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A new decision comes into effect before the World Cup
The era of easy travel to the United States of America for holders of traditional Spanish passports is over, less than a month before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
A new US ruling that has come into effect makes an “electronic chip” a mandatory entry requirement, closing the door on thousands of travelers who do not have a biometric passport, even if they have a valid ESTA authorization.
Travel to the United States has always been a simplified process for Spanish citizens under the Visa Waiver Program. Simply apply for ESTA online and wait for approval, which is usually issued within 48 hours or immediately.
But the latest tightening has changed the rules of the game. Under the Visa Waiver Program, all travelers arriving in the US are required to have a valid passport embedded with an electronic chip, i.e. a biometric passport. Even temporary or emergency passports are not exempt from this requirement, as they are not allowed to be used for visa-free travel unless they are electronic.
Accordingly, Spanish nationals may enter the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa, provided that two main requirements are met: obtain a valid ESTA authorization and hold an electronic passport compatible with US immigration control.
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The real crisis is when you carry a temporary, conditional or emergency passport that does not contain an electronic chip. Even if the document is valid, it does not meet the program’s criteria, which requires the traveler to apply for a special visa at the US embassy before departure.
ESTA approval alone is not enough. The permit remains linked to the passport number used at the time of application, and if the traveler changes his passport, he must update the permit information before boarding, as any discrepancy between the document and the information recorded may result in him being delayed at the airport or permanently denied entry.
