Your ESTA application starts with checking more than whether your country appears on the Visa Waiver Program list. Your passport, travel purpose and previous travel history also matter—and an existing approval may need replacing if your circumstances have changed.
This guide explains who qualifies, what to prepare, the current fee and how to check your decision. You will also find practical advice on correcting mistakes, travelling with children and understanding the difference between two years of authorisation and a visit of up to 90 days.
Quick Answer: ESTA Application at a Glance
ESTA is an electronic travel authorisation for eligible travellers using the US Visa Waiver Program. It is not a visa and does not guarantee admission to the United States. If you are travelling on a valid US visa for the purpose for which it was issued, you do not also need ESTA.
| Question | What to know |
|---|---|
| Who is it for? | Eligible citizens or nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries travelling for permitted short visits or transit. |
| Where should you apply? | Through the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection ESTA website or ESTA Mobile app. |
| What is the current fee? | US$40.62 for an approved authorisation, effective 16 October 2026. |
| When should you apply? | When planning or booking your trip, at least 72 hours before boarding. |
| How long does approval last? | Generally two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first; exceptions apply. |
| How long can you stay? | Up to 90 days per admission under the programme, subject to the admission decision. |
1. Check Whether You Qualify for ESTA
Before gathering your documents, check how your nationality, travel history and planned visit affect your eligibility.
Understand ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program, usually shortened to VWP, allows eligible travellers to visit the United States without obtaining a visitor visa. ESTA is the electronic authorisation required to travel under that programme.
Permitted trips include holidays, visiting friends or relatives, and certain business activities such as attending meetings or conferences. Eligible VWP travellers can also transit through the United States.
Employment, degree-credit study and moving permanently to the country are outside the programme’s scope. If you intend to stay for more than 90 days, you will need to consider the appropriate visa route.
Check Citizenship, Not Just Where You Live
Living in a participating country does not automatically make you eligible. A UK residence permit, for example, does not give its holder the same VWP eligibility as an eligible British passport.
Start with the Department of State’s current Visa Waiver Program country list and requirements. Check the conditions attached to your nationality and passport, as well as the purpose and length of your visit.
For the wider document checklist, use our US entry requirements guide, which covers preparation beyond this authorisation.
Review Previous Travel and Dual Nationality
Certain travel histories and dual nationalities can prevent a traveller from using the VWP, even when their passport country participates.
Important restrictions include:
- Presence in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021.
- Presence in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011.
- Dual nationality with Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria.
Limited exceptions apply to certain qualifying diplomatic or military travel. An ordinary holiday or business visit should not be assumed to qualify for an exception.
These restrictions affect the route you can use to travel. They do not automatically mean you can never visit the United States.
What If You Are Not Eligible?
If your passport country does not participate, or your circumstances prevent you from using the VWP, check the appropriate visa requirements before booking. Tourism commonly falls under the B-2 visitor category, while permitted business visits fall under B-1; combined B-1/B-2 visas are also issued. Other travel purposes may require different categories. Allow time for the separate application and appointment process.
2. Prepare Your Passport and Application Information
Use the passport you will carry on your trip for your ESTA application. If you plan to renew it soon, completing the renewal first can save you from having to submit and pay for another application.
Check Your Passport Type and Validity
VWP travellers need an e-passport, which contains an electronic chip. An emergency or temporary passport must also meet the e-passport requirement to be used under the programme.
Passport validity is a separate check. The general US requirement is validity for six months beyond your intended departure, but country-specific agreements exempt many travellers from that additional six-month period.
Check the rule for your passport rather than assuming that every traveller needs six extra months—or that validity only until departure is always enough.
Have Your Details Ready
Before starting, prepare:
- Your valid passport and details of any additional passports requested.
- A traveller selfie photo, following the application’s instructions.
- An email address you can access.
- Your home address and telephone number.
- Emergency contact details.
- A supported payment method.
Depending on your circumstances, the form may also request other names, national identification numbers, employment information and a US point of contact.
Follow the live form’s instructions for passport capture, photographs and required information. Completing the form is easier when your documents and contact details are already beside you.
Include Every Child
Each traveller using the VWP needs their own passport and individual approval, including babies and children. A parent’s authorisation does not cover other family members.
