All About ESTA – What It Is, How To Apply, Who Is Qualified & FAQS

ESTA is an electronic program that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States without a visa. It stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

Even if they meet all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) standards, those without ESTA cannot enter the US. In 2009, the US Department of Homeland Security introduced this system to secure travel and speed up authorizations.

The ESTA allows 90 days in the US. ESTAs are only valid for short visits. US Visitor Visas allow you to stay for 6 months and then extend.

ESTA is merely a document to enter the US. It cannot replace a visa. If you want to visit the US for anything other than leisure or business, you’ll need a visa.

What Are the ESTA Countries?

Here is the list of countries eligible for the ESTA:

• Andorra-1991
• Australia-1996
• Austria-1991
• Belgium-1991
• Brunei-1993
• Chile-2014
• Czechia-2008
• Denmark-1991
• Estonia-2008
• Finland-1991
• France-1989
• Germany-1989
• Greece-2010
• Hungary-2008
• Iceland-1991
• Ireland-1995
• Italy-1989
• Japan-1988
• South Korea-2008
• Latvia-2008
• Liechtenstein-1991
• Lithuania-2008
• Luxembourg-1991
• Malta-2008
• Monaco-1991
• Netherlands-1989
• New Zealand-1991
• Norway-1991
• Poland-2019
• Portugal-1999
• San Marino-1991
• Singapore-1999
• Slovakia-2008
• Slovenia-1997
• Spain-1991
• Sweden-1989
• Switzerland-1989
• Taiwan-2012
• United Kingdom-1988
• Croatia-2021

In 2016, the US started implementing a change in the Visa Waiver Program under the “Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015”. Since then, certain travelers would no longer be eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. The following groups of people are affected by that change:

• Nationals of visa waiver countries who have been in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 01, 2011. It should be noted that there are some exceptions for diplomats and military personnel.
• Nationals of visa waiver countries who also hold a nationality of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.
• Starting on August 06, 2019, travelers who have visited North Korea after March 01, 2011 will not be eligible for ESTA.

ESTA Requirements

To qualify to get the ESTA, you must fulfill its requirements. You are allowed to apply for this travel authorization documents if you:

• Have citizenship of one of the 40 countries which are part of the Visa Waiver Program.
• Are planning to stay in the US for 90 days or less.
• Do not have a valid US visitor visa (B-1 visa or B-2 visa).
• Are traveling to the US for tourism or business.

If you do not fulfill even one of these requirements, then you are not eligible to apply for the ESTA and must go through visa applications to be allowed to travel to the US.

Determine whether you are eligible for ESTA here.

How to Apply for ESTA?

Here are the steps you need to take to obtain an ESTA

• Complete the ESTA form.
• Submit the necessary documents.
• Make your payment.
• Wait for the application to process.

Completing the ESTA Form

The first step is to fill out the ESTA form on the Customs and Border Protection website. You can apply either for yourself as an individual or for a group of persons. Group applications are typically utilized when traveling with family or friends. It will request your personal details, including your passport identification numbers. This data is as follows:

• Your name and last name.
• Parent information.
• Citizenship.
• Contact information.
• Employment information, etc.

It then cross-references that information to various legal databases to determine whether you are a security threat or not.

Submit the necessary documents

Due to this the documents that you need to apply for the ESTA are:

• A valid e-Passport for 6 more months after your intended departure from the US.
• Valid payment method (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or PayPal).
• After you enter your information and complete all the steps, you must wait for the application to be processed.

To avoid ESTA fraud please read the article here.

Pay the ESTA fees

In order to apply for the ESTA, there is a cost that applicants must pay. The total ESTA cost is $21 per applicant. The fee is broken down in two parts:

• Processing Fee: is $4 per applicant and is charged to anyone who applies for the ESTA
• Authorization Fee: is $17 per applicant and is charged to anyone who gets an approval for their ESTA. If your ESTA is denied, then you will only have to pay $4 and the additional $17 is not charged to you.

Payment methods vary, but the system only accepts credit cards and PayPal, so be sure you have one of these to pay with.

The ESTA is less expensive than filing for a visa, which costs roughly $160 for the B-1 or B-2 visa. As a result, ESTA is significantly more desirable for short-term travelers participating in the US Visa Waiver Program.

How Long is the ESTA Processing Time?

In most cases, if your information does not reveal any potential security threats or previous criminal history, you will receive a response within 72 hours.

How Long is ESTA Valid for?

If your ESTA is approved after application, it will either be valid for 2 years or until your passport expires. If your passport will expire before 2 years have passed, then the ESTA will be valid until that date.

How Many Times Can I Enter the US With an ESTA?

Enter the US many times and stay for 90 days. However, avoid frequent visits to avoid suspicions that you live in the US. If you visit the US for 90 days and return after 10 days, Customs and Border Protection may prohibit your admission. Before returning to the US, wait a decent period of time.

Does Having a Valid ESTA Guarantee Entry Into the US?

Even if you have a valid ESTA, it does not guarantee entry into the US. That decision is up to the officials at the US port of entry. Both US visas and ESTA are only authorizations for you to travel to the US. Whether you are allowed into the country or not is at the discretion of border protection.

Do I Need to Apply for ESTA Even If I Want to Transit Through USA?

Yes, you must get an ESTA even for transit through the US. If you are going to Cuba for example, you must have a valid ESTA application to transit in the US.

Can I Extend my Stay With an ESTA?

ESTA holders cannot stay longer in the US. Your documents allow you to stay for 90 days.

You cannot alter your status if you get a job in the US. You cannot accept an H-1B visa employment because you cannot alter your status in the US. Return home and apply for a new visa.

When Should I Renew the ESTA?

If your ESTA expires after 2 years or your passport expires, you must renew it to travel to the US. Your ESTA may be cancelled if new information about you raises security concerns.

ESTA renewal requires a new application. Besides those two cases, you must renew your ESTA if:

• You get a new passport.
• You change your name.
• You change your gender.
• You change your country of citizenship.
• You become convicted of a crime or any other circumstances change that make it necessary for you to reapply for the ESTA.

The ESTA renewal is the same as applying for it and you must go through the same process.

Do Children Need an ESTA?

The Visa Waiver Program requires ESTA for US travel. Infants, children, adults, and seniors are included. Even children without passports need ESTAs.

In these cases, parents should submit group applications with their children. Children and adults apply the same way.