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Machine Readable Passports required for Visa Waiver travel to the U.S.

Since October 26, 2004, all foreign travelers entering the U.S. on the Visa Waiver Program must have a “machine-readable” passport.  Travelers whose passports are not machine-readable will not be allowed to enter without a visa.  A Visa Waiver Program traveler arriving in the U.S. on or after October 26, 2005 with a passport issued on or renewed/extended after that date must have a machine-readable passport that incorporates a digitized photo image printed on the biographic page in order to enter the U.S. without a visa.  A traveler with a passport issued on or renewed/extended after that date that does not feature a digitized photo image must obtain a U.S. visa prior to traveling to the U.S.  A Visa Waiver Program traveler who has a machine-readable passport issued or renewed/extended before October 26, 2005, does not need to have a passport with digitized photo image in order to enter the U.S. visa free.  Please note: The date a passport is renewed or extended will determine the VWP biometric guidelines that apply to that passport.

This requirement does not affect Slovene travelers because all Slovene passports are machine-readable and have a digitized photo image on the biometric page.  However, citizens of other Visa Waiver Program member countries should verify that their passports are machine-readable before traveling to the U.S.  Travelers whose passports are not machine-readable should apply for a U.S. visa before traveling to the U.S.  For more information about the Visa Waiver Program, including a list of the Visa Waiver Program member countries, and details of the requirement for machine-readable passports, visit the Department of State’s Consular Affairs website.  (http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html)

Note that since October 26, 2004, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection Bureau (CBP) had exercised its discretionary authority to grant one-time exemptions on a case-by-case basis to allow certain VWP travelers without machine readable passports to enter the U.S.  However, the Department of Homeland Security announced May 12, 2005, that it will begin full enforcement of MRP requirements starting June 26, 2005.  After that date, all VWP travelers must have machine readable passports.  Since October 26, 2005, a machine-readable passport that incorporates a digitized photo image printed on the biographic page is also required. 

For more information, see the DHS October 26, 2005 Press Release (http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4907) and the DHS May 12, 2005 Press Release (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/46138.htm), visit the DHS website (http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4499), or see the MRP Fact Sheet (http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4076).