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Visa Waiver Program and ESTA application

The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa.

If you are a citizen of a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you must meet the eligibility requirements to travel to the U.S. under the program. You will also need authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before beginning your trip. Learn about the VWP and ESTA application process and other documentation you will need to enter the U.S.

How to request a travel authorization to the U.S. through ESTA

Check the list of countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program  to see if your country is included.

Confirm that your passport meets the program requirements. You must have an  electronic passport or “e-Passport”  to participate in the VWP. This type of passport includes a chip.

Complete the  ESTA application  online.

Pay the fees: The total cost is $21. When you apply, you will pay a $4 processing fee. If you are approved to travel to the U.S., you must pay an additional $17 authorization fee.  Learn about the payment options available to pay ESTA fees.

When you complete and submit the form and processing fee, you will get an ESTA application number. Use that number to  check the status of your application . It may take up to 72 hours to find out if you are authorized to travel to the U.S. under the VWP.

Each approved ESTA application is generally valid for two years and allows multiple visits to the U.S. within that period without having to apply for another travel approval. If your passport expires in less than two years, you will receive an ESTA approval valid until the passport's expiration date.

When you travel to the U.S. for tourism or business under the VWP, you may stay up to 90 days per visit.

If you have questions about the ESTA and VWP application process, visit the  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) FAQ page .

Other travel documents you will need to enter the U.S.

Even if you qualify for the VWP, you will need to bring a passport from your country of citizenship to enter the U.S. Generally, your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date you will exit the U.S. unless your country has signed an agreement with the U.S. Learn more about "Six Month Club Requirements."

When you enter the U.S., officials at your port of entry will issue you a Form I-94W, an electronic record of your entry date. Learn more about I-94W and how to apply .

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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What to know about the US ESTA 'visa' — when to get it, how to apply and how much it costs

If you're traveling to the U.S. any time soon and you're a citizen of the United Kingdom or Europe, it's quite likely that you'll need to apply for an ESTA before you visit.

Short for Electronic System for Travel Authorization, applying for an ESTA might seem daunting if you've never done it before. Don't worry — we have you covered.

Below we break down everything you need to know about applying for an ESTA, from how much it will cost and approval times to when you should renew it and when you need to consider applying for one.

Related: What to know about the ETIAS 'visa' — when to get it, how to apply and how much it will cost

What is the ESTA 'visa'?

An ESTA is an automated part of the Visa Waiver Program that allows visitors from specific countries to visit the U.S. Visitors must be citizens of countries classed as part of the U.S. visa waiver list to be eligible for an ESTA application. Currently, 40 countries are included on the list, including the U.K. and much of Europe.

ESTA holders can visit the U.S. for a period of 90 days or less without the need to apply for a standard visa if their visit is either a vacation or a business trip.

ESTA was initially rolled out by the U.S. in 2008 to allow the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Borders Protection to use authorized databases to pre-screen visitors to the country. It also allows the easier identification of terrorists, criminals and banned flyers, and is designed to help prevent such people from entering the country. It can also help identify those who may be a risk for overstaying their visits.

Is an ESTA a visa?

No, an ESTA is not a traditional visa and instead is classed as a visa waiver. As such, the application process is much more straightforward than applying for a traditional visa, and eligible travelers can do so by filling out a short online application on ESTA's official website.

The form requires applicants to share basic personal information, travel history and other simple security questions. Applications are usually processed within 72 hours.

Who needs to apply for an ESTA?

You'll need to apply for an ESTA if you are a citizen of a country classed as part of the U.S. visa waiver program, which includes the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, among others. You can view the full list of the 40 eligible countries on the DHS website .

If you are visiting the U.S. from one of these countries as part of a vacation or business trip that is set to last for 90 days or less — and you are arriving by either plane or cruise ship — you can apply for an ESTA.

If you already hold a visa for visiting the U.S., you do not need to also apply for an ESTA. Additionally, if you are only briefly stopping in the U.S. to catch a connecting flight or ship before moving on to your final destination, know that you will still be required to apply for an ESTA, regardless of how brief your stay is.

How much does an ESTA cost?

The ESTA application fee is $21; you can pay this fee online after filling out your application form. The fee was increased from $14 in May 2023, and its current pricing will remain in effect until September 2027.

Valid payment methods include:

• American Express
• Discover (JCB or Diners Club only)

Your application will not be submitted for approval until your payment has been received.

How do you apply for an ESTA?

You can only apply for an ESTA online. Find the official site here .

You will be asked to accept various terms and upload an image of your passport during your application. After uploading an image of your passport, you will also be asked to share your passport information, valid email address and other standard personal details, along with information regarding your upcoming and previous travel history.

If applicable, you may also be required to share details about your employment; aliases or other names; a national ID or personal ID number; your Global Entry, Nexus or Sentri ID number; and the name, addresses or phone number for any U.S. points of contact.

When do I need to apply for an ESTA?

Your ESTA application can be submitted at any time before you travel to the U.S. However, the DHS advises you to apply at least 72 hours before travel to allow time for processing ahead of departure.

How long does an ESTA application take to be approved?

In TPG's experience, an ESTA application can often be approved on the same day you apply, though it can sometimes take up to 72 hours to be processed. We recommend applying at least a week or two before traveling to allow time for the application to be approved.

How long is an ESTA valid for, and will I need to apply for each trip to the US?

