🇺🇸 Flying to USA (New York City)
Visa · Health · Arrival · Flights — everything you need before you fly.
Content under review. Entry requirements and health rules change frequently. Information marked [VERIFY] has not yet been confirmed against authoritative sources. Do not rely on this page for travel decisions until verified content is published. Always check IATA Travel Centre and your government's travel advisory.
Last verified: July 22, 2026 · Recheck every few months — ESTA fee and VWP country list have both changed multiple times in the past 18 months.
Sources: www.cbp.gov, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, www.dhs.gov, www.gov.uk, en.wikipedia.org, wwwnc.cdc.gov, www.jfkairport.com
Avi's Insider Tip
The AirTrain-plus-subway routine sounds simple until you're doing it with a suitcase on the stairs. If it's your first trip or you've got more than a carry-on, just eat the cost of the flat-rate cab — $90-120 door-to-door after a long flight is worth it.
Travel essentials
Scannable data for the efficient traveler.
Sources: www.cbp.gov, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, www.dhs.gov, www.gov.uk, en.wikipedia.org, wwwnc.cdc.gov, www.jfkairport.com
Visa-free entry
Around 40 nationalities can enter the US visa-free for up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) using an approved ESTA instead of a visa. This includes the UK, most EU/EFTA countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Brunei, Chile, Israel, Qatar, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino. [VERIFY: Romania was added to the VWP in March 2025, then had its designation rescinded in May 2025 — status has been unstable; confirm the current full country list at cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/visa-waiver-program before booking.] VWP/ESTA does NOT apply if you have traveled to Cuba on or after January 12, 2021, or to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen after March 2011 — those travelers need a full B1/B2 visa even if their nationality otherwise qualifies.
The US does not offer visa on arrival for any nationality. Non-VWP travelers must obtain a B1 (business) or B2 (tourism) visa from a US embassy or consulate before departure — there is no way to get a US tourist visa at the airport.
Health & vaccines
No vaccines are legally required to enter the US for any nationality. The CDC recommends staying current on routine vaccines (MMR, Tdap, flu, COVID-19) for international travel generally, but nothing is a condition of entry.
The US does NOT require a yellow fever vaccination certificate for entry, regardless of which country you are arriving from or transiting through — unlike many countries in Asia, Africa, and South America.
Customs
200 cigarettes or 100 cigars, 1 liter of alcohol (21+) duty-free. Declare cash/monetary instruments over $10,000 — not illegal, just must be declared (a FinCEN Form 105 is filed). Fresh fruit, vegetables, and most meat products are prohibited and must still be declared even if you plan to eat them before landing — an undeclared item risks a $300+ fine.
🛂 Entry requirements
⚠️ US entry rules are federal (CBP/DHS) and apply identically no matter which US airport you fly into. Always confirm your nationality's current status at esta.cbp.dhs.gov before booking.
💉Health & vaccine requirements
⚠️ Health guidance sourced from CDC Travelers' Health (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel). Always confirm with your own doctor before departure, especially if you have onward travel to a yellow-fever or malaria-risk country.
Essential local apps
Download these before you land — tap a card to open the real app or site.
Uber
Ride-sharePickup points are terminal-specific at JFK — the app shows you the exact door/curb to wait at.
Lyft
Ride-shareAlso widely available at JFK — worth comparing price against Uber before you request.
Apple Pay / Google Pay
PaymentContactless tap-to-pay is accepted almost everywhere in NYC, including the AirTrain and subway (OMNY) — often faster than fumbling for a card.
Google Maps
NavigationWorks normally in the US — real-time subway/bus arrivals are built in, no workaround needed.
Arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
SIM & connectivity
The US doesn't have universal airport SIM kiosks the way many Asian airports do. AT&T and T-Mobile/Lycamobile counters (via InMotion) are in some JFK terminals; coverage varies by which one you land in. A tourist SIM runs roughly $30–$60 at the counter. Buying an eSIM online before you fly (Airalo, Holafly, etc.) is usually cheaper and guaranteed to be available.
US Dollar (USD). Contactless cards and Apple/Google Pay are accepted almost everywhere in NYC — you rarely need cash. Avoid the airport currency-exchange counters; their rates are poor.
Getting into town
AirTrain JFK ($8.75, tap any contactless card/phone or an OMNY card) connects every terminal to the subway at Jamaica or Howard Beach — add a subway fare (~$2.90 with OMNY) into Manhattan, so about $11.65 total and 50–75 minutes with bags. Yellow taxis have a fixed flat rate of $70 to/from Manhattan, but tolls, surcharges, and tip usually bring the real total to $90–$120, roughly 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. Uber/Lyft cost similarly to the taxi and pick up from a designated zone at each terminal.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit New York?▼
If your country is one of the ~40 Visa Waiver Program nationalities, you can apply for an ESTA online (esta.cbp.dhs.gov, $40.27, apply at least 72 hours ahead) instead of a visa, valid for stays up to 90 days. Everyone else needs a B1/B2 visa with a consular interview — apply well in advance, as wait times vary enormously by country.
Is a yellow fever vaccine required to enter the US?▼
No. The US does not require a yellow fever certificate for entry from any country, unlike many destinations in Asia, Africa, or South America.
What's the cheapest way from JFK to Manhattan?▼
AirTrain ($8.75) plus subway (~$2.90 with OMNY) gets you into Manhattan for about $11.65 total, in 50–75 minutes. A flat-rate yellow taxi is $70 plus tolls/surcharges/tip (realistically $90–$120) but is faster and easier with luggage.
Can I get a SIM card at JFK?▼
Some terminals have AT&T or T-Mobile/Lycamobile counters (around $30–$60 for a tourist plan), but not every terminal has one. Buying an eSIM online before you fly is usually cheaper and more reliable.
How much cash can I bring into the US?▼
There's no limit on how much you can bring, but any amount over $10,000 (cash or equivalent monetary instruments) must be declared to CBP on arrival.
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