ESTAwho needs it, the official fee, how to apply

Status

Required now

Official fee

US$40.62 · US$10.62 is charged to every applicant and US$30 more only if approved; since October 16, 2026 (was US$40.27). The fee is adjusted for inflation every fiscal year

Valid for

2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner

Each visit

Up to 90 days (Visa Waiver Program)

Official decision time

Most applicants get an answer right away; some are put on “Authorization Pending” and decided later. CBP advises applying at least 72 hours before departure

Apply at least

3 days before you travel (72 hours); earlier is safer

Apply only at

esta.cbp.dhs.gov · official ESTA website or the ESTA Mobile app

Who needs it

Of the passports we cover: British citizens, Australians, EU citizens. It is for tourism, business or transit of up to 90 days, by air, sea or land. British citizens qualify only if they have the right of permanent abode in the UK; other British nationality types need a visa. You need an electronic passport (with a chip).

Who doesn’t

Canadian citizens on a Canadian passport, U.S. citizens (dual nationals must use their U.S. passport), U.S. permanent residents, and anyone with a valid U.S. visa. Citizens of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania aren’t in the Visa Waiver Program and need a visa instead.

How to apply

1. Apply only on esta.cbp.dhs.gov or the official ESTA Mobile app from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
2. Have your electronic passport, an email address and a payment card or PayPal ready. The application now asks for a live photo of the traveler.
3. Apply at least 72 hours before you leave. Each person, including babies, needs their own ESTA.
4. A new passport, a name or citizenship change, or a change in your answers to the eligibility questions means a new ESTA.

Children

Every child, of any age, including babies who don’t have their own seat, needs their own ESTA unless they have a visa.

If you’re only changing planes

Yes. The United States has no airside transit: everyone connecting through a U.S. airport passes U.S. immigration, so you need an ESTA or a visa even for a short connection. Answer “yes” to the transit question on the form.

If it’s refused

You can apply for a U.S. visitor visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. If you think you were wrongly refused, DHS TRIP handles redress requests, but CBP says that doesn’t guarantee a different result. Embassies can’t explain ESTA refusals. Only the US$10.62 processing part of the fee is charged if you’re refused.

Proposed changes

In December 2025, CBP proposed making five years of social media history mandatory and moving new applications to the ESTA Mobile app only. As of our last check, we found no final rule or start date. We’ll update this page when there is one.