Once approved, your ESTA will be valid for two years from the date it was authorized or until the date your passport expires — depending on which comes first. You will not be required to apply for a new ESTA for each subsequent visit to the U.S. as long as any trips fall within the two-year validity period.

If you acquire a new passport or change your name, sex or citizenship after having your ESTA approved, you must submit a new application for approval.

How can I check my ESTA status?

If you have applied for an ESTA and want to check its status, you can do so by visiting the ESTA website and selecting "Check ESTA Status."

If you are checking your own application, click "Check Individual Status." You will then be asked to supply either your passport number, date of birth and application number or your country of citizenship and passport issue and expiration dates.

To check the status of a group application, click "Check Group Status." From here, you will be asked to supply your group ID, family name, first (given) name, email and date of birth of your group's point of contact.

You will then be able to see the current status of your ESTA, which will fall into one of three categories:

• Authorization Approved — meaning your application was successful, and you are authorized to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program
• Travel Not Authorized — meaning your application was unsuccessful, and you're not authorized to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program
• Authorization Pending — Your travel authorization is still under review and should usually be determined within 72 hours

Note that while in most cases you will be fine entering the U.S. once your application is approved, having an ESTA alone does not guarantee admission. Your final entry will be at the discretion of the CBP officer at your destination.

Bottom line

If you are traveling to the U.S. from the U.K. or other countries eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, you must apply for an ESTA at least 72 hours before your departure if you are not already approved.

Your ESTA will cost $21 and will be valid for two years from its authorization date. If you already have an ESTA, it's wise to check its status before any trips to the U.S. to ensure it's still valid.

Related reading:

• What to know about the ETIAS 'visa' — when to get it, how to apply and how much it will cost
• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or an expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• The 18 best places to travel in 2023
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases

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ESTA Form Questions List - What Will You Be Asked & Why?

17 Nov 20:00

Since you’re here, you probably already know that you need an ESTA.

Yes, it’s annoying and nobody loves travel bureaucracy. But, it has to be done. And just the fact that you’re reading this article means you’re already making the process easier for yourself!

Read on to familiarize yourself with the ESTA questions of 2021 that you will be asked, and why, so that you can be prepared when the time comes.

Table of Content

So, What is an ESTA?

• What ESTA Questions will I be Asked?

How do I apply for an ESTA?

Will an esta guarantee entry.

TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES?

Do You Have U.S. ESTA VISA Travel Authorization? If You Have ESTA Application, Check if it is Still Valid!

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is a necessary document for nationals of countries within the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) who want to travel to the United States. It permits travel without the need to go through the full-on process of applying for an actual visa which saves everyone a lot of time and money.

It is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires – whichever comes first, which means that you can travel to the U.S. for multiple 90 day trips during that 2 year period.

There a few exceptions, for example:

• If you have dual citizenship with, or have spent time in Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, North Korea , Libya or Yemen (since March 1st, 2011),
• if you’re planning to be in the U.S. for more than 90 days,
• if your reasons for travel include any study, paid work or sporting events, or
• if you’re travelling overland.

Check out these exceptions in more detail here .

In general though, if you’re from a VWP country, an ESTA is designed to make travel to the U.S. an easier and simpler process.

It provides just enough information for the Department of Homeland Security to ascertain whether you would be a risk to U.S. public safety, whether your travels are honest, or if you have the intention of staying or working illegally.

Most people will have no trouble with this, and the process is indeed much more simple than applying for a visa!

Most ESTA applications are approved in around 20 minutes.

However, to be safe, it is recommended that you apply at least 72 hours before you travel to avoid any last minute stress. You will not be allowed to board your flight without a valid ESTA!

What ESTA Form Questions will I be Asked?

That’s a good question, I’m glad you asked!

Luckily for you, you’re in the right place.

The broad categories of questions in the ESTA questionnaire include:

Your Passport Details

Your birth date, birth place and birth country, any additional citizenships, your parents’ names, your contact details, your work details.

• Travel Details

Emergency Contact Details

Eligibility questions.

Let’s Go Into These in a Little More Detail!

Provided you fulfil the basic requirements of eligibility, the most common reason for an ESTA being denied is due to mistakes made during the application process.

So, be really careful to double and triple check for any typos or incomplete fields in any of the ESTA questions. It’s especially important that your name is typed exactly as it appears in your passport.

This includes your full name, including any middle names, your gender as listed on your passport, and your passport number.

The date that your passport was issued, its expiry date and the country in which it was issued also need to be listed.

Also within the same category of passport details comes your date of birth, the city you were born in and your country of birth.

If you have dual citizenship with another country besides the country of your passport, you also need to declare this. This is because the U.S. does not give ESTAs to people with dual nationality with Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, North Korea, Libya or Yemen.

You also need to declare whether you have ever been issued any kind of national identity card from a country other than the country on the passport with which you are applying.

If you are currently, or have at any time in the past been a national of another country, you will be asked how you came to be a national of that country.

You will also be asked whether you are a member of the CBP Global Entry Program. If you are, you will need to provide the Membership or PASS ID number. Members of this program can pass through immigration via an automated kiosk at certain airports in the U.S.

Your parents’ full names, as listed on their passports need to be entered.

If you don’t know this information, you can enter “UNKNOWN”.

This section requires your residential address in your home country.

It consists of two address lines, city, state/province/region, and country.

