United States visa requirements for Australian passport holders

Check your circumstances

Read these conditions alongside the entry rule. Where official guidance does not state a condition, that is not confirmation that no condition applies.

Passport type Conditions to check

You need an e-passport. An emergency passport, document of identity or provisional travel document cannot be used under the program.

Official sources: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Trip purpose Conditions to check

Tourism and business visits only. Paid or unpaid work is not allowed, including volunteering, house sitting and pet sitting.

Official sources: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Age Confirmed for this scope

Children of all ages need their own ESTA or visa. Under-18s traveling alone or with one parent should carry a consent letter.

Official sources: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Residence Conditions to check

There is no general requirement to live in your passport country. Residence in Canada, Mexico or nearby islands can affect onward-ticket requirements.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Other visas or residence permits Conditions to check

Dual nationals of Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan or Syria cannot use the VWP. A previous visa refusal may affect ESTA approval or admission.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Carrier and arrival route Conditions to check

Air or sea arrivals need a VWP-approved carrier. Private aircraft or non-approved carriers require a visa. Check return or onward-ticket requirements.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Stay and visa validity Confirmed for this scope

Up to 90 days per visit. VWP visitors generally cannot extend their stay or change status inside the US.

Official sources: US Department of State.

Apply for ESTA early

Apply as soon as you know you will travel; approval can take up to 72 hours. ESTA normally lasts 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Apply again if your passport or eligibility changes.

Make sure your ESTA, passport and ticket details match exactly. Differences can lead to secondary inspection or refusal of entry.

Official sources: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; US Customs and Border Protection.

When you need a visa instead

The VWP excludes travel to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011, or Cuba on or after January 12, 2021, with limited diplomatic or military exceptions.

A criminal record, an arrest without conviction, a previous refusal or an overstay can also affect eligibility. Check with a US embassy or consulate before travel. If ESTA is denied, apply for a visa.

Official sources: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; US Department of State.

Documents to carry

Your Australian passport must cover your intended US stay; transit countries may require longer validity. Carry evidence of your lawful admission, including your passport and I-94 record. ESTA does not guarantee admission.

US dual citizens must enter and leave on their US passport. Returning US permanent residents follow separate documentation rules; check those rules instead of applying this tourist guide.

Official sources: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; US Department of State; US Department of State.

Plan onward travel and nearby-country trips

For air or sea travel under the VWP, use an approved carrier and check the return or onward-ticket requirements. Residence in Canada, Mexico or a nearby island can affect those requirements. Land entry also needs ESTA.

A short visit to Canada, Mexico or a nearby island normally counts within your original 90-day allowance. Returning to the US does not normally start a new 90 days.

Official sources: US Department of State; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Check temporary health entry restrictions

After 11:59 PM EST on November 3, 2026, passengers on international flights to or connecting through the US must sign a DRC travel-history attestation.

Recent presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan can prevent boarding or entry. Check the CDC restrictions before booking, including connections through those countries. Completing the form does not remove a restriction.

Official sources: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.