United States Entry Requirements for Australian Citizens

Entry requirements for Australian citizens

Visa Free (Visa Waiver Program) — ESTA required before travel applies to Australian passport holders visiting United States. Your passport valid for the entire duration of intended stay — must be an e-passport with biometric chip. The maximum permitted stay is 90 days.

Safety overview

United States has a safety score of 78 out of 100 in the DheeVoy safety database. This is a moderate safety rating — standard travel precautions apply.

Safest areas in United States

• Manhattan New York
• Santa Monica Los Angeles
• Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii
• Lincoln Park Chicago
• Capitol Hill Washington DC

Tourist scams to avoid in United States

• Third-party ESTA websites charging inflated fees — apply only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov for USD 21
• Unofficial tour operators at major national parks charging premium prices
• Taxi drivers at major airports taking unnecessarily long routes — use Uber or Lyft
• Overpriced souvenir shops near major tourist attractions in all cities

Best months to visit United States

The best months to visit are March, April, May, September, October.

Before you travel

Always verify entry requirements with the official Australian government travel advisory and the United States embassy or consulate before booking. Visa rules and electronic travel authorisation requirements (such as ETIAS, ESTA, K-ETA and UK ETA) change frequently. Australian passport holders can visit the USA under the Visa Waiver Program for up to 90 days but must obtain ESTA authorisation before travel. Apply only at the official US government website esta.cbp.dhs.gov — the fee is USD 21 and processing is usually instant though can take up to 72 hours. Your passport must be a biometric e-Passport with a chip. An ESTA is permission to travel to the USA but does not guarantee entry — a CBP officer makes the final admission decision on arrival.