It also calls for a telephone number and email address which is used for communicating with you over the outcome of your ESTA.

You will also need to state your marital status - whether you are single, married, or living with someone.

This section requires information surrounding your employment. It calls for details of either your current or most recent employer.

These details include your job title, name of your employer, address and telephone number.

This information is partly to ensure that you intend to leave the USA at the end of your 90 day entitlement in order to return to your employment. If you don’t have current employment, you may need to provide proof of onward travel or a return ticket at immigration.

Your Travel Details

This question asks you whether your ESTA is for transit purposes en route to another destination or not. If your ESTA is for transit purposes, you will be required to state the county of onward travel.

You are also required to provide some contact details for your stay while you are in the U.S. Usually this consists of a hotel address and phone number.

There are two quite similar questions: point of contact in the U.S. and address while in the U.S. In most cases you can use the same information in both fields.

You will also be asked from which airport or city you will embark upon your journey.

Here you are required to provide contact details for your next of kin. This includes full name, address and telephone number.

These questions are designed to effectively profile you based on your likelihood to pose any threat to U.S. security and public safety. These are the questions that provide the Department of Homeland Security with the information they need for either approving or denying your ESTA.

They come in the form of Yes/No boxes and are as follows:

1. Do you have a physical or mental disorder; or are you a drug abuser or addict; or do you currently have any of the following diseases (communicable diseases are specified pursuant to section 361(b) of the Public Health Service Act): Cholera, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis infectious, Plague, Smallpox, Yellow Fever, Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, including Ebola, Lassa, Marburg, Crimean-Congo, Severe acute respiratory illnesses capable of transmission to other persons and likely to cause mortality?

This question exists for two reasons. Firstly, the most obvious, is to prevent the spread of contagious disease within the country.

Secondly, the U.S. is likely to deny access to people with mental health disorders or communicable diseases due to the burden that could result on the U.S. health system.

Note that while HIV used to be considered a communicable disease, it has now been removed and people with HIV will not be prevented from travelling. Furthermore, common colds and seasonal flu are not considered severe acute respiratory illnesses, so even if you’re sick at the time of application, you should answer ‘no’ to this question.

2. Have you ever been arrested or convicted for a crime that resulted in serious damage to property, or serious harm to another person or government authority?

This question exists to prevent people from entering the country who are likely to commit a crime during their visit.

However, the question leaves some room for interpretation due to its use of the word ‘serious’. Consequently, if you’ve been convicted of a misdemeanour that didn’t result in serious damage or harm, you could answer ‘no’ to this question.

However, ESTA officials can check police records from European countries and if they consider your crime to be serious enough, and for you to have lied in your application, you will be denied entry and likely denied in the future as well.

3. Have you ever violated any law related to possessing, using, or distributing illegal drugs?

This question, and the following two questions, exist for similar reasons as above, however, they are more straightforward.

4. Do you seek to engage in or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities, espionage, sabotage, or genocide?

5. Have you ever committed fraud or misrepresented yourself or others to obtain, or assist others to obtain, a visa or entry into the United States?

6. Are you currently seeking employment in the United States or were you previously employed in the United States without prior permission from the U.S. government?

Only travellers with the correct work visa may be permitted to work in the U.S. Consequently, this question will disqualify anyone looking to work temporarily during the 90 day period of the Visa Waiver Program, or anyone who has worked illegally in the country in the past.

7. Have you ever been denied a U.S. visa you applied for with your current or previous passport, or have you ever been refused admission to the United States or withdrawn your application for admission at a U.S. port of entry?

Note that this question refers only to visas and not ESTA applications. Even if you have had a previous ESTA application denied, you should answer ‘no’ to this question provided you have not been denied a visa, been refused entry or withdrawn a visa application in the past.

If you have withdrawn a visa application, you will likely be considered suspicious due to the assumption that your withdrawal was likely out of fear of being denied.

8. Have you ever stayed in the United States longer than the admission period granted to you by the U.S. government?

If you have ever overstayed a visa or ESTA deadline, you will likely be refused entry based on an ESTA application and will need to apply for a visa instead.

However, there is no guarantee that applying for a visa will be successful, as overstaying is considered a serious offence in the U.S.

9. Have you travelled to, or been present in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, North Korea or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011?

These countries are deemed a security risk to the U.S. and consequently anyone with associations to these countries will likely be denied an ESTA.

In summary, these questions are pretty strict so if you answer YES to any of them, you will most likely not be permitted to enter the U.S.

If you fail to answer any of the questions truthfully, you will also likely be refused future applications.

ESTA Questions list example from our webpage:

The optional social media question.

This question is a fairly recent addition to the ESTA Questionnaire, and it’s an interesting one.

It’s actually been quite controversial due to the potential privacy issues it raised.

The question consists of a drop-down list where you can select which options apply to you. These are: ASKfm, Facebook, Flickr, GitHub, Google+, Instagram, JustPaste.it, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Twitter, Vine, VKontakte (VK), YouTube, and ‘Other’.

You are then asked to provide your username for each of the profiles that you hold.

The main reason for this question is for extra terrorism detection, as social media has been used in relation to coordinating terrorist attacks in the past. If your social media platforms demonstrate any link or your sympathizing with any terrorist groups, you could be denied entry to the U.S.

