US Immigration requirements and ESTA
Travelling to the US
US Citizens must have:
- a valid US passport
and
- supply us with Advance Passenger Information (API) at least 72 hours before travel.
Visitors travelling to the US must have:
- a valid passport
and
- have either a valid visa or an Electronic System Travel Authorisation (ESTA) to allow you to travel under the Visa Waiver Programme or a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
and
- supply us with Advance Passenger Information (API) at least 72 hours before travel.
Find out everything you need to know here. Please take some time to read through and understand what you need to do to ensure that you can travel.
1. All passengers must complete Advance Passenger Information
The US government requires British Airways to collect Advance Passenger Information from all passengers before travel.
You must supply the following minimum information at least 72 hours before your flight's scheduled departure, or you can do it at the time of booking:
Minimum information
- given names (as they appear on the passport)
- last name (as it appears on the passport)
- gender
- date of birth
- redress number*
*What is a redress number?
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) runs a programme for travellers who have been repeatedly identified for additional screening and who would like to clarify the information held about them in the US DHS systems.
The redress number is the reference number given to people who have applied to clarify their information through this programme, which is called DHS Travel Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP).
Additional information required before you check in
- passport number
- country which issued your passport
- passport expiry date
- nationality
- the Alien Registration Number (Green Card) for those who have US residency
If you are travelling from the UK to the USA, you are also required to provide your:
- country of residence
- destination address in the US for the first night's stay, except for US Citizens or residents.
You can fill in this information on ba.com before you travel.
2. All travellers to the US must have the correct travel documents
US travel documentation
| Who | Travel documents |
|---|---|
| a) US Citizens | must have a valid US passport |
| b) Non-US Citizens who are lawful permanent residents in the US | must have a valid passport and permanent resident card (Green Card) |
| c) All visitors permitted to travel on the Visa Waiver Programme | must have a valid passport and an approved ESTA (Electronic System Travel Authorisation) |
| d) All visitors not travelling on the Visa Waiver Programme | must have a valid passport/travel documents and a US visa |
The Visa Waiver Programme and ESTA (Electronic System Travel Authorisation)
Visa Waiver Programme (VWP)
The Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) allows the citizens of certain countries to travel to the US without having to obtain a separate visa, although you must have a valid ESTA (Electronic System Travel Authorisation).
Nationalities entitled to use the Visa Waiver Programme
| Andorra | France | Liechtenstein | San Marino |
| Australia | Germany | Lithuania | Singapore |
| Austria | Greece | Luxembourg | Slovakia |
| Belgium | Hungary | Malta | Slovenia |
| Brunei | Iceland | Monaco | South Korea |
| Czech Republic | Ireland | Netherlands | Spain |
| Denmark | Italy | New Zealand | Sweden |
| Estonia | Japan | Norway | Switzerland |
| Finland | Latvia | Portugal | United Kingdom |
| |||
Requirements for travelling on the VWP
- You can travel for business, pleasure or transit only, and
- stay in the US for less than 90 days, and
- hold a confirmed return or onward ticket (or e-ticket receipt), and
- you must obtain travel authorisation by completing the online ESTA form. We suggest you apply at least 72 hours before travel.
What documents do I need to travel on the VWP?
Each person travelling, including children must:
i) have an e-passport OR a Machine Readable Passport
ii) AND have obtained an approved ESTA.
If not, you will have to obtain a US visa before you travel.
What is an e-passport?
e-passports are easily identified by a symbol on the front cover indicating that the document contains an integrated computer chip, for storing data.
If your passport was issued after 26 October 2006, you must have an e-passport to travel to the US on the VWP.
What is a Machine Readable Passport?
A Machine Readable Passport has the holder's personal details, eg. name, date of birth, nationality and their passport number contained in two lines of text at the bottom of the photo page. This text may be read by machine.
- Passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 26 October 2006 must contain a digitally printed photograph. A photograph which is glued or laminated will not be acceptable for travel on the VWP.
- Passports issued before the 26 October 2005 are exempt from this requirement.
These two lines of text indicate that the passport is machine readable.
Electronic System for Travel Authorisation -ESTA
What is an ESTA?
ESTA is the ‘Electronic System for Travel Authorisation’ issued by the US Department of Homeland Security, which allows citizens of certain countries to travel under the Visa Waiver Programme.
How long is an ESTA valid?
Once granted, your ESTA is valid for multiple entries to the US for two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner.
How to apply for an ESTA
- We recommend that you apply for authorisation at the time of booking or at least 72 hours before your flight, to ensure that you are able to travel.
- The application process may take up to 15-20 minutes and authorisation is normally granted immediately, but may take up to 72 hours.
- If you make a late booking you can still apply, but there is a risk that you may not receive immediate confirmation.
Tips for completing ESTA successfully
We have found that there are some common errors that occur when completing the online ESTA application, so here are some tips to help you through.
- Your passport citizenship and country of issue must be the same as each other. Generally, passports issued overseas are considered to be issued by your country of citizenship.
- You must enter zeros and the letter ‘O’ correctly as all numbers and letters must match 100%.
- If you originally applied for an ESTA some time ago, and have since changed your passport, you will need to apply for a new ESTA.
- If you have more than one passport, you need an ESTA for the passport used to travel to the US.
What do I do once I’ve applied for an ESTA?
- You will be given a reference number confirming your application, which you should keep for your own reference.
- You will not be asked to provide this to us, it is automatically verified when you check in.
US visas
- A visa entitles the holder to travel to the US and apply for admission and is issued by a US Embassy or Consulate.
- A visa is required for anyone who is not eligible to enter the US visa-free under the Visa Waiver Programme, or anyone who wishes to enter the US to reside there permanently, whether or not that person plans to seek employment in the US.
How to apply for a US visa
- If you are intending to travel to the US and require a visa, you are advised to contact the US Embassy in your home country.
- You must make an interview appointment directly with the US Embassy.
- Applying for a US visa can be a lengthy process, which can take several weeks.
- You cannot obtain a visa on the same day that you apply for it.
Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
- This is an identification card, also known as a Green Card, confirming that the holder has a permanent resident status of an alien.
- The Green Card serves as proof that the holder is a Lawful Permanent Resident and has been officially granted immigration benefits, which include permission to reside and take employment in the US.
Legal statement
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires you to provide your full name, date of birth, and gender for the purpose of watch list screening, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. section 114, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and 49 C.F.R parts 1540 and 1560. You may also provide your Redress Number, if available. Failure to provide your full name, date of birth, and gender may result in denial of transport or denial of authority to enter the boarding area.
TSA may share information you provide with law enforcement or intelligence agencies or others under its published system of records notice. For more on TSA privacy policies, or to review the system of records notice and the privacy impact assessment, please see the TSA website at www.tsa.gov.
