Sacramento Entry Requirements
Visa, immigration, and customs information
Visa Requirements
Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.
Citizens of VWP-designated countries may enter the US, including Sacramento, for tourism, transit, or certain business activities without a visa. But must obtain ESTA approval before departure. ESTA is not a visa. It is an electronic pre-screening that must be approved before boarding a US-bound carrier.
Cost: USD $21 per application (includes a $4 processing fee and a $17 authorization fee if approved)
ESTA authorization is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and permits multiple visits. If you have traveled to Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011, you are no longer eligible for VWP, you must apply for a B-2 visa. Dual nationals of VWP and non-VWP countries must also apply for a visa rather than use ESTA.
Citizens of countries not in the Visa Waiver Program must apply for a B-2 (Tourism/Pleasure) nonimmigrant visa at a US embassy or consulate before traveling to Sacramento. This applies to the majority of countries in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia (outside Singapore and Brunei), and most of Latin America.
Cost: USD $185 non-refundable MRV (Machine Readable Visa) application fee. Additional issuance fees may apply depending on your country (reciprocity fees).
Canadian citizens do not need a visa or ESTA to enter the United States for visits under 180 days, only a valid Canadian passport. Mexican citizens with a valid US visa or Border Crossing Card (Laser Visa) may enter; others must apply for a B-2 visa. Overstaying your authorized period of admission can result in bars to future US entry and is a serious immigration violation.
Arrival Process
All international travelers arriving at Sacramento International Airport (SMF) or connecting through another US port of entry must clear US Customs and Border Protection before proceeding into Sacramento. The process involves several sequential steps that typically take 45, 90 minutes for most travelers.
Documents to Have Ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Customs & Duty-Free
US Customs and Border Protection enforces federal customs regulations at all ports of entry, including Sacramento International Airport. All travelers, including US citizens, must complete a customs declaration upon entry. The US has strict rules on prohibited and restricted items, regarding agriculture, food, and currency.
Prohibited Items
- Most fresh fruits, vegetables, and plants, USDA prohibits many agricultural products to prevent introduction of pests and diseases. Declare all food items regardless
- Meat and poultry from many countries, beef and pork products from countries with foot-and-mouth disease or other animal diseases
- Narcotics and controlled substances, including marijuana, which remains a federally controlled substance despite California state law. Carrying cannabis through airport security or across state lines is a federal crime
- Firearms and ammunition without prior authorization, import of firearms requires compliance with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulations
- Counterfeit goods, including fake designer items, pirated software and DVDs, and counterfeit currency
- Items made from endangered species, including ivory, sea turtle products, and certain animal skins under CITES treaty
- Cuban cigars above personal-use limits
- Soil and certain earth materials, potential vector for invasive species and plant diseases
Restricted Items
- Firearms, require advance import permits from ATF; licensed dealers have separate import procedures. Travelers must comply with both federal and California state laws (which are among the strictest in the US)
- Prescription medications, carry in original pharmacy containers with your name. Bring a doctor's letter for controlled substances. Quantities should be consistent with personal use for the trip duration
- Biological materials, soil samples, and live organisms, require USDA/CDC permits depending on the material
- Food products from specific countries, various country-specific restrictions on meat, dairy, and produce. Check USDA APHIS (aphis.usda.gov) for current restrictions
- Alcohol quantities above duty-free allowance, dutiable but not prohibited. Must declare and pay applicable duties
- Products from sanctioned countries (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria), subject to US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations. Limited personal-use exceptions may apply
Health Requirements
The United States does not generally require proof of vaccination for tourist entry under normal circumstances, though specific requirements can be introduced during public health emergencies. Health-related entry requirements for Sacramento visitors are governed at the federal level.
Required Vaccinations
- No vaccinations are currently required for tourist entry into the United States under standard conditions. During public health emergencies (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), temporary requirements may be imposed, check current CDC and CBP guidance before travel.
- Immigrants and certain nonimmigrant visa categories (not applicable to standard tourist visits) are subject to vaccination requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Recommended Vaccinations
- Routine vaccinations: Ensure all standard immunizations are up to date, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, varicella, polio, and annual influenza vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccination: Recommended by the CDC for all eligible travelers
- Hepatitis An and B: Recommended for most international travelers as standard precautions
- No special tropical disease vaccinations are required for Sacramento, the city has a Mediterranean climate with no malaria, yellow fever, or similar endemic tropical diseases
Health Insurance
The United States has no universal healthcare system and medical costs are extremely high by international standards. A single emergency room visit can cost USD $1,000, $5,000 or more. Hospitalization can reach tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Travel health insurance is not legally required for entry but is strongly recommended for all international visitors. Ensure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, medical evacuation, and trip cancellation. Many credit cards offer limited travel insurance, review your coverage carefully before relying on it.
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 NomadsRead our complete Sacramento Travel Insurance Guide →
Important Contacts
Essential resources for your trip.
Special Situations
Additional requirements for specific circumstances.
Children traveling with both parents require only their own valid passport (and ESTA or visa as applicable). A child traveling with only one parent or with a non-parent guardian should carry a notarized letter of consent from the absent parent(s), ideally with contact information. CBP officers may question single parents about custody arrangements. Adopted children and children in legal guardianship should carry supporting legal documentation. All children, regardless of age, must have their own passport, there are no longer family passports in the US system.
Dogs entering the US must be healthy in appearance. Dogs that have been in countries considered high-risk for dog rabies (most of the world outside the US, Canada, and certain other countries) require proof of US-issued microchip and US-issued rabies vaccination, or must be enrolled in USDA-approved confinement programs. The CDC updated dog import requirements in 2024, verify current rules at cdc.gov/importation/dogs before traveling. Cats face fewer restrictions but must appear healthy. Specific breeds may be subject to California state-level restrictions. Carry vaccination records and a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of travel.
VWP travelers cannot extend or change their status once in the US, they must leave before their 90-day authorization expires. Overstaying triggers a permanent bar from future VWP entry and may affect visa eligibility. For stays longer than 90 days, VWP travelers must apply for a B-2 visa before travel, which CBP can grant for up to 6 months and which can be extended in certain circumstances.
B-2 visa holders who wish to extend their stay must file Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) with USCIS before their authorized admission period expires. Filing must occur before the expiration date stamped in your passport or on your I-94 record. Processing times can be several months, file early. USCIS filing fee applies. Note that extension is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of USCIS.
Carry prescription medications in their original pharmacy-labeled containers. Bring sufficient supply for your entire trip plus extra. For controlled substances (narcotics, stimulants, benzodiazepines), carry a letter from your prescribing physician on official letterhead stating the diagnosis, medication name, dosage, and that the medication is for personal use. Some medications legal in your home country may be controlled or prohibited in the US, check the DEA (dea.gov) and FDA schedules if uncertain. Cannabis and cannabis-derived products (including many CBD products with THC content) remain federally prohibited regardless of California state law.
If you have previously been denied a US visa or entry, overstayed a prior visit, or have any prior immigration violations, you must disclose this on your ESTA application or visa application. Failure to disclose is grounds for denial and potential permanent bars to entry. If you have a prior immigration violation, consult an immigration attorney before attempting to travel to the US, as a prior overstay may make you ineligible for future entry or require you to apply for a waiver.
Know What to Pack
Climate-specific clothing, travel documents, electronics, and gear, with shopping links for every item.
View Sacramento Packing List →Ready to plan your trip to Sacramento?
Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.