Visa Waiver Program

Passengers traveling to the United States of America on tourism or business trips with a duration of 90 days or less do not require a Visa if they are citizens from the following countries: Portugal, Germany, Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Holland, Ireland, Island, Italy, Japan, Lichtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, United Kingdom, San Marino, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland.

For further information visit the website:

Visa Waiver Program for the United States & ESTA

ESTA – ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR TRAVEL APPLICATION

If you hold a passport from one of these countries issued after 2001 you must apply for an electronic authorization whenever traveling to the United States of America via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

From January 12 2009, travelers included in the visa exemption program that do not require authorization to travel via the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) may be refused entry to the country.

To obtain this authorization you must fill out a form on the ESTA website. The access system on the webpage will ask you to answer some basic questions on personal data and eligibility - the same ones that are contained in Form I – 94W on hardcopy – and no other data other than this is required.

Authorization must be applied for and obtained up to three days prior to your trip.
If you wish to be more prudent, it is best to obtain authorization before booking your trip.

Procedure: 

• Access the ESTA website (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/) and fill out the form. The system will ask for basic ID responses similar to those on the forms you fill out prior to arrival at USA ports and airports. 
• As soon as your trip is authorized print out the document that must be carried with your passport and presented whenever requested when leaving Portugal or at US border control stations. If the system responds with ‘Trip not authorized’ the passenger must apply for a non-immigrant visa at the nearest consulate or at the embassy in Lisbon.
• If the system responds with 'Authorization Pending' you must log on again to the Internet within 72 hours to receive your final response.
• These authorizations are valid for two years from the date on which they are obtained and for multiple entries to the USA, and no further authorizations are necessary during this period. If your passport expires you must apply for a new authorization.

For more detailed information please access:

U.S. Government - Visa Waiver Program