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.
| Cost | $40.27 per person |
| Validity | 2 years or until passport expires |
| Max stay | 90 days per visit |
| Processing | Usually minutes, up to 72 hours |
| Apply officially | 👉 esta.cbp.dhs.gov |
| Apply via agent | 👉 iVisa.com |
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
- Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. Most nationalities should ensure their passport has at least 6 months’ validity from their entry date. Check the ‘Six Month Club’ exemptions on the official CBP website to see if your country qualifies for a shorter validity requirement.
- 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 visa application cost?
The ESTA fee is $40.27 per person as of 2026. It increased from $21 on September 30, 2025, following the US One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The fee is the same for adults, children, and infants. If your application is denied, you only pay the $10.27 processing fee.
Participating Countries
 Andorra |  Australia |  Austria |  Belgium |
 Hungary |  Brunei |  Chile |  Czech |
 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 |
How to Apply for an ESTA visa — Step by Step
You can apply entirely on your own — no travel agency needed. Here’s the process:
Step 1 — Go to the official ESTA portal :esta.cbp.dhs.gov
Step 2 — Click “New Application” and select “Individual Application”
Step 3 — Fill in your personal details like name, date of birth, passport number, and nationality
Step 4 — Answer the eligibility questions (criminal history, travel to restricted countries, etc.)
Step 5 — Provide your US travel details, address where you’ll be staying, and return flight info
Step 6 — Pay the $40.27 fee by credit or debit card
Step 7 — Receive your authorization, usually within minutes, up to 72 hours in some cases
💡 Apply at least 72 hours before departure. We recommend applying as soon as you book your trip.
The ESTA fee ($40.27) is the same whether you apply through the official portal or a third-party service. If you apply through iVisa.com, a service fee is added on top. Here’s when that extra cost is worth it:
- Your application gets reviewed for errors before submission, reducing the risk of denial
- Live support via chat and WhatsApp vs email-only on the official portal
- You want guided assistance through the eligibility questions, which can be tricky for first-time applicants
- You’ve previously had issues with US government websites
If you’re comfortable with online forms, the official portal at esta.cbp.dhs.gov is perfectly reliable and saves you the service fee.
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.
Once you land, check our guide on getting from New York airports to Manhattan — the cheapest and fastest options explained.
Frequently Asked Questions — ESTA Visa
ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is not technically a visa; it’s an electronic travel authorization that allows citizens of 42 Visa Waiver Program countries to visit the USA for up to 90 days without a traditional visa.
The ESTA fee is $40.27 per person as of 2026, increased from $21 on September 30, 2025. The fee is the same for adults, children, and infants. If denied, you only pay $10.27.
ESTA is valid for 2 years from the date of approval, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can make multiple trips to the USA during this period, each up to 90 days.
In most cases, approval is received within minutes. However, CBP recommends applying at least 72 hours before travel, as some applications can take longer, especially if you’ve had previous US visa refusals.
42 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program, including all EU members, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and others. Check the full list on the official CBP website.
No, ESTA only covers tourism and short-term business activities (meetings, conferences). It does not permit employment. For work purposes, you need a specific work visa.
You can still apply for a B1/B2 tourist or business visa at a US Embassy or Consulate. An ESTA denial does not automatically mean a visa will be denied.
Yes, every traveller, including infants, needs their own individual ESTA application and approval.