However, the fact that this question is optional, and the extra time it would take each individual to answer the question if they have multiple accounts, does make you wonder how many people would bother and consequently how effective this strategy is.

While the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that they will not refuse entry to someone based on them not providing their social media details, many people will choose to answer it to be on the safe side and avoid extra questioning from immigration.

If you do choose to answer this question, your details are kept on record for 3 years and then stored in archives for an extra 12 years. During this time, law enforcement agencies can access it and share it with other countries as they see fit.

Nevertheless, the question is there, so now that you are armed with this information, you can choose whether or not you answer it!

The Final Steps

Once all of the ESTA questions are completed, you will be asked to sign a waiver which means you can’t appeal any decisions made surrounding your ESTA application .

You will also need to declare that all of the information you provided is true and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief. Not signing this will guarantee your ESTA being denied.

You will receive an email confirmation of your ESTA status upon completion of your application.

On the day of travel, you will need to make sure that you are travelling with the same e-passport with which you applied for your ESTA. It’s a good idea to have a record of your ESTA confirmation, but the airline should have automatic access to this.

If you’ve already applied for an ESTA and want to check its status, you can do that here .

So now that the ESTA questions are out of the way, how do you actually apply for an ESTA?

Good news! It’s very easy! Simply follow the instructions on this page . But, be sure to get this all completed at least 72 hours before you travel to avoid any inconvenient or stressful delays.

Even with a valid ESTA, there is still the chance that you could be denied entry to the U.S. The border officials have the right to turn people away based on their attitude even if everything in their application is ok.

For this reason, it’s important to be calm and respectful while answering any questions.

As most people are denied due to making mistakes in their ESTA form questions, most can reapply again being careful not to make the same mistake. However, if there is a legitimate reason for your ESTA being denied, applying again will likely not change the outcome.

You may need to look into options for a Visa application that requires more information but will be able to communicate your situation better to U.S. Security. If this is the case, U.S. officials will interview you with more detailed questions in order to ascertain whether you should be allowed in the country.

So, to sum it all up, the ESTA application questions are not too taxing and can be completed fairly quickly. But they need to be completed accurately and truthfully, and at least 72 hours before your departure! Oh, and don’t forget your e-passport!

Guide for filling out the ESTA application form – Q&A | ESTA Online Center

Guide for filling out the esta application form – q&a.

Examples of filling out the ESTA application are provided below. Before starting to fill out the form, make sure you have your passport and credit card at hand.

Necessary items for ESTA application

Please prepare the following two items for ESTA application.

• Passport (with valid expiration date and IC chip)
• Credit card (it does not need to be the name of the applicant

A passport and credit card are required for ESTA application.Please provide the passport information of the person who is applying for ESTA.

In case of minor applying for ESTA, it is still required to provide the passport information of the minor not the parent. Make sure your passport is valid and has an IC chip that can be read by airport terminals. For payment, credit card (VISA、MasterCard、JCB、AMERICAN EXPRESS) is available. The credit card for payment is not necessary to be the same as the ESTA applicant’s in case of him/her not owning any credit cards.

More information for Necessary items for ESTA application, please check here .

Esta application procedure.

Here is an example of how to fill up the application form. The ESTA applicant must complete his/her passport information on the application form. Subsequently, even if a guardian applies on behalf of a minor, including an infant, he/she must also input minor’s passport information. You must type your name and address in Roman letters on the ESTA application, which takes about 10 minutes to complete. Additionally, if you answer “yes” to even one of the nine questions in the second half of the ESTA application form, you will not be allowed to fly to the United States using ESTA. The result of an applicant’s examination is usually notified within a few hours from the completion of the application, but ESTA, which is administered by DHS (U.S Department of Homeland and Security) and CBP (U.S Customs and Border Protection), advises that you apply at least three days before departure. Please review the information for the application procedure and details below and make sure that the data you input is accurate.

ESTA Applicant Information

01.start your application form.

ESTA application website: On top of ESTA Online Center homepage, click on “Apply for ESTA here” to begin the application process.

02.Applicant information

For the first and last name, enter the same notation as in the passport in capital letters. Please make sure not to enter the first and last name backwards or misspell. If you have an alias or change of the surname due to marriage or other reasons, please check “Yes” box to the question of “Do you have any aliases?”, and enter the relevant name. Please pay attention especially when using Hepburnian roman characters such as TSU、SHO、JO、CHO to not to have any misspellings. (e.g.) Family name : TUYAMA → TSUYAMA 　First name : SYOTA → SHOTA If you fall under any of the nationalities listed below, an optional field for entering a “Personal Identification Number” will appear. It can be left open if it is unknown though if you are a Taiwanese citizen, you are required to enter your personal identification number (one English letter and nine digits as shown in your passport). Belgium(BEL)、Brunei(BRN)、Chile(CHL)、Czech republic(CZE)、Estonia(EST)、Germany(DEU)、Greece(GRC)、Hungary(HUN)、Luxembourg(LUX)、Malta(MLT)、Monaco(MCO)、Netherlands(NLD)、Portugal(PRT)、Singapore(SGP)、Slovakia(SVK)、Slovenia(SVN)、South Korea(KOR)、Spain(ESP)、Taiwan(TWN)、CROATIA(HRV)、ISRAEL(ISR)

Personal Information

03.contact information.

