How to travel to the USA and UK without a visa: Which countries have visa-free access

Visa-free entry to the USA is available to citizens of 41 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. It applies to all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

For citizens of the European Union, entry to the United States is permitted without a visa, with exceptions for citizens of Bulgaria and Cyprus.

Romania has been approved to join the Visa Waiver Program, but the official start date for visa-free travel to the USA has not yet been announced. As a result, Romanian citizens still need a visa to travel to the USA.

Citizenship by investment programs offer an alternative route for those seeking easier access to the USA. For instance, citizens of Caribbean countries are eligible for a B‑1/B‑2 visitor visa to the USA, valid for up to 10 years.

The purpose of travel to the USA must align with the B‑1/B‑2 visa requirements: tourism, business meetings, or treatment at local medical facilities. Travelers can explore the country, visit friends or relatives, and attend training and conferences.

Visa-free entry for study or work is prohibited.

Before travelling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, individuals must obtain entry permission through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

To obtain ESTA travel authorisation, travelers must register online through the official ESTA website, complete a form, and pay a $21 fee.

Requirements for citizens of a participating country:

1. No criminal record.

2. No previous refusals to enter the United States.

3. Biometric passport with an electronic chip.

4. No travel to Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen since March 1st, 2011.

5. The purpose of travel to the USA is tourism, business meetings, or transit.

6. Obtained electronic authorisation to enter the USA through the ESTA system.

7. Return ticket or other proof of leaving the USA on time.

Citizens of 87 countries can stay in the UK for up to six months without a visa.

Starting from April 2nd 2025, citizens of both EU and non-EU countries who are visa-exempt will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before visiting the UK. An ETA allows them to stay in the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business, or short-term study.

Before April 1st 2025, citizens of EU states and certain countries, such as Monaco, Norway, and Liechtenstein, did not require any special authorisation.

Non-EU citizens who are not visa-exempt can only enter the UK without a visa if they are in transit to Australia, Canada, the USA, or New Zealand and hold a valid visa for one of these countries.

If a passenger arrives in the UK on a cruise ship, they can stay in the country without a visa for 24 hours.

To visit the US and UK without a visa, you can get a second citizenship from a country with visa-free agreements.

The fastest way to get a second citizenship is through special state programs for investors.

Maltese citizens can visit the UK visa-free and stay for up to 180 days. They can also stay in the US without a visa with a Maltese passport until the US Electronic Travel Authorisation expires, which is usually valid for two years.

Citizens of four Caribbean countries can stay in the UK without a visa for up to 180 days. To visit the United States, they can get long-term visas under a simplified procedure.

Caribbean citizenship can be obtained within 6 to 8 months through a non-refundable contribution to the economy or by purchasing real estate. These are the main options available through Caribbean citizenship programs.

Saint Lucia offers additional options, such as investing in local businesses or purchasing government bonds. Antigua and Barbuda also provides extra options, such as a contribution to the university fund or an investment in a local business.

The minimum investment amounts for the programs of the Caribbean countries:

• $200,000+ as a contribution to a state fund;

• $200,000+ for the purchase of real estate.

For the non-refundable contribution to the fund, the investment amount in Dominica increases if the investor includes family members in the application. In other Caribbean countries, the investment threshold does not depend on the number of applicants.

For the real estate purchase option, the investor must pay a special state fee, which varies depending on the program and family composition.

Individual cost calculation for Caribbean citizenship

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Malta citizenship is obtained for exceptional services by direct investment. This is a citizenship by naturalisation process, meaning the investor must first obtain a residence permit, maintain the status for one or three years, and then apply for citizenship.

Applicants must meet several investment conditions:

1. €600,000+ as a contribution to the National Development Fund.

2. €16,000+ per year for renting a property or €700,000+ for buying a property in Malta.

3. €10,000+ as a charitable contribution to a non-governmental organisation.

The minimum investment amount is €690,000. Depending on the family’s composition, this amount may increase, with an additional €50,000 required for each dependent.

Malta and the Caribbean both allow investors to recoup their real estate investments. After five to seven years, investors can sell the property and recover the funds.

1. Travelling without visas. In addition to the US and UK, a Maltese passport allows you to travel without visas to other 169 countries.

For citizens of the Caribbean countries, more than 145 countries are open in a visa-free regime. China is visa-free for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Grenada.

2. Possibility to obtain a visa to the USA. Citizens of the Caribbean can stay in the US for up to 180 days per year on a B‑1/B‑2 visa. The visa is issued for 10 years within two weeks.

With a Grenada passport, you can get a US E‑2 visa. With such a visa, you can live and do business in the United States. Family members — spouses and children — can live, study, and work in the USA. There are no restrictions on entry into and exit out of the country.

3. Relocating to Europe. Malta is a European island state, and its new citizens enjoy equal rights and freedoms with local residents. For example, they save on treatment in clinics, open accounts in international banks, and develop international businesses.

4. Education on preferential terms. With a Maltese passport, studying at European universities is cheaper than with a passport from a non-EU country.

Citizens of Caribbean countries can get scholarships to study at universities in the UK because the Caribbean countries are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. Commonwealth Scholarship Programs cover the majority of tuition fees, allowing you to save on tuition.

5. Benefits for tax residents. In Malta, tax residents do not pay property, wealth, inheritance, or gift taxes. Maltese companies do not pay taxes on royalties, interest, and dividends.

Tax residents of the Caribbean do not pay taxes on income, capital gains, wealth, and inheritance.

1. Citizens of 41 countries have visa-free access to the US, since they participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Among them are the EU states, Israel, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.

2. To travel under the US Visa Waiver Program, one needs to have a biometric passport and to register online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).

3. The Visa Waiver Program applies to all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

4. Citizens of 87 countries can stay in the UK without a visa for up to six months. The list includes Caribbean countries, Brazil, Paraguay, Nicaragua, and more.

5. Citizenship by investment programs allow individuals to broaden their visa-free access by obtaining a second passport. Citizens of Caribbean countries can travel without visas to over 145 countries.

6. Maltese citizens can travel to the UK without a visa and stay for up to 180 days. They can also visit the USA without a visa, as long as they have a valid ESTA.

7. Malta grants citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment of at least €690,000. The investor first obtains a residence permit, maintains it for one or three years, and then applies for citizenship.