According to the Visa Waiver Program, whoever wishes to travel to the USA needs a licensing approval to board an air carrier of their choice. For this reason, on January 12th, 2009 the Electronic System for Travel Authorization became mandatory, allowing you to apply electronically for ESTA and get approval online. It is a US governmental program, which is managed by the Ministry of Internal Security, and its purpose is to control, by thorough procedures, passenger data before approving their right to enter the US.

What you should know

Brief and important information on ESTA.

  • ESTA isn’t a Visa but an exemption from the obligation to issue a Visa.
  • It is required for those wishing to enter the USA either by plane or by ship.
  • An approved ESTA does not guarantee entry, as there are continuous checks for traveller entry.
  • Only passport holders of countries participating in the VWP program can apply.
  • ESTA is valid for entry to all 50 states, as well as US territories such as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.
  • Those who are denied an ESTA are still eligible for a Tourist Visa Β2 or a Professional Visa Β1 to visit the USA.
  • An ESTA application must be submitted for each child and infant, and must be approved.

Conditions

  • The passport needs to be valid for 15 days after departure.
  • You must be a passport holder of a country participating in the VWP program.
  • Your stay in the USA may not exceed 90 days (3 months).
  • The airline or yacht company you use must be known to the US government.
  • You must have a return ticket or continue your journey, which doesn’t end at a neighbouring US border or island.

When should I apply, and how long is it valid for?

Travellers who wish to apply for ESTA will have to submit their application electronically 72 hours before their departure to the USA. It usually takes a few minutes to receive a response to your request, whether it’s accepted or rejected. It is a requirement for the U.S. entry to have a valid passport when applying for ESTA, and also at the time of departure from the U.S. In case of expiring ESTA while staying in the U.S., it is unnecessary to reapply for ESTA. Each traveller must carry their ESTA before boarding the plane or ship of their choice. Following approval, ESTA is valid for 2 years or until the expiration date of the passport, whichever comes first.

People who have travelled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen during or after March 1st, 2011, or people with dual nationalities from North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria are no longer eligible for an ESTA and must apply for a Visa to visit the USA for business or tourism purposes.

How much does an ESTA application cost?

The cost of ESTA comes to 40$ per person (it went up from 21$ at September 30, 2025). Beware of various sites that ask for large sums of money and deceive people.

Participating Countries
Andorra Australia Austria Belgium
Hungary Brunei Chile Czechia
Denmark Estonia Finland France
Germany Greece Iceland Ireland
Italy  Japan South Korea Letonia
Lichtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta
Monaco The Netherlands New Zealand Norway
Poland Portugal San Marino Singapore
Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden
Switzerland Taiwan The United Kingdom

Can I apply alone?

Obviously, the process can be done by yourself. It is pretty simple, and you needn’t pay a travel agency to do it for you. To start, click here.

Example of an approved ESTA application.
Example of an approved application in Greek

Indicatively, some of the information that the interested party must fill in in the application is the following:

  • Name and gender
  • Date and place of birth
  • Nationality
  • Other nationalities
  • Passport number and expiry date
  • Address
  • Names of parents
  • Contacts in case of an emergency: name, telephone, and address
  • Place of stay in the USA.
  • If you have ever been accused of a crime that had serious repercussions on property, or if you have ever harmed another person.
  • If you have ever been denied access to the USA or denied a Visa
  • If you have ever remained in the USA for longer than permitted.
  • If you have ever travelled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen from 2011 onwards.