Travelers visiting the United States through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must meet the following passport requirements.
► Basic Requirements
- Machine Readable Zone (MRZ)
The biographic information page of your passport must include a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ).
This zone contains information such as the passport number, name, and date of birth, which is read by automated inspection systems during entry processing.
- Electronic Passport (e-Passport) Requirement
All nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries must possess an electronic passport (e-Passport) containing an embedded electronic chip (e-Chip) that stores biometric information such as fingerprints or facial data.
The front cover of the passport must display the e-Passport symbol (♦ e-Passport Symbol).
* Travel to the United States under the ESTA program is not permitted without an e-Passport.
- Exceptions (Emergency or Temporary Passports)
Since July 1, 2009, emergency or temporary passports issued by Visa Waiver Program countries must also be e-Passports.
The same requirements apply as those for regular passports.
Taiwanese passport holders must enter both their passport number and Personal Identification Number (PIN) when applying for ESTA.