You will find detailed instructions on this page. Visa-free entry is only possible if all 4 criteria are met. If not, you must apply for a visa. To do so, please contact the US Embassy in your country.
There are currently 36 countries in the Visa Waiver Program, including Switzerland. Citizens of these countries are able to visit the USA for up to 90 days without a visa.
Member countries in the Visa Waiver Program
| Andorra |
France |
Liechtenstein |
San Marino |
| Australia |
Germany |
Lithuania |
Singapore |
| Austria |
Greece |
Luxembourg |
Slovakia |
| Belgium |
Hungary |
Malta |
Slovenia |
| Brunei |
Iceland |
Monaco |
South Korea |
| Czech Republic |
Ireland |
Netherlands |
Spain |
| Denmark |
Italy |
New Zealand |
Sweden |
| Estonia |
Japan |
Norway |
Switzerland |
| Finland |
Latvia |
Portugal |
United Kingdom |
|
Source: dhs.gov
Check in plenty of time to make sure that your passport is still valid for a sufficient period of time and that it meets US requirements for visa-free entry into the USA. If this is not the case, then please either extend your passport or apply for a visa.
Specific passport requirements
Passports that were issued before 26.10.2005 need only contain one machine-readable zone. Passports that were issued between 26.10.2005 and 25.10.2006 must also have a digital photo.
www.dhs.gov 
contains exact details of the passport requirements, or else you can contact your local passport office.
Swiss citizens will find the exact passport requirements on www.schweizerpass.ch (German) .
You must have an electronic travel authorization (ESTA) if you wish to travel to the USA without a visa. Apply for the ESTA travel authorization at least 72 hours before your departure directly at esta.dhs.gov .
Note: Since 8.10.2010, the "US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)" has been charging USD 14 for the issue of an ESTA travel authorisation.
Validity of the ESTA travel authorisation
Your ESTA authorization is valid for up to two years provided it is not withdrawn and your passport does not expire. This means it is valid for several entries to the USA. You can update the address of your destination, travel route or future travel plans at the ESTA website.
Airlines use the "Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS)" to transmit the details of all passengers to the USA Immigration Department on the day of their departure. You must provide the full and correct details if you wish to avoid difficulties at your destination. These details include your name, passport number, address in the USA and so on.
To avoid queues at the airport, enter your APIS details when you check in online. They can also be recorded at the Quick Check-In machine or at the desk.
APIS online data entry
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires you to provide your full name, date of birth, and gender for the purpose of watch list screening, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. section 114, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and 49 C.F.R parts 1540 and 1560. You may also provide your Redress Number, if available. Failure to provide your full name, date of birth, and gender may result in denial of transport or denial of authority to enter the boarding area.
TSA may share information you provide with law enforcement or intelligence agencies or others under its published system of records notice. For more on TSA privacy policies, or to review the system of records notice and the privacy impact assessment, please see the TSA Web site at www.tsa.gov .
