What it means in practice
90 days is about three months. If you arrive on 1 November 2026, your last legal day is 29 January 2027, because the arrival day is day one. Use the stay calculator for your own dates.
How the United States counts your stay: Your permitted stay is the admit-until date on your electronic I-94 (check i94.cbp.dhs.gov after arrival), not the visa's expiry date. ESTA: up to 90 days, and short trips to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean do not restart the count.
At the border
Official details are shown in English.
- Passport valid for the whole stay; nationals of many countries need it valid 6 months beyond the stay (VWP countries are exempt from the extra 6 months)
- ESTA travellers: e-passport and a return or onward ticket
- Fingerprints and a photo are taken at entry; officers may ask about the purpose, address and funds and may inspect phones
- Declare cash and monetary instruments over USD 10,000 and all food, plant and animal products
How to avoid overstaying
- Go by your stamp or visa. The date the officer gives you is the one that counts, even if it is shorter than the maximum.
- Plan to leave a day or two early. With 90 days, book your exit before the last legal day so a cancelled flight doesn't push you over.
- Extend before you run out. ESTA: no extension. B1/B2: file Form I-539 with USCIS before the I-94 date expires. Overstaying voids the visa and can bar future entry.
- What overstaying costs. Overstaying voids the visa and can bar future entry.
Good to know
Official details are shown in English.
- Dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan or Syria cannot use ESTA even with a VWP passport and need a visa.
Staying longer
Visa-free days are for visits. For months or years in the United States, these are the long-stay routes in Bordr's guide (checked against official sources):
Official details are shown in English.
- EB-5 Immigrant Investor green card — Conditional green card for 2 years, then permanent
- H-1B specialty occupation visa
- O-1 visa for extraordinary ability — Up to 3 years initially, then 1-year extensions with no overall limit
- F-1 student visa — For the length of studies; entry up to 30 days before the programme start
Costs, income thresholds and how to apply are in the Bordr guide.
Questions
Do Australian citizens need a visa for the United States?
Australian citizens can visit the United States without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can Australian citizens stay in the United States?
Up to 90 days, according to Bordr's data. Your permitted stay is the admit-until date on your electronic I-94 (check i94.cbp.dhs.gov after arrival), not the visa's expiry date. ESTA: up to 90 days, and short trips to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean do not restart the count.
Can I extend my stay in the United States?
ESTA: no extension. B1/B2: file Form I-539 with USCIS before the I-94 date expires. Overstaying voids the visa and can bar future entry.
What do I need at the border in the United States?
Passport valid for the whole stay; nationals of many countries need it valid 6 months beyond the stay (VWP countries are exempt from the extra 6 months); ESTA travellers: e-passport and a return or onward ticket; Fingerprints and a photo are taken at entry; officers may ask about the purpose, address and funds and may inspect phones.
When was this checked?
Bordr last checked the entry rules for the United States against official sources on 30 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you travel.
Sources and last check
Entry rules for this destination were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026. Visa-free days come from the passport matrix in the Bordr app, corrected where the official rules differ.
- CBP — Official ESTA application website
- Federal Register — DHS HR-1 fees, FY2027 inflation adjustment (ESTA USD 40.62, I-94 land USD 30)
- U.S. Embassy London — ESTA FAQs
- U.S. Embassy London — Visa Waiver Program FAQs
- U.S. Department of State — Visitor visa
- CBP — I-94 official website
This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules change and border officers have the final say. Check the official government source for your destination before you travel.
Includes visa data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), retrieved 1 November 2026; Bordr's official-source checks take precedence.
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