Pay special attention to the Email address you enter not to make any mistakes. After completing the application, you will be receiving an each application reception, and travel authorization approval E-mail from us to the E-mail address you entered. Please make sure to set for our mails receivable if you use a free mail or your mobile device’s mail address, it may be sorted into a spam mail folder or may not be received.

04.Home address

Select your Country and enter all subsequent addresses in English letters. Enter the address where the applicant currently resides, not the permanent address of the family register.

05.Passport information

Upload the image of whole facial photograph page on your passport and enter your passport information. After acceptance of application, you may be requested to re-submit the form if the whole facial photograph page is not included or, letters and image cannot be identified correctly because of the refection of the light. A passport number issued in Japan is 9 digits, 2 letters of alphabets and 7-digits of numbers. Please pay attention to date of issue and date of expiry which are easy to make mistake.

06.Passports and national IDs of other countries

If you have been issued a passport or national identity card by any countries other than the one indicated “Country of Citizenship” under the applicant information, select “Yes” and enter the issuing country, document type, document number and expiration date. If you have forgotten your ID number or expiration date, or if you do not know them, you can select “UNKNOWN” for both items.

07.Birth country and city

If you are unsure which city you were born in, you may leave “City of Birth” blank.

08.Nationality and citizenship in other countries

If you have a nationality/citizenship other than your nationality, please select “Yes”, and answer your nationality and history of acquisition (by birth / through parents /naturalization / others). Select “Yes” if you have previously held nationality or citizenship of a country other than the one selected in the Nationality field of the applicant information. If applicable, you must select “Nationality held in the past,” “Date of acquiring other nationality in the past,” and “Date of renouncing other nationality”. Select in the order of day/month/year from the left for “Date of acquisition of other nationality” and “Date of renunciation of other nationality”.

Travel Information

09.ge/nexus/sentri members.

If you are a member of the CBP Global Entry/NEXUS/SENTRI Program, select “Yes” and enter your 9-digit PASS ID. If you do not know, please choose “No”. CBP Global Entry Program

10.Travel information

Select “Yes” if you are connecting in the US, and select “No” if you are staying in the United States. If you select “No”, the message “Do you want to register your stay address and phone number?” is displayed. If you know the details of your staying, please select “Yes” and fill in the name, address and phone number of your stay. Select “No” if you do not know the details of where you stay because of undecided destination. Details for how to fill out address in US are shown here.

11.Working experience

Select “Yes” if you have been working ,or have work experience in the past,and answer either employment status or employer name (workplace). Enter the employer’s address, phone number, and job title within your knowledge. If you don’t know, you can leave it blank. You can also enter past employer information. Select “No” if you do not have work experience. In the United States, as part of measures for illegal employment by migrants from overseas, it is recommended to disclose work information for those who travel to the United States. For disclosing your work information is related to prove that you are not willing to relocate to the United States and that you will return to your country promptly.

12.SNS account

If you want to register a SNS account that you are using now or one in the past, select “Yes” and enter the name of the SNS and your account name. If you are not using SNS or do not wish to register, select “No”.

Parents Information

13.emergency contact.

Select “Yes” to register emergency contact information. Enter information about family members, friends, and work locations that can be contacted in an emergency. More information for entering emergency contacts, please check here .

14.Parents’ names

Those who registering parents’ names,select “Yes” and enter them in Roman alphabets. You may enter the name(s) of your biological parents, adoptive parents, step-parents, or guardians. Select “No” if you do not know the name(s) of one or both of your parent(s), or do not wish to register.

Eligibility Questions

15.questionnaires.

Read all nine questions carefully and answer “Yes” or “No.” There is a very high likelihood that your ESTA travel authorization will be refused if you answer “Yes” to even one of these questions. Be sure to read the questions carefully before you answer them. If your ESTA is refused, you will need to obtain a nonimmigrant visa from the U.S. embassy.

16.Consent to ESTA application

Confirm contents of both “Disclaimer” and “Terms of Conditions” closely, and then check “Agree”. After checking the consent items, click on “Confirm Entered Information” below.

17.Application information check

Application information you have entered will be shown. Please reconfirm the information you have entered and make sure it has no typos or mistakes. Be especially careful of your name, passport number, and date of birth for any errors. After finding no mistakes, click “Go to payment” at the bottom of the page. This completes your entry of information to the ESTA application.

18.Payment of the application fee

Application fee could be paid with a Visa, Master Card, JCB, American Express credit card. If the applicant does not own a credit card, or if the representative makes payment, a credit card does not have to be the applicant‘s. For application service fee on your behalf, 8,690 JPY (including tax) will be charged which includes the application fee of $21 charged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

19.Application complete

Your entry procedures are complete when the message “Application completed” appears.

20.ESTA application receipt Email

The ESTA application receipt Email will be sent to the email address you registered during the application process. Also make sure to avoid the receipt Email being sorted to the SPAM file when using a webmail or mobile Email address.

21.Notification of travel authorization

Notification of the ESTA application approval will be sent to the Email address you registered during the application process. Please be acknowledged that it may take up to 72 hours till you receive the result of the notification in cases of system maintenance while in process of examining the ESTA application, or when status became “Travel authorization on hold”. Also make sure to avoid the receipt Email being sorted to the SPAM file when using a webmail or mobile Email address.

Your current residential address is required to be written in your passport as well. If the address on your passport has changed due to relocation, please draw a ruled line on the old address and write down your current residential address in your passport. Your passport is an important proof of your nationality and identity when you travel abroad. It is recommended that you write your current address as proof of your identity verification.

