Home › Entry Requirements
Richmond Entry Requirements

Richmond Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
Richmond, Virginia is a domestic US destination. No passport, visa, or special authorization required for American citizens and lawful permanent residents. Book your travel and go. International visitors face the same federal immigration requirements that govern entry into the United States as a whole, no separate city-level entry process exists. Richmond International Airport (RIC) is the primary air gateway. Travelers clear US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) either at RIC directly or at a designated port of entry if arriving on a connecting international flight. The United States operates a tiered entry system. Citizens of 42 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) may travel to the US, including Richmond, for up to 90 days for tourism or business without obtaining a visa. They must receive an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before departure. Citizens of countries outside the VWP must obtain a nonimmigrant visa (most commonly the B-1/B-2 visitor visa) from a US embassy or consulate in their home country before traveling. Requirements, processing times, and fees vary by nationality and individual circumstance. Regardless of your entry category, all international travelers should arrive prepared with proper documentation. Be ready to answer standard CBP officer questions about the purpose and duration of their visit. Declare all goods and currency as required. Richmond itself is a welcoming destination, known for its restaurants, hotels, busy neighborhoods like The Fan, and a full calendar of events. A smooth entry process sets the stage for an excellent visit.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP), ESTA Required
90 days per visit, no more. The 90-day clock resets only after a substantial period outside the US.

Skip the visa line. Citizens of the 42 VWP-participating countries can land in the United States for tourism, business, or transit, 90 days, no traditional visa required. The catch? Every VWP traveler must secure an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before stepping onto any US-bound carrier. ESTA is not a visa. It is a pre-travel screening authorization that must be approved before departure.

Includes
United Kingdom Germany France Italy Spain Netherlands Belgium Switzerland Austria Sweden Norway Denmark Finland Iceland Ireland Portugal Greece Luxembourg Monaco San Marino Liechtenstein Czech Republic Estonia Latvia Lithuania Hungary Poland Slovakia Slovenia Croatia Malta Japan South Korea Singapore Australia New Zealand Chile Brunei Taiwan Israel Andorra North Macedonia
How to Apply: Skip the queue, apply online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Fill the form, pay the fee, get a verdict. Most approvals land in minutes; a stubborn few take up to 72 hours. File at least 72 hours before departure, earlier is smarter. Once green-lit, your ESTA lasts two years or until your passport dies, whichever strikes first, and it covers every return trip.
Cost: USD $21 per application (as of 2026; $4 registration fee + $17 authorization fee if approved; $4 only if denied)

Your ESTA approval isn't a golden ticket, CBP officers still decide at the port of entry. Final call. VWP travelers can't extend their stay or switch to most visa statuses while in the US. Period. Been denied a US visa before? Arrested? Have a criminal record? You may be ineligible for VWP and should apply for a B-2 visa instead.

B-1/B-2 Nonimmigrant Visa (Visitor Visa)
Your visa might last a decade. Yet the stamp in your passport gives you six months, tops. The officer decides right there. One to ten years for multiple entries, sure. Each visit? Six months max, at CBP's discretion.

Start with this: no Visa Waiver? You need a visa. Citizens from countries outside the program must file for a B-2 (tourism/pleasure) or B-1 (business) nonimmigrant visa at any US embassy or consulate before boarding a plane. This single document is the standard visitor visa for most of the planet, China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Vietnam included, plus nearly all of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

How to Apply: Apply at a US embassy or consulate in your country of residence. The drill is simple: complete Form DS-160 online, pay the non-refundable MRV fee, typically USD $185 for B visas as of 2026, then schedule a visa interview. Show up with every required document, answer questions, and wait. That's it. Wait times for interview appointments swing wildly by country and consulate, from a few days to many months. Check the live queue at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html before you lock in flights.

A US B-2 visa hinges on one thing: proving you'll leave. You need rock-solid ties to your home country, steady employment, property deeds, family roots that yank you back. No guarantees. None. Canadian citizens? They skip this circus entirely. Flash a valid Canadian passport at the border, walk through. No visa. No ESTA. Just tourism, pure and simple.

Canadian Citizens, No Visa or ESTA Required
Typically up to 6 months at the CBP officer's discretion

Canada has a one-of-a-kind deal with the United States. Canadians skip both visa and ESTA when they cross the border as visitors.

How to Apply: Skip the paperwork. Just show up with a Canadian passport in hand. Present it at the port of entry. Done.

