Applying for a US Visa Online for Travel to Hawaii

Updated on Aug 21, 2024 | Online US Visa

If you want to visit Hawaii for business or tourism purposes, you will have to apply for a US Visa. This will provide you with permission to visit the country for a period of 6 months, for both work and travel purposes.

One of the most popular holiday destinations in the whole world, Hawaii falls on the “to visit” bucket list for many. If you wish to plan a trip to Hawaii, we can assure you that you are not going to be disappointed - filled with breathtaking scenes and great adventure sports opportunities, this small island is located in the South Pacific Ocean and is also the biggest island amongst the cluster of Hawaiian islands.

Often described as Paradise Island, in Hawaii, you will be greeted by innumerable beautiful beaches and volcanic mountains. The place maintains a warm and soothing climate throughout the year, thus making it the ideal holiday destination for those who love a sunny vacation and also have a great sense of adventure

The Hawaiian culture is crafted on the values of kuleana (responsibility) and malama (care). The stunning destination has opened up once again to travellers after remaining closed for a prolonged period of time due to the Covid 19 pandemic, and the government has made great efforts to ensure the utmost safety for its citizens and visitors alike. The State has cooperated with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) federal international conditions and receives all vaccinated travellers to vacation in Hawaii quarantine-free. If you wish to visit Hawaii with a US visa, you will receive all the necessary details in this article!

Why Do I Need a Visa To Hawaii?

If you wish to enjoy the many different attractions of Hawaii, it is mandatory that you must have some form of visa with you as a form of travel authorization by the government, along with other necessary documents such as your passport, bank-related documents, confirmed air-tickets, ID proof, tax documents, and so on.

What is the Eligibility for the Visa to Visit Hawaii?

In order to visit the United States, you will be required to have a visa. There are primarily three different visa types, namely the temporary visa (for tourists), a green card (for permanent residence), and student visas. If you are visiting Hawaii mainly for tourism and sightseeing purposes, you will need a temporary visa. If you wish to apply for this kind of visa, you must apply for an US Visa Online, or visit the US embassy in your country to gather more information.

In the case that you are staying in the US for more than 90 days, then the ESTA will not be enough - you will be required to apply for Category B1 (business purposes) or Category B2 (tourism) visa instead.

What Are the Different Types of Visas to Visit Hawaii?

There are solely two types of visa that you must know about before you visit the United States or Hawaii -

B1 Business visa – The B1 Business visa is the best suited for when you are visiting the US for business meetings, conferences, and have no plan to gain employment whilst in the country to work for a US company.

B2 Tourist visa – The B2 Tourist visa is when you wish to visit the US for leisure or holiday purposes. With it, you can take part in tourism activities.

What is American Visa Online?

ESTA US Visa, or US Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is a mandatory travel documents for citizens of visa-exempt countries. If you are a citizen of a US ESTA eligible country you will need ESTA US Visa for layover or transit, or for tourism and sightseeing, or for business purposes.

Applying for an ESTA USA Visa is a straighforward process and whole process can be completed online. However its a good idea to understand what are essential US ESTA requirements before you begin the process. In order to apply for your ESTA US Visa, you will have to complete the application form on this website, provide passport, employment and travel details, and pay online.

Essential Requirements

Before you can complete your application for ESTA US Visa, you will need to have three (3) things: a valid email adress, a way to pay online (debit card or credit card or PayPal) and a valid passport.

  • A valid email address: You will need a valid email address to apply for ESTA US Visa application. As part of the application process, you are required to provide your email address and all communication regarding your application will be done via email. After you complete the US ESTA application, your ESTA for United States should arrive in your email within 72 hours.
  • Online form of payment: After providing all the details regarding your trip to United States, you are required to make the payment online. We use Secure PayPal payment gateway to process all payments. You will need either a valid Debit or Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay) or PayPal account to make your payment.
  • Valid passport: You must have a valid passport that has not expired. If you do not have a passport, then you must apply for one immediately since ESTA USA Visa application cannot be completed without the passport information. Remember that US ESTA Visa is directly and electronically linked to your passport.

How Can I Apply for A Visa to Visit Hawaii?

