Visa waiver agreements with the United States

Countries with visa waiver agreements with the United States have been granted a one-year reprieve to start issuing new biometric passports.

The 27 nations affected, which include a.o. The Netherlands and Singapore, now have until 26 October 2005 to introduce the new security requirements drafted after the September 11 attacks.

The current administration had pushed for a one-year extension when it became apparent that most of the visa waiver countries, whose citizens can visit America for up to 90 days, would not meet a 2004 deadline for the new passports, which contain fingerprint or facial data.

From Sept 30, US customs will begin fingerprinting and photographing visitors from visa waiver nations. This extends a program that already applies to most foreigners who enter the US.

For more information, please contact the US Embassy.

[information valid a time of publishing, september 2004]