Do I Need a Visa to Drive Route 66? ESTA & US Entry Requirements

The first question most international visitors ask when planning a Route 66 road trip is also the simplest to answer: do I need a visa to enter the United States? For the majority of Route 66’s international visitors — from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and most of Western Europe — the answer is no. You don’t need a visa. You need an ESTA.

The Visa Waiver Program and ESTA

The United States operates the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows citizens of 42 participating countries to travel to the US for tourism for up to 90 days without a full visa. Citizens of VWP countries still need to apply for an ESTA — the Electronic System for Travel Authorization — before boarding their flight. ESTA is not a visa; it is a pre-travel authorization that takes minutes to apply for online and costs 1 USD.

Countries in the Visa Waiver Program include: the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, most EU member states (Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Austria, Switzerland), Singapore, and others. Always verify your country’s current status at travel.state.gov before booking.

How to Apply for ESTA

Apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov — the only official ESTA website. The fee is 1 USD. Approvals are typically issued within minutes. An approved ESTA is valid for two years or until your passport expires and allows multiple entries. Apply at least 72 hours before departure.

What you need: your passport, a credit or debit card for the 1 fee, your US travel itinerary, and an email address for your approval notification.

If Your Country Is Not in the Visa Waiver Program

You will need a B-2 Tourist Visa, applied for at your nearest US Embassy or Consulate. The application requires completing the DS-160 online form, paying the fee (currently 85 USD), and attending an in-person interview. Processing times vary from weeks to months depending on your country. Begin the process at least six months before your intended travel date.

At US Customs and Border Protection

All international visitors pass through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on arrival. Have your return travel confirmed — CBP officers may ask to see evidence that you intend to leave within 90 days. Be straightforward: you are visiting for tourism and plan to drive Route 66.

Passport validity: your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. Some nationalities must have a passport valid for six months beyond departure — check requirements for your specific country.