Layover in the USA: an ESTA or a visa, even to change planes
Many travellers expect to stay in the airport and walk to the next gate. In the United States that is not possible: every international connection passes US immigration, so you need the same ESTA or visa as a visitor.
The short answer
- No airside transit: every international arrival is inspected by US immigration at the first US airport.
- Visa Waiver Program passports need an approved ESTA (USD 40.62), even for a same-airport connection.
- Everyone else needs a US visa (C-1 transit or B-1/B-2), except Canadians.
- Usually you collect and re-check your bags and go through security again.
Why there is no transit area in the US
Most big hubs have an international transit area where you change planes without entering the country. US airports
do not. The regulation that once allowed visa-free direct transit reads, in full for the relevant paragraphs:
(f) Direct transits. (1)-(2) [Reserved] (3) Foreign government officials in transit.
With those paragraphs empty there is no visa-free transit, and CBP explains what that
means: Since CBP processing must be completed at the first port of entry, many travelers must complete all arrival processing and then immediately proceed to a connecting flight.
So a flight from London to Mexico City via Dallas, or from Tokyo to São Paulo via New York, means entering the United States at the connection, with the same documents a visitor needs. That also applies when you never intend to leave the airport.
ESTA: for Visa Waiver Program passports
Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most
of the EU, use an ESTA instead of a visa. CBP answers the transit question directly: Yes. Eligible nationals or citizens of countries that participate in the VWP require either an ESTA or a visa to transit the United States.
Not every EU country is in the programme: Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are not, so their citizens need a visa. The ESTA
is applied for online before the trip, and the fee is set by law and adjusted every year. For fiscal year 2027 the
Federal Register says: Thus, as required by HR-1, the inflation-adjusted FY 2027 ESTA fee will be $40.62 ($17 + $10.62 + $13) per travel authorization. In the event the ESTA application is denied, the FY 2027 fee is $10.62
. Apply on the official CBP site; other websites charge extra for the
same form.
ESTA eligibility has exclusions (for example, certain past travel). If you cannot get an ESTA, you need a visa, even to transit, so apply well before the trip.
A visa: for everyone else
India, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and Philippines passports are not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a US visa is needed even to change planes. The
State Department: Transit (C) visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States enroute to another country, with few exceptions.
If you also want to see the city during the layover, or already hold a valid
B-1/B-2 visitor visa, that one works too. Visa fees and appointments are on the US embassy website for your country.
Canadian citizens are the exception: the US regulation says A visa is generally not required for Canadian citizens, except those Canadians that fall under nonimmigrant visa categories E, K, S, or V
US citizens and permanent
residents enter as usual.
Your passport
| Passport | To change planes or leave the airport |
|---|---|
| United States | Yes, you are at home here |
| Canada | Yes, no visa needed |
| United Kingdom | Yes, with an online travel authorisation · USD 40.62 (ESTA) |
| Australia | Yes, with an online travel authorisation · USD 40.62 (ESTA) |
| New Zealand | Yes, with an online travel authorisation · USD 40.62 (ESTA) |
| EU / EEA / Switzerland | Yes, with an online travel authorisation · USD 40.62 (ESTA) |
| India | Not without a visa |
| China (mainland) | Not without a visa |
| Brazil | Not without a visa |
| Mexico | Not without a visa |
| South Africa | Not without a visa |
| Philippines | Not without a visa |
| Japan | Yes, with an online travel authorisation · USD 40.62 (ESTA) |
| South Korea | Yes, with an online travel authorisation · USD 40.62 (ESTA) |
What a US connection looks like
- Immigration (CBP) at your first US airport, with your ESTA or visa.
- Collect your checked bags and take them through customs.
- Drop the bags again at the connection desk for your onward flight.
- TSA security again, then on to the gate.
Queues at immigration vary a lot by hour and airport, so short connections are risky. Since you have entered the country anyway, a long layover is a real chance to see the city.
Plan a layover at a US hub
What to do in New York on a layover →
What to do in Chicago on a layover →
Questions
Do I need an ESTA for a layover in the US?
Yes, if your passport is in the Visa Waiver Program (from our list: United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, Japan and South Korea). The US has no international transit area, so you go through US immigration at your first US airport even if you never leave it. CBP says nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries require either an ESTA or a visa to transit the United States. The ESTA costs USD 40.62.
Can I stay airside on a connection in the US?
No. The Transit Without Visa provisions in US regulations (8 CFR 212.1(f)) are “reserved”, so there is no visa-free direct transit, and CBP processing must be completed at the first US port of entry. Every international connecting passenger is inspected by US immigration.
Which visa do I need to change planes in the US?
If your passport is not in the Visa Waiver Program (from our list: India, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and Philippines), you need a US visa even for a same-airport connection: the C-1 transit visa for immediate and continuous transit, or a B-1/B-2 visitor visa. Canadian citizens generally need neither a visa nor an ESTA.
Do I have to collect my bags on a US connection?
Usually yes. After immigration you collect your checked bags, take them through customs, drop them again for the connecting flight and go through TSA security again. Allow for all of this in your connection time.
Can I leave the airport during a US layover?
Once admitted at immigration on an ESTA or a visitor visa, you are in the US and can leave the airport during the layover. The C-1 visa is meant for immediate and continuous transit; if you plan to see the city, the visitor visa is the one meant for visiting.
Official sources
- Certain DHS Immigration-Related Fees Required by HR-1: Fiscal Year 2027 Adjustments for Inflation (FR Doc. 2026-20185, published 2026-10-01; CBP assesses new amounts 15 days after publication) (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Federal Register)
- CBP Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 for Fiscal Year 2025 (90 FR 42025) (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Federal Register)
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and ESTA (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
- Visa Waiver Program (list of 42 designated countries) (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
- Visa Waiver Program (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
- 8 CFR 212.1(a)(1) Canadian citizens (eCFR, version 2026-10-01) (eCFR / U.S. Government)
- 8 CFR 212.1(f) Direct transits (eCFR, version 2026-10-01) (eCFR / U.S. Government)
- Welcome to the United States: A Guide for International Visitors (section 'Connecting Flights') (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
- Transit Visa (U.S. Department of State)
Published 2026-11-05, sources checked 2026-11-01. The airline and the border officer have the final word. Found something out of date? Tell us.