Checking the progress status

Upon completion of ESTA application, the application ID (33-digit alphanumeric characters) will be sent by E-mail. Those who would like to check the application status after applying for ESTA, please click here and enter the application ID. The application ID is an important number. We recommend that you save an Email with your application ID until you complete your ESTA application and receive the review results.

This concludes the guide for filling out the ESTA application through the ESTA application website: ESTA Online Center.

ESTA Q&A

ESTA, Electric System for Travel Authorization is a system established as part of passport control and has different character from visa which entry is guaranteed with some conditions. Obtaining ESTA does not guarantee the entry to the U.S. and the judgment for that is entrusted to a passport control official at the arrival airport. ESTA is required for those who have foreign nationality wish to stay in the U.S. within 90 days for such purpose of sightseeing etc. On the other hand, visa is required for those who wish to stay in the U.S. for over 90 days, and the system is mainly for those traveling for business or studying abroad. Prior to your travel, make clear of your staying period and purpose in the U.S., and then acquire the permit whichever fit to your need. How ESTA differs from a visa?

ESTA is valid for 2 years from the date you acquire the travel authorization. However, if current passport’s expiration date is within 2 years, ESTA expires in the same time with the passport’s expiration date. Make sure to check expiration date of your passport when apply for ESTA. More about ESTA expiration

Only those who applied for ESTA through our site are able to check their current application status and registered information here. For checking application status, enter application ID by clicking “ Confirm the situation ” on the top of the site.

• Click “Confirm the situation” by entering applicant’s name, date of birth, and application ID (33digit alphanumeric).
• Application ID is listed on the auto-sent Email from us (ESTA Online Center) when completed the application.
• From protection of personal data perspective, available days for search by application ID are 90 days from the date applied.

ESTA is required to be in the U.S. airport for the transit/transfer as well. It is considered as an entry to the U.S. even for the short time in the U.S. on the way to the other country. Apply for ESTA before travel if you are transiting/transferring in the U.S. to your final destination country. If planning on transiting/transferring in the U.S. For more information

ESTA is required for all travelers no matter the age. Since pre-school children including infants and minors are required for ESTA application, please apply it for all members who are traveling along. In cases of minor traveling to the U.S. by himself/herself, with his/her relatives other than his/her guardians, or with an adult(s) not related by blood may asked to carry guardian’s travel written consent. For method of listing for travel written consent, “ Template for guardian’s written consent for a minor traveling to the U.S. ”

UPDATE : 2024/04/22

ESTA and Visa Waiver Program mechanism, rules and conditions are explained in an easy-to-understand manner.

UPDATE : 2024/04/19

Applying for ESTA from your smartphone

Explains points to note when applying for an ESTA on a smartphone.

ESTA Visa Waiver Programme and U.S. Visitor Visa

Explains the differences, features, and expiration date of ESTA and visa in an easy-to-understand manner.

UPDATE : 2023/02/13

About the visa waiver program (VWP)

Learn more about the countries and conditions that exempt visas when traveling to the United States.

UPDATE : 2024/01/17

Group application/family application

Explanation of points to note when applying for an ESTA in a group with photos and Q & A.

ESTA reapplication

Detailed explanation of points and expiration date when re-application for ESTA

UPDATE : 2024/04/24

• ESTA Application
• ESTA Status
• Travel Guide
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• ESTA Service
• ESTA denied

ESTA Guide – Step by Step

In the following, detailed instruction on how to complete your  ESTA  application is presented. All pieces of information should be given truthfully because untrue statements could lead to problems when attempting to enter the US. In the worst case, wrong answers could result in an ESTA rejection.

Please keep in mind that all information you need to provide is intended to enhance the security of the United States. Thus, your data will only be submitted to the responsible US authorities but not to any other third party.

The official entry permit for the USA!

General Information

We are happy to assist you in applying for your ESTA so that you can have a successful trip to the USA!  For your application, you should be prepared to have the following information ready to hand: 

• Valid biometric passport
• Personal data (including names of your parents)
• If applicable: address of current or former employer
• Address of your accommodation or contact person in the USA
• Your payment information (bank details, PayPal, credit card, etc.)

All mandatory fields in the application form are marked with an asterisk (*) and must be completed. 

If questions should arise in the course of the application, you are welcome to contact our service team. We look forward to supporting you while filling in your ESTA application. 

Contact form

Step 1: Personal and Travel Data

Create an esta account.

Before you can start filling in your ESTA application, you have to create a customer account. As an ESTA is valid for two years, you can log into your account and check your ESTA status at any time after applying for your ESTA. Please use a valid e-mail address and choose a secure password in order to generate a valid ESTA account.

Accept the Conditions

In order for us to file your ESTA application on your behalf and submit it to the US authorities as well as to collect and process your personal data in accordance with the German Data Protection Act (GDPA), it is indispensable for us to receive your consent. In order to allow us to submit your ESTA application, simply click on the two boxes at the bottom left to check them.

Quantity of people

After successfully generating a personal customer account, you can then include the number of travelers. Do you only want to apply for an ESTA for yourself or do fellow travelers have to be included in a group application? The number you enter here decides how many ESTA applications you would like to register for. 

Afterwards, please enter all data for every individual applicant one after the other. 

