United States · Transit
Do you need a transit visa for the US?
In brief
Almost always: the US has no transit without a visa, the programme having been suspended since 2003.3 To change planes in the US you need a transit (C-1) visa or another valid US visa, such as a visitor (B) visa.1 Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries can transit with an approved ESTA (US$40.62), and citizens of Canada and Bermuda need no visa.251
Checked 1 Nov 2026Source: U.S. Department of State, transit visasReport a change
Independent reference, not a government website. We don't issue visas or sell visa services.
ContentsIn brief
Who needs a transit visa, by nationality
| Your passport | Changing planes | Leaving the airport | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Waiver Program 42 | ESTAUS$40.62, or a US visa | ESTA | State Department: Visa Waiver Program |
| Bermuda and Canada | Nothing | No visa | State Department: transit visas |
| Everyone else | Transit (C-1) visaUS$185, or another US visa, such as a B visa | Visitor (B) visato sightsee or visit friends | State Department: transit visas |
| Entry suspended 20 | Entry suspendeda visa issued earlier and some exceptions still count | Entry suspended | Proclamation 10998 (Federal Register) |
In the Visa Waiver Program 42 countries: an ESTA, even to change planes
Andorra
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brunei
Chile
Croatia
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
San Marino
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
United Kingdom
For the VWP, the United Kingdom means only British citizens with the unrestricted right of permanent abode; British overseas citizens, British dependent territories' citizens and Commonwealth citizens are not covered.7 Taiwan passport holders qualify only with the unrestricted right of permanent abode on Taiwan and an electronic passport that bears a personal identification (household registration) number.7 Who qualifies, and when you need a visa instead: ESTA: who needs one and how to apply.
Entry suspended: 20 nationalities, and 19 more on visitor visas
Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen: Entry suspended since 9 Jun 2025 (Proclamation 10949, continued by Proclamation 10998); a visa issued before then, travel on another country's passport and case-by-case national-interest waivers are excepted.13
Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Palestine, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Syria: Entry as immigrants and nonimmigrants suspended since 1 Jan 2026; for PS: anyone travelling on Palestinian Authority documents; a visa issued before then, travel on another country's passport and case-by-case national-interest waivers are excepted.13
Burundi, Cuba, Togo and Venezuela: Entry on B-1/B-2 visitor visas suspended since 9 Jun 2025 (Proclamation 10949, continued by Proclamation 10998); a visa issued before then, travel on another country's passport and case-by-case national-interest waivers are excepted.13
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe: Entry on B-1, B-2 and B-1/B-2 visitor visas suspended since 1 Jan 2026; a visa issued before then, travel on another country's passport and case-by-case national-interest waivers are excepted.13
Changing planes: no transit without a visa
- The Transit Without Visa (TWOV) programme was suspended in 2003 until further notice.3
- Transit (C) visas are for travel in immediate and continuous transit through the United States to another country; a stopover for other purposes, such as sightseeing, needs the visa for that purpose. Source page read from the Wayback capture of 1 July 2026.1
- A valid visitor (B) visa can be used to transit; VWP citizens may transit under the VWP.1
- Cruise and ship passengers also need a transit or other visa if their ship calls at a U.S. port, even if they do not plan to land.4
- TWOV for crew members is also suspended indefinitely.4
Travel purposes which require a Transit (C) Visa - Examples: A foreign citizen traveling to another country who will have a brief layover in the United States when the only reason for entering the United States is to transit.
U.S. Department of State, transit visas · checked · read from an archived copy of 1 Jul 2026
Leaving the airport on a layover
A layover mainly to visit friends or sightsee needs a visitor (B) visa, not a transit visa.1 A stay in transit status cannot exceed 29 days.4 See the US visitor visa (B1/B2) guide for how to apply.
Transit with an ESTA
- VWP nationals need either an ESTA or a visa to transit the United States; in the ESTA form they answer 'Yes' to the transit question.5
- CBP's FAQ confirms ESTA or a visa is required for transit and tells transit passengers to write 'In Transit' and their final destination as their U.S. address.6
- VWP travellers who transit on an emergency or temporary passport must still hold an e-passport. Source page read from the Wayback capture of 12 July 2026.2
In addition, transiting through the United States to other countries is generally permitted for VWP travelers.