A parent or another third party can complete the form on a child’s behalf. Review each child’s details against their own passport, especially when completing several applications together.
3. Complete Your ESTA Application Through the Official Service
Use the official ESTA website operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The government address is esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
The site also provides access to the official ESTA Mobile app. Follow its app-store links and check that the publisher is U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Check the Website Before Paying
A sponsored search result, government-style colour scheme or the word “official” in an advertisement does not establish that a service belongs to the US government.
Third-party services may charge additional fees for assistance. Check who operates the website and the total amount before entering passport or payment details. Applying directly through the government service keeps the process and applicable government charges clear.
Review the Form Carefully
The application covers applicant details, personal information, travel information and eligibility questions, followed by review and payment.
Pay particular attention to:
- Your name and date of birth.
- Passport number and issuing country.
- Passport issuance and expiry dates.
- Current and previous citizenship information.
- Previous travel and immigration history.
- Answers to the eligibility questions.
Read each question carefully and answer accurately. This is especially important for questions about previous refusals, citizenship and travel history.
Use the review stage to compare the information with your passport before paying. Keep access to the email account used for your submission so you can receive messages and retrieve your record.
Understand the Current Fee
As of 2 November 2026, the total government fee for an approved authorisation is US$40.62. This rate took effect on 16 October 2026.
The total consists of:
| Fee component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Processing fee | US$10.62 |
| Travel promotion fee | US$17.00 |
| General Fund fee | US$13.00 |
| Total if approved | US$40.62 |
If your application is denied, the applicable government charge is the US$10.62 processing fee.
Review the payment summary before confirming. Your payment provider may separately apply currency-conversion or transaction charges.
4. Allow Time and Check Your Decision
Submit your ESTA application when planning or booking your trip, at least 72 hours before boarding. CBP typically provides an application status within that period, but this is not a guaranteed deadline. Applying earlier gives you time to address errors or consider the appropriate visa route if travel is not authorised.
Understand the Three Main Statuses
| Status | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Authorization Approved | You are authorised to travel under the VWP, subject to its conditions. | Check the passport details and authorisation expiry date. |
| Authorization Pending | Your application remains under review. | Return to the official service to check the result. |
| Travel Not Authorized | You cannot travel under the VWP on this application. | Review the appropriate visa route if you still intend to travel. |
A pending result does not itself mean that a problem has been found. However, pending is not approval, and a payment receipt does not confirm that you are authorised to travel.
Retrieve Your Application
Use the status-checking option on the official service. You can retrieve an individual application using your application number, passport number and date of birth.
If you do not know the application number, an alternative retrieval option asks for additional passport and citizenship details. Enter these exactly as they appeared in the original submission.
For a family or group, check each traveller’s result individually rather than assuming everyone has received the same decision.
💡 Clara’s Tip:
Keep your application number, approval confirmation and expiry date together in your travel folder. ESTA is electronic, so a printed approval is not required, but a saved copy and an optional paper backup make your records easier to access. Label each family member’s confirmation clearly to avoid mixing up documents.
5. Understand Validity, Repeat Visits and the 90-Day Limit
An approval is generally valid for two years, or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first. It can generally cover multiple trips during that period, provided it remains valid and your circumstances still meet the requirements.
Exceptions apply. CBP states that new authorisations for travellers using a Brunei passport have a maximum validity of one year. Always check the actual expiry date displayed on your approval.
Two Years of Validity Is Different from Your Permitted Stay
There are two separate periods to keep track of:
| Period | What it means |
|---|---|
| Authorisation validity | The period during which you may use the approval to travel under the VWP. |
| Permitted stay | The period you are admitted for on a particular visit, up to 90 days under the programme. |
An authorisation valid for two years does not allow a two-year stay. Your deadline for leaving the country comes from your admission, not the expiry date on your ESTA record.
Similarly, if the authorisation expires after you enter the United States, that does not by itself shorten your permitted stay. You must still depart within the period granted for that admission.
Side Trips Usually Do Not Restart the Clock
A short visit to Canada, Mexico or a nearby island generally does not create a fresh 90-day allowance when you return under the VWP. You may be readmitted for the remainder of the original admission period.
