Information about the ESTA

You may apply for an ESTA if you plan to travel for business, tourism or transit, with a stay of no more than 90 days.

To apply for an ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program, here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Verify Eligibility: Make sure you are a citizen or national of a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program. Make sure that your country of nationality is on the list of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program.

Confirm that your passport meets the program requirements. You must have an electronic passport or "e-Passport" to participate in the VWP. This type of passport includes a chip.

Step 2: Complete the online ESTA Electronic System for Travel Authorization Form.

    Upload your passport photo making sure the MRZ portion is legible and verify that the pre-filled information is correct.
    Provide the required personal information, travel details and health and security background accurately.
    Review all information before submitting the application.

Step 3: Payment of Fee

Your application will not be sent for processing until all payment information is received. All payments for the ESTA application can be made via credit/debit card, paypal or western union. The ESTA system currently only accepts the following credit/debit cards: MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover (JCB, Diners Club).

Step 4: Review your Application Status

After submitting the application, a determination is made as to whether a traveler is eligible to enter the United States under the VWP.  

You will receive emails at the same email address you provided on your form confirming the status of your application (Approved, Pending or Denied) will be evaluated and you will be notified if it has been approved. The final decision on entry into the United States will be made by Customs and Border Protection.

When you complete and submit the form, you will receive an ESTA application confirmation number. Use this information to check the status of your application. It may take up to 72 hours to find out if you have been authorized to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program.

Does a traveler ever need to reapply for travel authorization through ESTA?

Yes, a new travel authorization via ESTA is required when:

1. The traveler is issued a new passport
2. The traveler changes his or her name
3. The traveler changes his or her gender
4. The traveler’s country of citizenship changes
5. The circumstances underlying the traveler’s previous responses to any of the ESTA application questions requiring a “yes” or “no” response have changed.

ESTA approvals are typically granted for a two–year period or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever is sooner. ESTA provides validity dates upon approval of the application. Therefore, a traveler must apply for a new ESTA when the prior ESTA approval or passport expires. The associated fee will be charged for each new application submitted.

What should a traveler do if the information in his or her passport has changed?

If a traveler’s passport information changes, the individual is required to apply for a new travel authorization through ESTA.

How can I see the data I entered? Can I print out the information I entered?

The ESTA website will prompt applicants to review the data submitted for the overall application prior to submission. The applicant will be able to print out the entire application and their ESTA status upon completion of the application.

Once the browser is closed, the applicant will only be able to print out their ESTA status by retrieving their application. DHS recommends that travelers print out the ESTA application response to record their ESTA application number and to confirm their ESTA status.

How can I correct a mistake regarding Passport Issuance Date or Passport Expiration Date after completing my application?

An applicant can update the Passport Issuance Date or Passport Expiration Date as long as the application has not been paid for. If an applicant enters the wrong Passport Issuance Date or Passport Expiration Date after having paid for the ESTA application, the traveler will need to re-apply for a new travel authorization. The associated fee will be charged for each new application submitted. The previous application will be canceled.