U.S. Department of State, Visa Waiver Program · checked · read from an archived copy of 12 Jul 2026
Fee and how to apply
| Transit (C-1) visa | US$185, the nonimmigrant visa application fee9From the State Department's fee page, read from an archived copy of 9 Jul 2026 |
|---|---|
| ESTA | US$40.62 per application8 |
| How to apply | C-1 applicants complete the DS-160 online, book an interview (generally in their country of residence) and pay the application fee. Source page read from the Wayback capture of 1 July 2026.1For a C-1 visa, proof of onward travel and permission to enter the next country may be enough to show the purpose is transit.1 |
| Indian nationals | Indian nationals: C-1 transit visas carry no reciprocity fee and are issued for multiple entries with up to 60 months' validity (reciprocity schedule, Wayback capture of 13 July 2026).10 |
| UAE nationals | UAE nationals: C-1 transit visas carry no reciprocity fee and are issued for one entry with up to 1 month's validity (reciprocity schedule, Wayback capture of 2 July 2026).11 |
| Interview wait | The Global Visa Wait Times tool has a separate column for the next available interview for crew and transit visas (C, D, C1/D).12 |
Recent changes
- The ESTA fee rose from US$40.27 to US$40.62. CBP, official ESTA website · checked
- Entry suspended for nationals of Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Palestine, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Syria. Proclamation 10998, Federal Register · checked
- Entry on visitor visas suspended for nationals of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Proclamation 10998, Federal Register · checked
FAQ
Do I need a transit visa for a layover in the US?
Yes, unless you are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country with an approved ESTA, or of Canada or Bermuda. Everyone else needs a transit (C-1) visa or another valid US visa, even to change planes: transit without a visa has been suspended since 2003.
What is a C1 visa?
Transit (C) visas are for travel in immediate and continuous transit through the United States to another country; a stopover for other purposes, such as sightseeing, needs the visa for that purpose. Source page read from the Wayback capture of 1 July 2026. A stay in transit status cannot exceed 29 days.
Do Indians need a transit visa for the US?
Yes. India is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so Indian citizens need a transit (C-1) visa or another valid US visa, such as a B1/B2 visa, even to change planes. Indian nationals: C-1 transit visas carry no reciprocity fee and are issued for multiple entries with up to 60 months' validity (reciprocity schedule, Wayback capture of 13 July 2026).
Do Canadians need a transit visa for the US?
No. Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not need a visa to transit the United States, according to the State Department.
Do I need an ESTA to transit through the US?
VWP nationals need either an ESTA or a visa to transit the United States; in the ESTA form they answer 'Yes' to the transit question. CBP's FAQ confirms ESTA or a visa is required for transit and tells transit passengers to write 'In Transit' and their final destination as their U.S. address.
How much is a US transit visa?
The C-1 transit visa uses the nonimmigrant visa application fee, US$185, according to the State Department's fee page (read from an archived copy of 9 Jul 2026). For Indian nationals there is no reciprocity fee.
Sources
Official sources only. Each was checked on the date shown.
- U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs: who needs a transit visa, transit visas and fees and applying
- U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs: who needs a transit visa and ESTA
- U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual (9 FAM): transit visas
- U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual (9 FAM): transit visas
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), official ESTA website: ESTA
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): ESTA
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): ESTA
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), official ESTA website: ESTA
- U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs: fees and applying
- U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs: fees and applying
- U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs: fees and applying
- U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs: fees and applying
- The White House, Presidential Proclamation 10998 (Federal Register, 90 FR 59717): entry suspensions
More: United States entry rules by nationality · transit pages · all visa guides.
About this page
By the Visa Almanac editorial team. Every rule, fee and date on this page comes from the official sources listed above, each read on the day shown; where they are silent, we say so. Editorial policy · Change log
- Updated
- 1 Nov 2026
- Last checked
- Official sources
- 13