US ESTA and the 90-day rule
Travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries can visit the US on an ESTA instead of a visa. The core limit is short and strict: up to 90 days per visit.
The basics
- ESTA lets eligible travellers visit for tourism or business for up to 90 days per visit.
- An approved ESTA is generally valid for two years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first — and covers multiple trips.
- Stays under the Visa Waiver Program generally can’t be extended.
Canada and Mexico don’t reset the clock
A quick trip to Canada, Mexico or nearby islands usually doesn’t start a new 90 days. If you return to the US from those places, the time generally counts toward your original admission. A “border run” is not a reliable way to extend a stay.
There’s no fixed yearly cap — but there is scrutiny
Unlike Schengen, there’s no formal “90 in 180” rule. But border officers look at your travel pattern: repeated long visits with short gaps can lead to questions about whether you really live elsewhere, and entry can be refused.
Overstaying
Overstaying even briefly generally makes you ineligible for the Visa Waiver Program in future, meaning you’d need a visa for later trips. Longer overstays can bring multi-year bars on returning.