In order to apply for a visa to visit Hawaii, you will first have to fill up an online visa application or DS - 160 forms. You will have to submit the following documents:

  • Original Passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the US with a minimum of two blank pages.
  • All old Passports.
  • Interview appointment confirmation
  • A recent photograph measuring 2” X 2” was taken against a white background. 
  • Visa application fee receipts / proof of payment of visa application fee (MRV fee).

Once you successfully submit the form, next you will need to schedule an interview at the US embassy or consulate. The period that you have to wait to get your appointment scheduled depends upon how busy they are at the given time.

In your interview, you will be required to present all the necessary personal documents, as well as tell the reason for your visit. Once it gets over, you will be sent a confirmation on whether your visa request has been approved or not. If it gets approved, you will be sent the visa within a short period of time and you can have your vacation in Hawaii!

Do I Need to Take A Copy of My US Visa?

It is always recommended to keep an extra copy of your eVisa with you, whenever you are flying to a different country. If in any case, you are unable to find a copy of your visa, you will be denied entry by the destination country.

How Long Is the US Visa Valid For?

The validity of your visa refers to the time period for which you will be able to enter the US using it. Unless it has been specified otherwise, you will be able to enter the US at any time with your visa prior to its expiry, and as long as you have not used up the max number of entries granted to a single visa. 

Your US visa will become effective right from the date of its issuance. Your visa will become automatically invalid once its period is over regardless of the entries being used up or not. Usually, the 10 Years Tourist Visa (B2) and 10 Years Business Visa (B1) has a validity of up to 10 years, with 6 months stay periods at a time, and Multiple Entries.

Can I Extend a Visa?

It is not possible to extend your US visa. In the case that your US visa expires, you will have to fill up a new application, following the same process that you followed for your original Visa application. 

What Are the Main Airports in Hawaii?

 The main airports in Hawaii that most people opt to fly to are the Hilo International Airport (ITO) and Kona International Airport (KOA). They are connected with most of the major airports of the world.

What Are Some of The Top Things To Do In Hawaii?

As per what we mentioned earlier, there are so many things to see and do in the city, that you will pretty much need to cram up your itinerary as much as possible! Some of the most popular sightseeing attractions visited by tourists include the Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, and the Waimea Canyon State Park.

Waikiki Beach is one of the top tourist spots in the area where you will find many sunbathers enjoying the warm sunshine. There are plenty of watersport activities available here, whereas the Waikiki Historic Trail is a great tourist attraction. The Pearl harbour and Waimea Canyon State Park are other great tourist spots, where tourists will be offered a piece of incredible historic information along with spectacular scenery. 

The Volcanoes National Park is a captivating stop - the active volcano is a geographic wonder where you will witness hot lava oozing out of the volcano! There are some great snorkelling and diving spots, and you simply cannot miss out on the Manta Ray Night Dive.

Waikiki Beach

One of the top tourist spots in Hawaii, there is no shortage of great sunbathing spots in the area, even on the hottest of days! There are several watersports’ opportunities here and the Waikiki Historic Trail is a must for every traveller to visit, who wishes to get a great view of the area.

Pearl Harbor

Yet another huge tourist attraction in the area, the USS Arizona Memorial has been kept open for visitors who wish to see this piece of history for themselves and find out more about this major part of American war history. Here you will also find many other WWII aircraft and artefacts as well as the remains of the sunken ship to see.

Waimea Canyon State Park

A breathtaking experience that you will not forget anytime soon, the stunning scenery in this area runs along the ten-mile length of the canyon. Otherwise referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, you will witness numerous amazing views and beautiful waterfalls if you take part in one of the guided tours. This area is a favourite of hikers for its various opportunities to explore some of the more advanced trails.

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What Are the Top Job and Travel Opportunities In Hawaii?

Since the population of Hawaii is smaller than that of the other US destinations, the working opportunities can tend to be quite limited. Most of the work opportunities available here are based on the tourism and hospitality sector, since there are many hotels, restaurants, watersports centres available here.


Polish citizens, Portuguese citizens, Dutch citizens, and Norwegian citizens can apply online for ESTA US Visa.