Canadian permanent residents, non-citizens, face standard visa requirements tied to their nationality.

Arrival Process

Touch down in Richmond and you'll meet US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Richmond International Airport (RIC) on direct international flights. Connect through Charlotte Douglas, Dulles, JFK, or Atlanta? Same drill. The process, identical at every US port of entry, won't change.

1
1. Passport Control / Primary Inspection
Skip the herd. US citizens and lawful permanent residents should veer left to the APC kiosks or Mobile Passport lanes, machines move faster than people. Foreign nationals queue for CBP officer booths. Have your passport, visa or ESTA approval, and any required forms in hand before you reach the front. Expect three questions max: purpose, length, address. Officers will scan, tap, and verify. Then, snap, press, biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are collected from most foreign nationals at this stage.
2
2. Collect Your Baggage
Clear passport control first. Then walk straight to baggage claim. Grab every checked bag, don't leave one behind. Keep those baggage claim tags in hand. You'll need them before the customs hall doors swing open.
3
3. Customs Declaration
Skip the line. Download the APC/Mobile Passport app before you land. Every international traveler, US citizens included, must file a CBP Declaration Form (CBP Form 6059B) or use the app. One form handles an entire family. Declare everything: food, plants, cash over USD $10,000, commercial goods. Walk straight to customs. Hand over the form and passport to CBP agriculture and customs officers. Done.
4
4. Agricultural Inspection
CBP agriculture specialists screen for prohibited fruits, vegetables, meats, plants, and soil that could carry pests or disease. Declare every food item. Don't risk it, failing to declare agricultural products can result in fines up to USD $10,000. When in doubt, declare it.
5
5. Exit to Arrivals
Clear CBP and you're out, straight into the public arrivals hall. No time to waste. Connecting to a domestic hop onward to Richmond (RIC)? Drop your bags again, breeze through TSA, then march to the gate. Richmond is your final stop? Walk out. Grab a cab, tap a rideshare, or pick up the rental, done.

Documents to Have Ready

Valid Passport
Your passport must be valid for the entire stay, period. Most airlines and CBP officers want six months left after departure, even though US law only demands validity through your visit. Check expiry before you book.
ESTA Approval (VWP travelers)
You won't get past the gate without it, approval must be in hand before boarding. Print the paper or keep it ready on your phone. Either works. Your airline checks ESTA at check-in, no exceptions. CBP runs the same check again when you reach the port of entry.
US Nonimmigrant Visa (non-VWP travelers)
That stamp in your passport? CBP officers will check it, every time. They verify the visa category and validity without exception. Your visa must be valid on the date of entry and must cover your intended purpose. Tourism equals B-2.
CBP Declaration Form (Form 6059B)
Finish it on the plane. One form covers your whole crew, parents, kids, grandparents, before you ever see the CBP officer. Tap through the APC kiosk or the Mobile Passport app. Either way, you won't need one per person.
Return or Onward Travel Ticket
CBP officers will ask for proof you're leaving before your 90 days are up. A return ticket isn't optional, it's your shield.
Proof of Sufficient Funds
Officers will ask how you'll finance your stay. Bank statements, credit cards, or a letter of support, expect to show one. They'll demand proof from visitors whose countries have high visa-overstay rates.
Accommodation Information
Name and address of where you'll crash in Richmond, hotel reservation, host's address, or rental confirmation.

Tips for Smooth Entry

Apply for ESTA now. Not tomorrow. The 72-hour rule is real, applications need 72 hours minimum before departure, but 1, 2 weeks ahead is smarter. Last-minute submissions? They'll deny you flat. No appeal. No emergency visa. You're stuck.
Tell the truth. Keep it short. When a CBP officer asks, answer straight, no extra words. They're trained. You aren't. Straight answers move the line faster.
Grab the Mobile Passport Control app, free, official CBP app, before wheels-up. You'll shave serious minutes off passport control and customs at participating airports.
Keep every customs declaration form in your hand until you've walked past the final exit doors, officers can demand them again at unmarked secondary checkpoints inside the zone.
Cracking a joke about weapons, contraband, or immigration violations with CBP officers will backfire, fast. They don't laugh. They'll flag you for secondary inspection or refuse entry entirely.
If you're pulled aside for secondary inspection, stay calm. Cooperate. This extra screening is routine. It does not necessarily signal a problem with your application.
Write your Richmond address down to the last digit. The declaration form won't accept "Richmond, VA", it wants the hotel name or street address spelled out.

