ESTA: who needs one, what it costs, how to apply

What is an ESTA?

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. It's the online permission you need to visit the US without a visa, under what the US calls the Visa Waiver Program. It isn't a visa. You apply online, and once it's approved, it's linked to your passport.

There's nothing to print: the US tells your airline whether you're approved. And just like a visa, an ESTA doesn't guarantee entry. The officer at the border still decides.

Who needs an ESTA?

Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, travelling for up to 90 days for tourism, business or transit. That's most EU countries, plus the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Chile, Israel and Qatar, among others. I'm German, so ESTA is my route too.

A few things people get wrong:

• Canadians don't need an ESTA at all.
• Romania isn't in the programme. It was announced in January 2025, but the US cancelled it on 2 May 2025 before it started, so Romanians still need a visa.
• Qatar is the newest member: Qataris have been able to apply since 21 November 2024.
• You need an e-passport, the kind with a chip (look for the small chip symbol on the cover). Without one, you need a visa.

Your passport: ESTA or visa?

Our visa checker covers 80 passports for trips to the US. Find yours below: each link opens the full rules for that passport, with the date we last checked them.

No ESTA or visa needed for a short visit: 🇨🇦 Canada.

Not on the list? The US government's own list has all 42 Visa Waiver Program countries.

Who can't use an ESTA?

Even with the right passport, you can't use an ESTA if:

• you've been to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011, or to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021 (there are exceptions for military and government work)
• you're also a citizen of Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Syria or Cuba
• you've ever stayed in the US longer than you were allowed to
• your passport isn't an e-passport

That isn't a travel ban. It means you apply for a visa instead.

How much does an ESTA cost?

US$40.27 per person, and US$40.62 from 16 October 2026. It was US$21 until September 2025.

The fee comes in parts: a processing fee (US$10.27, or US$10.62 from 16 October 2026), plus US$30 that's only charged if you're approved. So if you're refused, you only pay the processing fee. You can pay with Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover or PayPal.

How do you apply for an ESTA?

Online, on esta.cbp.dhs.gov or in the official ESTA Mobile app. The official site says the form takes about 23 minutes on average. Here's what you need:

• your e-passport from a Visa Waiver Program country
• a selfie (the form asks for one to confirm it's you)
• an email address, your home address and phone number
• an emergency contact, and a contact in the US (you don't need exact travel plans yet)
• a card or PayPal for the fee

1. Open esta.cbp.dhs.gov, or get the official ESTA Mobile app (search "US ESTA" in the App Store or Google Play).
2. Upload or scan your passport, then take the selfie.
3. Fill in your details and answer the nine security questions.
4. Pay the fee.
5. Check your status online. If it says "Authorization Approved", you're ready to travel.

The form also has a social media section. On the official website, it's optional today. The US has proposed making it mandatory, but we found no final decision as of October 2026.

Applying for your family? Someone else can apply on your behalf, and one payment can cover up to 50 applications. Every child needs their own ESTA and their own passport, babies included.

How long does an ESTA take?

Often minutes, but some applications stay "pending" for a while, and the official site doesn't promise a time. The US recommends applying when you book your trip, and it has also advised applying at least 72 hours before you fly. My advice: do it the day you book, then check your status once before you fly.

How long is an ESTA valid?

Two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Brunei passports are the exception, at one year. You can make several trips in that time, for up to 90 days each, with a reasonable gap between visits. Your ESTA only has to be valid on the day you arrive.

New passport? New ESTA. It's tied to the passport you applied with.

What can you do with an ESTA?

You can visit for up to 90 days for tourism, for business, or to change planes in the US.

You can't:

• work in the US
• study there
• work as foreign media
• extend your stay or change to another status

For any of those, or for stays over 90 days, you need a visa.

Do you need an ESTA to cross from Canada or Mexico?

Yes. Since 1 October 2022, you need an approved ESTA before you arrive at a US land border, not only when you fly. At land borders there's also a separate I-94 form with its own fee.

What if your ESTA is refused?

If your ESTA is refused, you can still apply for a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) at a US embassy or consulate. That usually means an interview, so leave plenty of time. Applying for an ESTA again with the same answers will just be refused again, and giving false answers can rule you out of the programme for good.

Planning the rest of your US trip

Once your ESTA is sorted, these are the things I'd look at next. They're paid links: if you book through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Apply on the official site the day you book, and the rest of the planning is the fun part. Safe travels!