ESTA For Polish Passport Holders Visiting The U.S.
- Polish? Learn how to apply for ESTA.
On November 11, 2019, Poland officially joined the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Polish passport holders can now apply for ESTA and visit the United States for up to 90 days for tourism, business, medical purposes, or short-term study programs (non-credit).
By adding Poland to the list of countries, the VWP country list now consists of 39 countries. The last addition to the program was Chile back in 2014. Overall, adding Poland to the VWP is beneficial for both Poland and the United States. It makes it easier for Polish citizens to visit the United States, and it gives a boost to the tourism industry in the U.S.
The Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan said in a statement that “The inclusion of Poland into the Visa Waiver Program is a testament to the special relationship that exists between our two countries, and the ongoing friendship and close cooperation on our joint security priorities.”
Since 1996, the number of visitors to the United States arriving through the VWP has grown tremendously. In two decades the visitor number has increased from 12.4 million in Fiscal Year 1996 to 21.2 million in Fiscal Year 2015. Adding Poland to the program will only further the increase of visitors over the next few years and decades.
Poland’s addition to the program could generate an estimated $702 million in travel spending and over 4,000 American jobs within the first three years, estimated by the U.S. Travel Association.
Benefits of ESTA:
- Can be used for multiple entries.
- Can be obtained online in less than 20 minutes.
- Has two years’ validity or date of passport expiry (whichever comes first).
