U.S Visa Waiver Program: Did South Africa make the list?

African countries excluded from U.S Visa Waiver Program

The United States unveiled its list of countries eligible for the 2025 U.S Visa Waiver Program on Monday, 24 February.

According to Business Insider Africa, forty nations from Asia, Europe, and parts of the Middle East were awarded visa-free entry into the U.S, while none of Africa’s 54 countries were listed.

Visa rejection rates for African nationalities have increased over the years, due to a number of concerns, including immigration violations, fraud, security risks, a high number of asylum seekers, economic instability and weak diplomatic ties.

What is the Visa Waiver Program about?

The U.S Visa Waiver Program allows travellers from listed countries to visit the United States visa-free for up to 90 days. These travellers will still need prior approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs states.

The 2025 list remains mostly unchanged, although Romania was a new addition this year.

The full list of countries eligible for the 2025 U.S visa waiver programme:

SA Passport jumps up a spot on Henley Passport Index

In other visa-free travel news, South Africa’s passport has moved up even further on the Henley & Partners Passport Index, ranking at number 47 on the list of 199 passports.

Despite this, however, the index highlighted that South Africans can now only travel to 104 destinations without requiring a visa, down from last month’s 106 destinations.

The two countries which now do not allow visa-free travel for South Africans are Mauritania and Pakistan, both having moved to an e-visa system for SA tourists instead.

Do you think its fair of the U.S to exclude all African countries from the program?

Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.

Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.