If you are submitting multiple ESTA applications, be sure to get digital copies of your fellow travelers' passports so you can upload them within the ESTA application process.

Uploading your passport

Have the data page of your passport ready to upload at the beginning of your application. All relevant passport data will then be automatically transferred into the designated form fields through the data reading software integrated into the application process.

The upload file must be a clearly readable image of the respective data page including passport photo and machine-readable area (lower third of the data page) and has to be uploaded as jpg, jpeg, png, or gif.

The following data will be transferred automatically:

• Family name
• Passport number
• Country of issue
• Nationality
• Date of birth

The machine-readable part of your passport (outlined) must cover the full width of the photo.

ESTA cannot be approved with a temporary passport or a children's passport. Also, if you have applied for a new passport, you must request a new ESTA.

Names of Parents

Your parents' names are mandatory fields. If you do not or only partially know these names, please enter 'UNKNOWN' in the appropriate fields.

Contact Details of the Applicant

Your current contact details, such as address and telephone number, are also compulsory fields and must be filled in.

Phone Number

Enter the telephone number where you can best be reached. You can choose between the following options: 

You can select the country code from the dropdown menu. Please enter your phone number, including the area code, without any spaces in the field "Phone."

If you do not have a phone number, you can also enter the phone number of a contact person, such as a family member, friend, or business associate. If you choose this option, please select "Other" in the dropdown menu for "Type of phone number."

Home Address

Indicating a valid address is essential when applying for an ESTA and must be submitted!

In the esta-application.com form, street names can be abbreviated in the usual way. The following spellings would therefore be possible:

• Main Street

E-Mail Address

Please also provide an E-Mail address that you can access on an unrestricted basis. Your approved ESTA confirmation will later be sent to this E-Mail address. 

esta-application.com will always send your ESTA approval as a PDF attachment via E-Mail to you. Therefore, please check your E-Mail inbox as well as the junk mail folder on a regular basis. As a standard rule, postal dispatch of your ESTA confirmation does not take place but can be requested.

Information on your employment

If you are or ever were employed, you need to answer ”Yes” to this question. As a consequence, the employer is required to complete the ESTA application. In this case, please indicate the name of the company or organization of your current or former employer.

What is often overlooked when answering this question is that the following information is also allowed in the "Name of employer" field:

• Self-employed
• Stay-at-home-parent

You can also enter any other wording here to describe your current employment status.

However, if you have never been employed in any form, you can answer the question about your employment with "No."

Social Media

Since the end of May 2020, you should also provide information about your online presence for the past five years. If you do have social media accounts that you have used during this time, answer 'Yes' to this question. Furthermore, you need to enter the corresponding ID or your user, profile, or screen name as chosen for the respective social media supplier.

If you do not use social media, you can answer this question with "No."

The US authorities intend to use this data query to identify terrorists more quickly to protect national security. They should only have the possibility to read public posts so that your privacy is not affected! A good time to check your own settings for Facebook & Co again.

Emergency Contact Details

In case something happens to you in the USA (an accident, serious illness, etc.), the US authorities will inform your emergency contact. This can be someone inside or outside the US, such as

• a family member
• a business associate.

All fields must also be completed here! If you don't have an emergency contact or don't know the last name, you can fill in the fields with 'UNKNOWN' and/or enter two zeros (00) for the phone number.

Travel Information

The amount of the requested travel information depends on whether the USA is your final destination or if your trip is in transit to another country, which means you would not leave the airport, but, for instance, only change flights at an American airport.

If you would like to enter the USA, this question needs to be answered with "No" and a contact person in the USA has to be indicated.

Even if you need the ESTA permit for transit only, we recommend applying for a regular ESTA as a precaution. ESTA is valid for two years, which means you can use it again when reentering the US in this time period. If you have no US contact due to the planned transit, enter the name and address of the US airport where you will arrive

Your contact person within the USA could be, for example:

• a business associate

However, if you do not know anyone in the USA or are planning a round trip, it is best to state the name, address, and phone number of your (first) place of accommodation in the USA, e.g., a hotel.

You can also fill in the fields with ”UNKNOWN” if you really don't have a planned accommodation or anything comparable. However, we strongly would like to encourage you to include a US contact if possible.

Passport Date of Expiry

How long your passport needs to be valid for your ESTA application depends on your citizenship. Citizens of the so-called Six Month Club can travel with a passport valid until the day they leave the USA.

The black marking indicates where you can usually find your passport's date of expiration.

Passport or Identity Card from another Country

If you have ever received or still hold a passport or identity card from a country other than the issuing country of your passport specified in the ESTA application, you must answer this question with "Yes" and provide the following information:

• Type of document (passport or identity card)
• Document number (passport number or identity card number)
• Expiration year

If you do not know the expiration year and/or document number, you can also enter four zeros (0000).

Other Citizenships at the Time of Application

If you have another nationality at the time of the ESTA application, i.e., so-called dual citizenship, you must select the appropriate country from the dropdown menu.

You must also indicate how you acquired this citizenship. Different countries have different laws for obtaining citizenship, such as the principle of descent in Germany. The following options are, therefore, available to you when you fill out this question:

• Ancestry (one or both parents are citizens of this country)
• Naturalization (you have applied for and obtained citizenship)
• Birth (you were born in the country)

If you choose "Other," you must briefly elaborate on how you obtained this citizenship.

