USA entry requirements for British passport holders (2026): visa and passport validity
Passport validity (FCDO rule): Valid for the whole stay (until the day you leave)
Visa (FCDO): Read the official visa text below
Official source: GOV.UK – USA travel advice, Entry requirements (FCDO) · page last updated 18 August 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026
Whether you need a visa and how long your British passport must be valid to enter USA, as published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), quoted word for word, with a checker for your dates.
Other passports: Canadian passport · Australian passport · Italian citizens: documenti per italiani
Driving in the United States, do you need an international driving permit? UK licence · Canadian licence · Australian licence
Do I need a visa for USA with a British passport?
We quote the FCDO text word for word and do not summarise it: its first sentence has conditions or a wording we do not turn into a one-line answer.
To enter or transit through the US, you must have either an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) or a visa.
The US State Department has more information on visas.
Travellers whose sex on their passport differs from their sex recorded at birth should contact the US Embassy or a consulate in the UK for further advice.
Applying for an ESTA
ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). You can apply for an ESTA via the Official ESTA Application Website or using the ESTA Mobile app on android or on iOS.
All Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travellers intending to enter the US by land, sea and air will be required to obtain an approved ESTA prior to application for admission at land border ports of entry. Individuals who are not eligible to travel under the VWP may apply for a visa at any U.S. Embassy & Consulates.
You may not be able to apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you have:
- been arrested (even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction)
- a criminal record
- been refused admission into, or have been deported from, the US
- previously overstayed under an ESTA visa waiver
Information on whether you are eligible for an ESTA visa waiver can be found in the help section of the official ESTA Application Website.
You cannot normally apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you were in the following countries on or after March 2011:
- Iran
- Iraq
- Libya
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen
You cannot apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you travelled to or were in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021.
If your ESTA does not contain the required selfie photograph now required by US Customs and Border Protection, you may need to apply for a new ESTA. You should check your ESTA account before travelling to ensure your authorisation remains valid.
An ESTA may not be sufficient for all types of business travel – particularly if you are travelling on behalf of a US company. Please check the rules on the ESTA website carefully.
If you are not eligible for an ESTA, you must instead apply for a US visa. Travelling on an ESTA when ineligible can lead to detention and deportation by the US authorities.
Applying for a visa
The US Embassy in London has information on how to apply for a visa. Please check the guidance carefully.
More from the FCDO visa section (extensions, border checks and other cases)
US visa appointments
Visa appointments at the US Embassy in London are limited. Plan your application as far ahead as possible before travel. If you need to travel urgently, you can request an expedited interview through the US Embassy’s appointment service provider.
The US Embassy has more information on visa appointments.
Children and young people
Anyone aged 17 and under must:
- have a valid visa or ESTA on arrival
- be able to provide evidence about the purpose, location and length of their visit if asked by immigration officials
- have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarised from one or both parents if travelling alone, with only one parent, or with someone who is not a parent or legal guardian
The US authorities can stop you entering the country if they have safeguarding concerns about a child. If this happens, the US authorities will take the child into their care, and their return from the US could take months. The FCDO cannot speed up the return of British nationals aged 17 and under from the US.
The US government has information about children travelling to the US. If you have questions, contact the US Embassy in the UK.
Official source: GOV.UK – USA travel advice, Entry requirements (FCDO), section “Visa requirements” · page last updated 18 August 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026
Passport validity: official text “Passport validity requirements”
To enter the US, your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay.
If you’re travelling through another country on your way to or from the US, check the entry requirements for that country. Many countries will only allow entry if you have at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport.
Official source: GOV.UK – USA travel advice, Entry requirements (FCDO) · page last updated 18 August 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026
Check your passport for USA
Schengen rules count your whole trip in the Schengen area: if you visit several Schengen countries, enter the day you first enter the area and the day you leave the last Schengen country.
The check runs in your browser: your dates are not sent anywhere. It applies the FCDO sentence literally (for example “6 months” is counted as the same day of the month 6 months later).
For British passport holders only. These are the rules published by the UK government (FCDO) for British citizens. If you hold another passport, check your own government's advice. The airline and the border officials of the destination decide whether you can travel or enter: this site is information, not legal advice.
Also in the official text
Many countries will only allow entry if you have at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport.
Recent FCDO updates to the entry requirements
- 2 June 2026: “Addition of information about entry requirements for those entering from Ebola-affected regions ('Entry requirements' page).”
- 13 March 2026: “Additional information about existing entry requirements and new information on possible travel disruption ('Warnings and insurance' and 'Entry requirements' pages).”
- 10 December 2025: “New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).”
- 25 July 2025: “This travel advice has been reviewed for accuracy, with edits throughout including on entry requirements and the risks associated with outdoor activities, terrorism and extreme weather (See 'Warnings and insurance', 'Entry requirements' and 'Safety and security' pages).”
- 4 June 2025: “Updated information on the risks of being involved with illegal drugs, including cannabis. This includes risk of arrest if you are found carrying drugs when transiting through airports. Addition of information about entering the US, including inspections of electronic devices ('Safety and security' and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).”
Read the full FCDO travel advice for USA (safety, visas, health) before you travel.
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Same FCDO rule (Valid for the whole stay)
and 19 more destinations with the same rule: see all
Passport validity rules for all destinations · Liquids rules by airport · EES and ETIAS status