Customs & Duty-Free

Richmond isn't exempt. US Customs regulations hit every port of entry with the same force. CBP guards the gates, no exceptions. They enforce strict rules on what crosses the border to protect public health, agriculture, national security. One slip, accidental non-declaration counts, can trigger fines, seizure of goods, and a black mark that'll haunt every future entry.

Alcohol
1 liter (approximately one standard bottle) duty-free for personal use
21 or older, no exceptions. That's the US legal drinking age. Bring more than 1 liter and you'll pay federal duty plus whatever state and local taxes Virginia decides to slap on. Cross into the Commonwealth, and Virginia state law takes over.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes (one carton) or 100 cigars duty-free
21 years or older, federal law since December 2019. Cuban cigars? You can bring them back for personal use, not resale. Policy changed. Always check cbp.gov, rules still shift.
Currency and Monetary Instruments
Bring in or out as much cash as you like, no ceiling. Declare anything at USD $10,000 or above, foreign equivalent included.
Cash, traveler's checks, money orders, and certain negotiable instruments, declare them or lose them. Failure to declare is a federal crime and they'll seize every dollar. No tax on declared amounts, none. Declaration is just paperwork, nothing more.
Gifts and Personal Goods
USD $800 fair retail value per person duty-free (the 'personal exemption')
Goods over $800 get hit with duty, only on the excess. Personal use only. Family counts. Gifts? They eat your exemption.
Medications and Pharmaceuticals
A 90-day personal supply of prescription medication is generally permitted
Pack meds in their original bottles, no repackaging. Bring a photocopy of your prescription or a doctor's letter. Controlled substances, opioids, certain sedatives, need extra paperwork. They can be denied even with a valid foreign prescription. Check cbp.gov before you fly with controlled medications.

Prohibited Items

  • Marijuana remains federally illegal across the US, even in states that've legalized it. The federal ban overrides any state law. Period.
  • Firearms and ammunition without prior ATF/CBP authorization
  • Counterfeit goods, pirated software, and trademark-infringing items
  • Fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats, from regions battling agricultural pests or disease, won't clear customs. They're seized. Every time.
  • Soil, unprocessed plant material with roots attached, and live insects
  • Bringing home a carved ivory bracelet or a dried seahorse keychain is illegal. Customs officers worldwide confiscate thousands of items made from endangered species (CITES-listed animals and plants) without permits every year. You won't get a warning. You'll get a fine, possible jail time, and the souvenir goes straight to an evidence locker.
  • Cuban cigars in quantities exceeding personal use allowances (for resale)
  • Child pornography, any material sexualizing minors
  • Active trade restrictions now cover certain agricultural products from specific countries. Check your suppliers.
  • Biological agents and toxins without proper CDC/USDA permits

Restricted Items

  • Firearms and ammunition, get ATF clearance first. Hunters bringing firearms must comply with specific import procedures.
  • Prescription medications containing controlled substances, require documentation. Amounts above a 90-day supply may require a DEA import permit
  • Anything older than a century needs paperwork. Cultural artifacts and antiquities, items over 100 years old, may require export permits from the country of origin plus import documentation.
  • Food rules shift by border and by bite, declare everything edible, no exceptions.
  • USDA APHIS permits are mandatory for plants and seeds. Undeclared plants get seized.
  • Bring in more than 1 liter of booze and you'll pay both federal duty and Virginia's state excise tax, no exceptions.
  • Cuban goods above personal use limits, commercial quantities require an OFAC license.

Health Requirements

No shots, no forms, most tourists walk straight in. The United States won't ask for routine health paperwork if you're coming for standard tourism. Simple. Yet exceptions bite. Specific vaccination requirements apply in certain circumstances. Got measles on your record? They'll notice. Individual health situations may affect eligibility for entry.

