United States ESTA
Everything you need for your United States ESTA: requirements, processing times and answers to the most common questions.
Official United States government portal- Validity
- 2 years
- Maximum stay
- 90 days per entry
- Entry type
- Multiple
Overview
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, is the United States' online travel permit for citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries. It is not a visa: it is an authorisation to board a carrier and request admission to the United States for short stays, screened against security and law-enforcement databases before you travel. An approved ESTA is valid for two years from approval, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows multiple trips in that period.
Each visit may last up to 90 days for tourism, business meetings or transit. An ESTA does not authorise paid work, study toward a degree, work as a journalist for a US outlet, or permanent residence, which require the appropriate visa. It links electronically to the passport you apply with, so you must travel on that same passport.
Travellers from the roughly forty VWP countries, including most of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia, are eligible provided they hold a biometric passport. If your country is not in the programme, or you have previously been refused a US visa or removed from the United States, you will usually need a B-1/B-2 visa from a US embassy instead. Your ESTA is prepared in your own language and every answer is checked before it is submitted to US Customs and Border Protection.
United States ESTA questions
Is an ESTA a visa?
No. An ESTA is an electronic travel authorisation under the Visa Waiver Program, not a visa. It lets eligible nationals travel to the United States for tourism, business or transit without applying for a visa, for stays of up to 90 days.
How long is an ESTA valid?
An approved ESTA is valid for two years from approval, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows multiple entries. Each individual stay can be up to 90 days; the two-year validity is not a permitted length of stay.
How much does a US ESTA cost?
You pay one all-inclusive price that includes a government fee set by US Customs and Border Protection and our service fee, with the government portion itemised on your receipt. The government fee is paid directly to CBP, while our fee covers the review and submission of your application.
Who needs a US ESTA?
Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries who hold a valid e-passport and travel for up to 90 days. Every traveller, including children and infants, needs their own ESTA. Travellers who already hold a valid US visa use that visa instead.
Can I work or study on an ESTA?
No. The Visa Waiver Program covers tourism, business meetings and transit only. Paid work, study or long-term stays require the corresponding US visa, which you apply for at a US embassy or consulate.
When should I apply, and how long does approval take?
US Customs and Border Protection recommends applying at least 72 hours before departure. Most applications are approved within minutes, but some are referred for additional review, so applying early is sensible.
Is VisitPass an official government website?
No. VisitPass is an independent service that reviews and submits your ESTA application to US Customs and Border Protection. We are not affiliated with the US government; the government fee is paid directly to CBP and itemised on your receipt, separate from our service fee.
How long can I stay in the US, and can I extend my stay?
Each entry on an ESTA allows a stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business or transit. The 90 days cannot be extended, and you cannot string together back-to-back trips to live in the United States. If you need to stay longer, apply for the appropriate US visa at an embassy.
Do I need to print my ESTA before I travel?
No. An approved ESTA is held electronically against your passport, so the airline and border officers see it automatically and there is no printout to carry. We still suggest saving a copy of the approval email or your application number so you can check the status if you want to.
Do I need an ESTA for a layover or connection in the US?
Yes. The Visa Waiver Program has no separate transit exemption, so you need an approved ESTA even if you only change planes at a US airport without leaving the transit area. Apply before you travel, exactly as you would for a visit.
What do I need to apply for an ESTA?
A biometric passport valid for your stay, your arrival flight details and a US contact address, a valid email address and a payment card. There is no photo requirement. The eligibility questions about health and immigration history are the part that matters most, so answer them carefully.
What happens if my ESTA is refused?
If an ESTA is not approved it usually means the Visa Waiver Program is not the right route for that trip, for example because of a past US visa refusal or a criminal record, and you would normally apply for a B-1/B-2 visa at a US embassy instead. Where a refusal is outside your control our service fee is refunded; the government fee is paid to the authority and is non-refundable.
Does an approved ESTA mean I will be admitted to the United States?
No. An approved ESTA authorises you to travel to a US port of entry, but the Customs and Border Protection officer there makes the final admission decision. Carry proof of onward or return travel and evidence of your ties at home, and be ready to explain the purpose and length of your visit.
How do I complete the ESTA application?
You answer a single set of questions covering your passport, your contact and travel details, and the eligibility statements about health and immigration history. We guide you through each field in your own language, check your answers for completeness before submission, and send the application to US Customs and Border Protection on your behalf.
Can I apply for my children or family at the same time?
Every traveller needs a separate ESTA, including children and infants, because each authorisation is tied to one passport. You can complete the applications one after another in the same session, and the fees are charged per traveller. Use each person's own passport details exactly as printed when you apply.
Can a dual national use an ESTA?
It depends. Dual nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries usually qualify, but holding citizenship of, or having travelled to, certain designated countries can make a traveller ineligible for an ESTA and require a B-1/B-2 visa instead. Apply with the Visa Waiver Program passport you intend to travel on and answer the eligibility questions honestly.
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