American Visa for UK Citizens

US visa from the United Kingdom

Updated on Sep 29, 2023 | Online US Visa

Highlights of US Visa for UK citizens

  • As a British Citizen, you can apply for America Visa online
  • United Kingdom is the launch member of the US Visa programme online
  • UK citizens can leverage fast entry using the online US Visa feature

America Visa requirements

  • UK citizens can apply for America Visa online
  • The US Visa remains valid upon arrival by air, land or sea
  • American Visa Online is usually applied for short vacations, business tours or transit visits

American Visa for US Citizens

British nationals must apply for a US visa in order to enter the country for stays of up to 90 days for transit, business, or tourism. For all British nationals visiting the US for a brief duration, a US visa is mandatory. As a traveller you must ensure that the passport you are carrying is valid for at least 90 days after the anticipated departure date before heading to the United States.

The online implementation of the ESTA US Visa is intended to increase border security. Soon after the September 11th, 2001 attacks, the ESTA US Visa programme was approved and launched in January 2009. In response to the rise in terrorism around the world, the ESTA US Visa programme was established to examine people travelling from abroad.

How to apply for American Visa from the United Kingdom?

An online application form for the US Visa is easily available to the UK citizens, and it can be completed in just a few minutes. The applicant must enter information from the passport page, as well as the other details like personal information, contact information (including email and address), and employment information. As an applicant, one must be in good health and have no history of any type of convictions.

British nationals can apply for a US visa online and obtain their US visa by email. The procedure is as simple as ABC. All of the directions, guidelines and relevant information are provided online. One can even check the details, including the list of documents, the eligibility criteria and much more on the online portal. You just need to have a valid email address, a credit or debit card.

The processing of application for your US visa for UK citizens application starts after the costs have been paid. Email is used to provide American Visa Online. Once provided with the required information on the online application form and after the online credit card payment has been approved, British citizens will receive their US visas through email. It is important to note that in rare cases, the paperwork is irrelevant or does not pass the authorities' regulations. In such cases, the applicant is contacted. This is usually done before the US visa is approved. In most such cases, extra paperwork is needed and things proceed smoothly after these are provided by the applicants.

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In case you want further help in the application for US Visa, you may check out our US Visa Online Application Process section for relatable info.

American Visa requirements for UK citizens

If you already have a British passport, you may not need  US Visa specifically. You just need an ESTA, which is an online Visa for a short time. This type of Visa permits nationalities that qualify to enter the US for business or tourism purposes. If you are eligible for the ESTA, you can enter the US by sea or air.

British citizens will need a valid passport or travel document to apply for an ESTA US Visa to enter the United States. UK citizens with passports from extra countries should make sure they apply using the same passport they will use on their trip, as the ESTA US Visa will be electronically and directly linked to the passport stated when the application was made. As the ESTA is electronically stored alongside the passport in the U.S. Immigration system, there is no need to print or produce any documents at the airport.

In order to pay for the ESTA US Visa, applicants will also need a legitimate credit card, debit card, or PayPal account. British nationals must also supply a working email address to obtain the ESTA US Visa in their inbox. You must carefully verify all the information you input to ensure that there are no problems with the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). If there are, you may need to apply for another ESTA USA Visa.

Read our full US Visa Online Requirements

How long is the US Visa Online valid for British citizens?

The departure date for a British national must occur 90 days after arrival. Holders of British passports must apply for a United States Electronic Travel Authority (US ESTA) even if their trip will only last one day or up to 90 days. British nationals should apply for the appropriate Visa based on their circumstances if they plan to stay for a longer period of time. The US Visa Online is good for two years straight. Throughout the US Visa Online's two (2) year validity, British nationals may enter multiple times.

Frequently Asked Questions about American Visa Online

Attractions for British Citizens in the US

  • The San Francisco Bay Area, California
  • Yosemite National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, California;
  • Pike Place Market, Seattle;
  • T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field, Seattle;
  • Yosemite National Park
  • St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City;
  • Hiking, mountain biking, and skiing in Lake Tahoe, California;
  • Big Bend National Park in the Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas;
  • Chinatown-International District in Seattle.
  • The Alamo Historic Site in Texas;
  • Rural Sonoma County, Napa Valley, and Calistoga, California;
  • Sandy Beaches and a Charming Downtown in Santa Barbara, California

Details about the British Embassy in Washington 

3100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW,

Washington DC 20008, USA.

The phone number is (202) 588-6500.


Check your eligibility for US Visa Online and apply for US Visa Online 72 hours in advance of your flight. British citizens, Spanish citizens, French citizens, Japanese citizens and Italian citizens can apply online for Electronic US Visa. Should you need any help or require any clarifications you should contact our US Visa Help Desk for support and guidance.