Required Vaccinations

  • COVID-19 vaccination requirement was lifted as of May 2023. No COVID-19 vaccination proof is currently required for entry into the United States.
  • Fiancé(e) visas and adjustment of status applicants face one hard rule, they must prove vaccination against CDC-specified diseases. MMR, polio, varicella, hepatitis An and B, influenza, and others. No exceptions. This requirement covers immigration medical exams only. Standard tourist entry doesn't trigger it.
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if arriving from or having transited through a yellow fever-endemic country, check CDC country-specific requirements at cdc.gov

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Before you book, get your shots. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella, polio, check them off. Annual influenza vaccine too. Up to date means you're ready to travel.
  • COVID-19 vaccination: the CDC wants every eligible person vaccinated, period. Travel or no travel. You won't need proof for US entry.
  • Hepatitis An and B shots, get them. Most long-term visitors to the US need both, if you've got risk factors.
  • Book the appointment now. Four to six weeks before wheels-up, see your physician or a travel-medicine clinic. They'll tailor every shot, pill, and precaution to your body and your exact itinerary.

Health Insurance

A single ER visit in the United States can wipe out your savings, USD $1,500, $30,000 or more without insurance. No universal healthcare here. Medical care is expensive, period. Buy travel health insurance with complete medical coverage before you board the plane. Your policy must cover emergency hospitalization, medical evacuation, and repatriation. Some US hospitals demand proof of insurance or a payment deposit before they'll touch non-emergency cases. Richmond keeps several major medical facilities ready. VCU Medical Center runs a Level I Trauma Center. Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital stands nearby. Both will treat you, after they see your wallet.

Current Health Requirements: Health rules can flip overnight. One outbreak, like COVID-19, and Richmond suddenly demands new paperwork. Before you board, pull up the CDC's Travelers' Health page (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel) and the US Department of State's site (travel.state.gov) for the latest US entry rules. Feeling sick? US CBP officers can, and will, send anyone with symptoms straight to CDC staff for screening.

Protect Your Trip with Travel Insurance

Comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Many countries recommend or require travel insurance.

Get a Quote from World Nomads
Read our complete Richmond Travel Insurance Guide →

Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Emergency Services
911, Police, Fire, and Ambulance
911 is the universal emergency number throughout the United States, including Richmond, Virginia. Use this number for any life-threatening emergency. Non-emergency police in Richmond: (804) 646-5100
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
cbp.gov, Official US customs and border entry information
Declare everything. That is the only rule that matters. US Customs doesn't care if your snacks look harmless, if you don't tick the box, they'll fine you and confiscate them. Food: fresh fruit, meat, dairy, seeds, leave them at home. Packaged, shelf-stable snacks usually clear. But you must still declare. One undeclared apple can cost you $300. Medications: bring the original bottle plus a doctor's letter. Narcotics need extra paperwork, check the DEA list before you fly. Customs officers have heard every excuse. They won't bend. Cash over $10,000? Fill FinCEN Form 105 before you land. They'll count every dollar, euro, and yen. Splitting cash among friends to dodge the limit is called smuggling. Duty-free alcohol: one liter per adult is duty-free, but state laws vary. Texas lets you haul a case; Utah won't. Know your destination's rules or pay double at the state store. ESTA: if you're from a Visa Waiver country, apply online at least 72 hours before departure. Cost is $21. Print the approval, airlines check before boarding. No ESTA, no flight. Port of entry procedures: deplane, follow the signs, join the snake line. Have passport, customs form, and ESTA printout ready. Officers ask rapid questions, answer short, answer true. Phones away. Jokes don't help. Global Entry: $100 for five years, conditional approval in weeks, interview on arrival. Skip the regular line. Nexus and Sentri work too, pick the program that matches your travel pattern. If flagged for secondary inspection, wait. Bags will be searched. Cooperate. Most delays wrap in 30 minutes. Arguing adds hours. Bottom line: declare, document, and don't rush the officer. You'll be on your way faster than you think.
US Department of State, Visa Information
travel.state.gov, Official US visa and passport information
B-1/B-2 visa applications hinge on one thing: the DS-160. Screw it up and you'll wait months for another slot, no exceptions. The form is online, 90 minutes of joyless boxes, and every answer must match your story at the interview. Print the confirmation page. They won't even look at your phone. Embassy locations: in Bogotá the building sits on Ave 8N #15-87, a 15-minute cab from the old town. Abuja's is at Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, gate closes at 2 p.m. sharp. Beijing applicants queue outside 55 A Jia Lou Lu before sunrise. Guards open at 6:30 a.m. and the line already snakes around the block. Interview scheduling: pay the 160 USD fee first, keep that receipt number. Then log in, pick the earliest grey square, colour means gone. Bogotá releases new slots every Friday at noon. They vanish in 12 minutes. Abuja drops theirs on the first working Monday of each month. Set an alarm. Wait times by country: Bogotá averages 22 calendar days, Abuja 38, Beijing 4. These numbers bounce, check the travel.state page the morning you book, not the night before. Bring originals: bank letter, employer letter, return ticket. Copies get tossed back. Smile, answer short, and leave before they think of another question.
ESTA Application Portal
esta.cbp.dhs.gov, Official ESTA application for Visa Waiver Program travelers
Stick to the official CBP site. Plenty of copycat ESTA pages slap on an extra $50-$90 for the same government form.
Your Country's Embassy in Washington DC
If you land in jail, break a leg, or overstay your visa, call your embassy first. They'll sort the paperwork, pay the hospital, or get you a lawyer, fast.
A complete list of every foreign embassy in Washington DC lives at state.gov/foreign-embassies-and-consulates-in-the-united-states.
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
flyrichmond.com, Airport information, ground transportation, and arrivals
Richmond's front door sits 7 miles southeast of downtown. Call (804) 226-3000 for airport intel.
CDC Traveler Health
wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel, Current US health entry requirements and recommendations
Scan health advisories now. Vaccination rules shift fast, check your origin country's requirements before you book. Disease outbreaks? They flare without warning.

