to the US as well. However, rest assured: payment by credit card is available pretty much everywhere, and it will be easy to get cash as well, whether it’s when you arrive or in your home country.