2005 press releases

Digital Photos Required in Passports for Visa Waiver Travelers to the United States

October 31, 2005

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminds travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to the United States that machine-readable passports are required for travel to the United States. Effective immediately, countries in the VWP must include a digital photographs in newly issued passports. Valid passports issued by VWP countries before October 26, 2005, that do not contain a digital photograph will still be accepted for travel under the auspices of the VWP, provided that the passports are machine-readable.

The 27 countries participating in the VWP include: 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.

Any passport issued after October 26, 2005, and used for Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travel to the United States must include a biometric identifier based on applicable standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and reflects the exercise of the authorities of the Secretary of Homeland Security to administer the VWP under Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.