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Your kid needs their own US passport, full stop. No piggy-backing on yours. Under 18? Traveling with one parent or a non-parent adult? Carry a notarized consent letter from the absent parent(s). Spell out travel dates, destination, and the adult's contact info. CBP doesn't always ask. But when they do, you'll wait. Different last names? Bring birth certificates or adoption papers. Unaccompanied minors face airline policies plus CBP rules.

Traveling with Pets

Dogs entering the United States face new rules. The CDC regulations updated in August 2024 changed everything. Dogs that have been in a country with high canine rabies risk, most countries outside North America and Western Europe, within the past 6 months must jump through hoops. These pups need specific documentation and entry requirements. That may include proof of vaccination meeting CDC specifications, microchipping, and entry through a CDC-approved airport. No shortcuts. Dogs vaccinated in the US or coming from low-risk countries catch a break. Their requirements stay simple. Much easier. Cats slide through. They have no federal vaccination requirements for entry. But don't celebrate yet, airline-specific health certificate requirements still apply. Each carrier sets their own rules. Richmond (RIC) airport creates a potential snag. It may not be a designated CDC-approved entry airport for dogs with special requirements. Check before you book. Verify at cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states.

Extended Stays Beyond 90 Days

Ninety days. That's your hard ceiling under the Visa Waiver Program, no extensions, no status changes from inside the US. Period. B-2 visa holders get one narrow window: file Form I-539 through USCIS before your clock runs out. Approval isn't promised. The wait drags for months. Anyone even thinking of staying longer needs an immigration attorney, yesterday. Overstay by a single day and you've triggered unlawful presence. The penalty? A 3-year or 10-year bar to future US entry, based on how long you overstay.

Travelers with Criminal Records

One forgotten shoplifting ticket from college can kill your US trip. Any prior arrest, conviction, or charge, even for minor offenses, even if charges were dropped, even if the record was expunged, may affect US visa eligibility and admissibility. VWP travelers with any criminal record are generally ineligible for ESTA and must apply for a B-2 visa with full disclosure. Crimes involving moral turpitude, controlled substances, or certain other categories may result in permanent inadmissibility absent a waiver. Travelers in this situation should consult a US immigration attorney before attempting to travel.

Dual Citizens

The United States won't formally recognize dual citizenship. But it doesn't prohibit it either. US citizens who hold dual citizenship must always enter and exit the US on their US passport. No exceptions. For non-US dual nationals, the passport used to enter the US determines which entry requirements apply. Simple rule. If you hold citizenship in a VWP country, you may use that passport and ESTA. Your other citizenship doesn't matter here.

Know What to Pack

Climate-specific clothing, travel documents, electronics, and gear, with shopping links for every item.

View Richmond Packing List →

Ready to plan your trip to Richmond?

Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.

Top Things to Do

Curated attractions, tours, and experiences in Richmond.

Browse activities →

Where to Stay

Best neighbourhoods and hotels for every budget.

Find hotels →

What to Pack

Climate-specific gear and essentials for Richmond.

See packing list →

Continue Planning Your Trip

Health & Safety

Stay safe while traveling for Richmond

Stay Connected

Internet and phone options for Richmond

Packing List

What to bring on your trip for Richmond

Budget Guide

Trip costs and money tips for Richmond