For example, adding a brief Canadian side trip to a longer US holiday does not automatically reset your permitted stay. Plan the overall itinerary around the applicable admission period.
Repeat Visits Remain Subject to Assessment
A valid authorisation can cover repeat trips, but it is not permission to live in the United States through successive visits.
CBP does not specify one universal waiting period between trips. Your travel pattern and circumstances can still be assessed when you seek admission, so each visit should have a clear temporary purpose.
Keep your accommodation and onward-travel details accessible so you can explain the purpose and length of your visit if asked.
6. Deal with Mistakes, New Passports and Refusals
If You Entered Incorrect Information
A mistake in your passport or biographical details may require a new ESTA application and another fee.
Retrieve the existing record and check what can be updated. For errors involving identity or passport information, consult CBP’s instructions for correcting application mistakes before proceeding.
The important check is whether the authorisation accurately matches the passport and identity you will use to travel. An approval containing incorrect information should be resolved before departure.
If You Have a New Passport
A new passport requires a new authorisation. An approval linked to an old passport does not transfer automatically to its replacement.
Other relevant changes can also require a new application, including:
- A change of name.
- A change in your country of citizenship.
- A change to an answer to the eligibility questions.
Review these details even when the expiry date on an existing approval is still months away.
If Travel Is Not Authorised
If your circumstances have not changed, repeatedly submitting the same information is unlikely to resolve a refusal. CBP states that a new application will also be denied in those circumstances.
If you still intend to travel, review the appropriate nonimmigrant visa process. This is a separate application, and approval is not guaranteed.
Where you believe an error caused the result, seek official guidance on the next step. Keep all answers accurate rather than changing them simply to try to obtain a different decision.
7. Prepare for Departure and US Transit
Before departure, retrieve your authorisation once more and confirm that it remains approved, valid and linked to the passport you will carry. Check whether any relevant circumstances have changed since you applied.
Airlines check travel authorisation before boarding. ESTA approval allows you to travel under the programme; the admission decision remains with CBP.
Connecting Through the United States
Eligible VWP travellers can use ESTA for transit through the United States, including connections at JFK. An onward flight to another country does not exempt you from the travel authorisation requirements: you need approval before boarding your US-bound flight.
Our JFK Airport transit and connections guide explains the airport procedures involved. If New York is your destination, our JFK Airport arrival guide takes you through the arrival process.
Frequently Asked Questions About the ESTA Application
Is ESTA a US Visa?
No. It is an electronic authorisation for eligible travellers using the Visa Waiver Program. It cannot replace a visa when your nationality, travel purpose or circumstances require one.
How Much Does ESTA Cost in 2026?
The current government fee for an approved authorisation is US$40.62, effective from 16 October 2026. If the application is denied, the applicable processing charge is US$10.62.
How Long Does an ESTA Application Take?
An application status is typically available within 72 hours, although this is not a guaranteed deadline.
Can I Apply for ESTA at the Airport?
You can submit an online application if you have the necessary documents and internet access, but there is no airport shortcut or guaranteed immediate approval. You need approval before boarding under the VWP, so waiting until check-in risks missing your flight.
Do Babies and Children Need Their Own Approval?
Yes. Every child travelling under the VWP needs their own passport and individual authorisation, including babies.
Do I Need ESTA If I Already Have a Valid US Visa?
You do not also need ESTA when travelling on a valid US visa for the purpose for which it was issued. Check that your visa is appropriate for the intended trip.
Can I Use ESTA After Visiting Cuba?
With limited exceptions, presence in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021 makes a traveller ineligible to use the VWP. This can also affect an existing approval, so review the applicable visa route before travelling.
Can My ESTA Expire While I Am in the United States?
Yes. Expiry during your visit does not itself shorten your authorised stay; you must still leave by the deadline granted for your admission.
Final Thoughts
A well-prepared ESTA application starts with checking eligibility, using the correct passport and leaving time for a decision. Apply through the official service, review your details carefully and confirm each traveller’s approval before departure.
Before leaving for the airport, check each traveller’s approval status and passport details once more. Keep your confirmation accessible, and remember that your permitted stay is determined on admission—not by the expiry date of your ESTA.