Do I Need a Visa to Go to Hawaii from the USA?

Do I Need a Visa to Go to Hawaii from the USA

Hawaii is an absolutely fantastic yet catchy place to spend holidays. There is a plethora of enticing sight-seeings which everyone would love to visit! It has all the tropical yet majestic places, which is not only ideal for tourism and recreation but also a joyful platform for education and employment,

However, before planning to visit there, you need to acknowledge its entry requirements and whether you would need a visa to go to Hawaii from the USA. 

So, read this article till the end to find out all the information about the Hawaii entry requirements for U.S. and non-U.S citizens.

Should I apply for a visa to go to Hawaii from The U.S?

For U.S. citizens, traveling to this spectacular destination is actually a piece of cake, with minimal traveling requirements.

As an American, a visa is not required if you plan your visit for less than 90 days for business purposes or leisure plans. In fact, only the ESTA for Hawaii is necessary. 

The U.S. government has introduced the Visa Waiver Programme, through which you can easily get your foot in Hawaii. This just requires authorization from the ESTA form. One thing you should remember is that, though a visa isn’t mandatory, an ESTA application is highly necessary before traveling.

Also, traveling between the states, you just need your real identification instead of the passport and visa requirements.

ESTA requirements for Hawaii

A few ESTA requirements make you eligible for the Visa Waiver Program.

  • You should process this application a minimum of 72 hours before your departure
  • You should be a U.S. national and possess a valid passport.
  • Your trip to Hawaii should not exceed 90 days. 
  • Your purpose of going should be related to sightseeing, any sort of training, reading or non-rewarding contest, business meeting, contract negotiations, or meeting family or friends.
  • You should hold a ticket for your next destination or an all-rounder ticket as you enter the U.S. or Hawaii.

The ESTA application doesn’t allow you to study or gain employment in Hawaii. For that, a study or employment visa is required. 

Also, if you have any criminal record, or are previously denied entry to the U.S., then the ESTA application would not be authorized, and you would have to apply through the visa process.

How can I apply for ESTA? 

Before you set off, you must fill in the ESTA form, which requires your details such as name, address, date of birth, passport I.D., etc. Also, there are a few eligibility questions, such as your health state and criminal record. It hardly takes ten to fifteen minutes to fill in the application.

Once you complete the form, you can submit the application fee for Hawaii. 

The processing time is usually around a few hours to two days, depending upon the individual cases.

What documents do I need for Hawaii as a U.S. citizen?

Domestic travel to Hawaii

If you are traveling to Hawaii, within the U.S. state, then it’s just like traveling to California or Nevada. 

You would only require an identification card to witness this spectacular beauty.

However, you should note that all forms of I.D., such as the Driving license and passports, are accepted; from 2023, you would require Real ID compliance in the driving license while entering the state. This enters the word “enhanced” to your driving license.

This will be a rule for domestic travel within the U.S., and in case you don’t possess your real I.D., you would require a passport or a state-issued Enhanced Driving license (EDL).

In addition to that, for children under the age of 18, it is not mandatory to bring their identification. However, keeping a school I.D card or something like that is beneficial.

International Travelling

If you are traveling Internationally, then you should carry a valid passport, and there might be a few visa requirements for Hawaii, which are generally fulfilled through the ESTA form.

How Can I Apply For a Hawaii Visa?

If you are ineligible to apply through the ESTA form, then you would be required to apply through Hawaii Visa by filling out the DS-160 form, which is the nonimmigrant visa for temporary purposes. You are then supposed to pay the application fee for the Hawaii visa. Once you are done with that, you can set up your interview with the U.S. embassy. Here you would have to show your study offer at a U.S. college or any job offer that you got.

After that, just be present with all the necessary documents, fresh and the previous ones and your photographs, etc. to go through the process smoothly.

Also, apply at least a few weeks before your departure, as this takes a long time to process.

How can a non-U.S. citizen go to Hawaii?

Non-U.S. citizens are also welcome to explore the beauty of this tropical area. However, they would need to have the proper documents along with them.

Here are a few things you would need to have before entering Hawaii:

  • Valid Passport: The first thing you would require is your solid passport. They also accept your e-passport with an I.C. chip.
  • Corona PCR: A negative corona report is generally required to be carried out just a day or 48 hours before departure.
  • Certificate of Complete corona vaccination: The official certificate of both the vaccinations should be presented, which must be issued by the local government.
  • Your personal and health information that the Hawaii authorities can contact in a state of chaos
  • Your custom declaration

There are no visa requirements for Hawaii, but an ESTA is also mandatory for non-US citizens.

Do you need a passport while traveling to Hawaii?

As a U.S. citizen, The answer is simple “You don’t need to“, but just make sure to present proper identification. On the other hand, carrying a passport is mandatory if you are a non-U.S. citizen.

Can I travel to Hawaii as a Green card Holder?

Obviously, you can! The U.S Green-card Holders get the same opportunities as U.S. nationals. However, it isn’t all the same and some sort of extra-identification such as 

  • Residence Permit
  • Immigration documents
  • The U.S. Green card

So, be sure to pack all these necessary documents initially as you plan your trip to Hawaii. Also, a driving license with a real ID would be required from all U.S citizens from 2023.

Would I still need a passport if I have visa-free travel to the U.S.?

Well, yes! You would require a passport even if you belong to the forty countries that have visa-free travel to the U.S. So when going to Hawaii, it is mandatory to bring your passport and identification card.

Do minors also require a passport while traveling to Hawaii?

No, minors usually do not require a passport if they are on a domestic flight. Instead, it is advisable to keep the school I.D. card with them, and those who don’t possess the identity should have an adult accompanying them with some sort of photo identification.

FAQs

What are the Hawaii Visa requirements for Nigeria?

For travelling to Hawaii from a foreign country such as Nigeria, you must first get hold of the nonimmigrant visa for temporary purposes or the immigrant visa for permanent residence. If you want to visit Hawaii for tourism purposes, then you can apply for a tourist visa.

Do you need a visa for Hawaii from the U.K.?

If you want to travel from the U.K. to Hawaii, you should have authorization with you. It can either be through the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA application, resident card, or visa. This is valid as long as you are a British citizen and possess an electronic passport.

What are the Hawaii visa requirements for Indian passport holders?

The Indians must have a visit visa before they can fly to Hawaii. This has four main steps. 
Firstly, you must fill out the nonimmigrant form, regardless of any sort of visa denial in the past. Secondly, You need to pay the application fee. Thirdly, you have to hold an appointment for the interview for a smooth process and at last, visit the interview venue, with all the documents, new or old, the application page and your photographs

How much does an ESTA cost for Hawaii?

An ESTA costs around $21 and can be paid through Mastercard, VISA, Paypal or American Express.

How long does it take for the ESTA to get approved?

ESTA takes the processing time to check out all the necessary details and allow the authority to travel, and once it’s successfully completed, you will receive the ‘authorization approved’ notification. If the application has no issues, then the form will be processed within 72 hours (three days), and you will receive your notification.

Similar Posts