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Country guide · United States

USA travel apps and what you need before you go

Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, most EU countries, Australia and Japan, need an approved ESTA ($40 on the official CBP site) for visits of up to 90 days; everyone else needs a visa. Once there, use Uber or Lyft for rides (Waymo in some cities), Google Maps or Transit to get around, tap a contactless card on NYC's subway, book tables on OpenTable or Resy, and expect sales tax and a tip on top of listed prices.

Checked against official sources on 22 October 202612 apps · 4 to set up at home
The Lower Manhattan skyline across New York Harbor from Governors Island
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

What you need to enter the United States

Rules depend on your passport. Check the US State Department's Visa Waiver Program page and apply for ESTA only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

ESTA (Visa Waiver Program)

Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, Ireland, most EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Israel, Qatar and Chile, can visit for tourism or business for up to 90 days with an approved ESTA. The fee has been $40 since 30 September 2025. You need an e-passport with a chip. People who have been to Cuba since 12 January 2021, or to Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since 1 March 2011, must apply for a visa instead.

Source: US State Department: Visa Waiver Program · Official ESTA application website (CBP) · Federal Register: ESTA fee (28 August 2025)

Visitor visa

If your country is not in the Visa Waiver Program, or you are ineligible for ESTA, you need a B-1/B-2 visitor visa from a US embassy or consulate, usually with an interview. Book early, as waits vary widely.

Source: US State Department: Visa Waiver Program

Passport validity

Most visitors need a passport valid for six months beyond their stay. Nationals of countries on CBP's exemption list (the 'Six-Month Club', updated December 2025, over 100 countries) only need a passport valid for the length of their stay. Check the current list before travelling on a passport close to expiry.

Source: CBP: Six-Month Club exemption list · BAL (January 2026)

I-94 arrival record

Air and sea arrivals get an electronic I-94 automatically. Look it up on the official I-94 website after you land to check your permitted stay date, as that date, not your ESTA, is what counts.

Source: CBP: I-94 website

Before you fly: 7 steps

  1. Check if you need a visa or ESTA on the State Department site.
  2. Apply for ESTA at esta.cbp.dhs.gov ($40) well before you fly.
  3. Check your passport has a chip and enough validity for your stay.
  4. Buy travel insurance with high medical cover.
  5. Set up Uber or Lyft with your home number and card.
  6. Add a no-foreign-fee card to Apple Pay or Google Pay for transit taps.
  7. Pack a Type A/B plug adapter.

The apps that matter in the United States

Grouped by the job they do. Set up at home means install it and sign in before you fly, while you still have your home number and Wi-Fi.

Entry and official apps

ESTA Mobile

CBP's official ESTA site and app for applying for, and checking, your travel authorisation.

Set up at home

Many look-alike sites charge extra. The real address ends in .dhs.gov, and the fee is $40. Apply well before you fly.

Official siteSource: Official ESTA application website (CBP)

Mobile Passport Control

Free CBP-backed apps to submit passport and customs details on your phone and use a shorter line at 27 US airports.

Set up at homeLimited for visitors

Only for US citizens and Canadian visitors. Other ESTA and visa travellers go through the normal line.

Official siteSource: CBP: Mobile Passport Control

Taxis and ride hailing

Uber

Ride hailing nationwide; in Atlanta and Austin it can also match you with a Waymo self-driving car.

Set up at home

Set up with your home number and card before you fly. Airport pickups use marked rideshare zones.

Official siteSource: Uber · Waymo

Lyft

The main US alternative to Uber, available in most cities.

Set up at home

Compare both apps for airport runs; prices can differ a lot at busy times.

Official siteSource: Lyft

Waymo

Self-driving taxis in Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Denver, Nashville, and via Uber in Atlanta and Austin.

Service areas are smaller than the whole city, so check the map in the app.

Official siteSource: Waymo

Metro, buses and city transport

Transit

Real-time bus and train times for hundreds of US cities; Citymapper covers the largest ones.

Opens straight to nearby departures, which is handy in cities with complicated bus networks.

Official siteSource: Transit · Citymapper

OMNY (New York)

Tap-to-pay system on NYC subways and buses using a contactless card or phone.

Tap the same card or phone each time: after 12 paid rides in 7 days, the rest of the week is free.

Official siteSource: OMNY

Clipper (San Francisco Bay Area)

The Bay Area's fare system, which now accepts contactless credit and debit cards on BART, Muni, Caltrain and other systems.

Since December 2025 you can simply tap a contactless bank card; no need to buy a Clipper card for a short stay.

Official siteSource: SFCTA (December 2025)

Maps

Google Maps

Driving, walking and transit directions plus opening hours and reviews.

Download offline areas before driving through national parks, where signal is often missing.

Official siteSource: Google Maps

Waze

Driving navigation with live traffic, police and hazard reports from other drivers.

Best for road trips and city traffic. Pair with GasBuddy to find cheaper fuel nearby.

Official siteSource: Waze · GasBuddy

Food and delivery

OpenTable

The most widely used restaurant booking app in the US.

Resy covers many sought-after restaurants that are not on OpenTable, so check both. Yelp is useful for reviews and opening hours.

Official siteSource: OpenTable · Resy · Yelp

DoorDash

The largest food delivery app in the US; Uber Eats and Grubhub also operate widely.

Delivery fees, service fees and a tip are added at checkout, so the final price is well above the menu price.

Official siteSource: DoorDash · Uber Eats · Grubhub

Money: US dollar (USD)

Cards are accepted almost everywhere and contactless and Apple Pay or Google Pay are now common, though some places still prefer you to insert the card. Prices are usually shown before sales tax, which varies by state and city and is added at the till. At petrol stations, foreign cards may ask for a ZIP code; pay inside if that fails. Tipping is expected for table service, taxis and many other services.

Practical things to know

Plugs
Types A and B; 120 V. Check that your chargers accept 100 to 240 V.
Emergency number
911 for police, fire and ambulance.
Mobile data
An eSIM is the easiest option. Prepaid SIMs are sold in phone shops and do not need ID registration.
Tipping
Usually 15 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants, a few dollars per drink at bars, and around 15 to 20 percent for taxis and rideshares. Check the bill first, as some places add a service charge.
Sales tax
Not included in shelf or menu prices in most places. It is added at the till and the rate depends on the state and city.
Health costs
Medical care is very expensive. Travel insurance with high medical cover is strongly advisable.

Questions travelers ask

How much does ESTA cost?

$40 on the official CBP site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Third-party sites charge more.

Which countries can use ESTA?

The 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, Ireland, most EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. Others need a visa.

Does my passport need six months' validity for the USA?

Most visitors need six months beyond the stay, but nationals of countries on CBP's exemption list only need it valid for the length of the stay.

Can I tap my bank card on the New York subway?

Yes. OMNY readers take contactless cards and phones, and after 12 paid rides in 7 days on the same card the rest of the week is free.

Are prices in the US shown with tax?

Usually not. Sales tax is added at the till and varies by state and city, and tips are added on top at restaurants.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm with the official links before you travel.

Found a mistake? Report a correction and we’ll check it against the source.

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