U.S. – Australia Relations

Majority of Visa Waiver Program Countries Meet Electronic Passport Deadline

Washington, D.C. — 26 October 2006

Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
October 26, 2006

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that 24 of the 27 countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) met the October 26 deadline to begin issuing electronic passports (e-Passports) to their citizens.

VWP travelers who have valid machine-readable passports with a digital photograph issued before October 26, 2006 do not need an e-Passport until their current passport expires. Travelers can determine whether their passports meet the requirements for VWP travel by checking the Department of State’s VWP information page on the consular website, http://travel.state.gov, or by contacting their respective government.

Equipped with a contactless chip that stores the passport holder’s biographic information and digital photograph, an e-Passport securely identifies the bearer, defends against identity theft, protects privacy, and impedes individuals attempting to travel using fraudulent documents. These passports can be identified by the international e-Passport symbol on their cover. The United States began issuing e-Passports to American citizens in August 2006.

The United States continues to work with the three countries not yet issuing e-Passports – Andorra, Brunei, and Liechtenstein – to ensure that they meet the requirement as soon as possible. Travelers from these countries will need to obtain a visa to enter the United States if they hold a passport issued on or after October 26, 2006, until e-Passports are available.

The 27 VWP countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Approximately 15 million people each year travel to the United States under the VWP to conduct business, visit family, or tour the country.

2006/966

Released on October 26, 2006

Original document from www.state.gov.

Last update Wednesday, 6 February 2008