Other Citizenships in the Past

If in the past - i.e., before filling in the ESTA application - you had held a nationality that you surrendered, please select the appropriate country from the dropdown menu.

Membership in Trusted Traveler Programs

If you are participating in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry Program or any other Trusted Traveler Program for facilitated entry into the United States, please enter your membership number here.

Filling out the ESTA Security Questions

To enable the US authorities to assess possible risk factors of the traveler, there are nine final security questions on the topics:

• Criminal records
• Drugs and drug abuse
• Terrorist Intentions
• Former VISA/ESTA Fraud
• Work intentions in the U.S.
• Unauthorized exceeding of the duration of stay in the USA
• Citizenship of or travel to certain “problematic” countries

Again, it is essential  to answer all questions truthfully. Please read them very carefully. In the worst case, you may be permanently denied to enter the USA (with an ESTA) if the US authorities can prove a false statement.

If you have to answer “Yes“ to one or more questions, your ESTA application will be denied. In order to save you unnecessary costs for the application, esta-application.com will not complete your application in this case. You would have to apply for a  US Visa instead.

1. Security Question: Health and Addictions

The first question raises many concerns when filling out the ESTA application – Do you have to answer "Yes" if you have the flu? No, you don't have to!

Whether a disease is a danger to the population depends on two factors:

• The disease is contagious and can be transmitted through body fluids, breath, or insect bites.
• The spread of the disease is difficult to control and difficult to cure.

Although the flu or cold fulfills the conditions of factor 1, the spread can be controlled, and the chances of recovery are good. You can therefore answer "No" with a clear conscience at this point

However, if you suffer from any of the following diseases, you must answer "Yes":

• Lymphogranuloma venereum
• Granuloma inguinale
• Infectious leprosy
• Yellow fever
• Active tuberculosis
• Syphilis (infectious stage)
• Viral hemorrhagic fever, including Ebola, Lassa, Marburg, Crimean-Congo fever
• Acute respiratory diseases that are transmissible to others and can be fatal (for example, COVID-19 )

If you have suffered from one of these diseases in the past but are now cured, you can answer "No" but should carry a medical certificate confirming this.

With regard to addictions, if you occasionally use drugs that are permitted in your home country and also do not have a serious addiction problem, you can answer "No" at this point. However, if you are addicted to drugs, you must answer "Yes."

2. Security Question: Previous Penalties or Convictions

The question about previous convictions and sentences really only has to be answered with "Yes" if the offense causing the conviction was serious bodily injury or serious damage to property.

However, if it is only a fine notice, e.g., for speeding, you can calmly answer "No" here. Note, however, that prior convictions and sentences do not become time-barred for the US authorities!

3. Security Question: Drug Use or Trafficking

The question of illegal possession, consumption, and trafficking of and with drugs is based on the first security question. It is important to note that you only have to answer "yes" to this question if it has brought you into conflict with the law in your country.

If you are acting within the scope of official legislation in your activities involving intoxicants, you may check "No" at this point!

Since possession of up to 5 g of cannabis per person is allowed in the Netherlands, Dutch people may answer "No" to this question if you do not exceed the country's own regulations.

4. Security Question: Terrorist Intentions

If you have not been involved in terrorist, espionage, and/or sabotage activities in the past or plan to be involved in such activities in the future, you can also answer "No" to this question.

5. Security Question: Former VISA/ESTA Fraud

If the US authorities noticed that you knowingly provided false information when applying for a US visa or ESTA in the past, you must answer "Yes" here. As this means that you have practically no chance of entering the United States, you should make sure that you always answer all the questions in the ESTA application truthfully so that such a case will never occur!

6. Security Question: Work Intentions in the USA

You only have to answer "Yes" to the question about work intentions or illegal employment in the USA in the past if

• you're planning on looking for a paid job in the US  or
• You have worked in the USA in the past without a valid work visa.

However, this is not the case if, for example, your non-American employer sends you to a conference in the USA. In such cases, you may also stay in the USA with an ESTA for up to 90 days and can therefore answer this question with "No".

7. Security Question: Visa or ESTA denial in the Past

If this is not your first ESTA application and an application was denied in the past or if you were denied entry to the US at the US border, you must answer "Yes" to this question. In this case, no ESTA will be granted to you.

Although answering "Yes" to an ESTA security question basically eliminates your chance of receiving ESTA approval, you must provide truthful answers to all questions in the ESTA application. If you give false information, you may be subject to permanent entry bans and criminal penalties. In the event of an ESTA rejection, please contact our staff at the US Visa Service .

8. Security Question: Unauthorised Exceeding of the Duration of Stay

The question of an unauthorized exceeding of the duration of stay refers to your possible USA visits in the past. If you have ever stayed in the United States longer than permitted by your US visa or ESTA, you must answer "Yes" to this question.

9. Security Question: Citizenships of or Travel to Certain Countries

US authorities classify Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, North Korea, Libya, and Syria as problematic countries. If you traveled to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1st, 2011, or have been in Cuba since January 12th, 2021, you no longer qualify for the ESTA process.

The duration and reason for your stay are irrelevant here. You would need to apply for a visa in this case.

Also, if you are a citizen of Cuba, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria at the same time as being a citizen of a VWP country, you will not be granted ESTA approval.

Confirmation of Comprehension and Order

At this point, you must confirm that you have understood and truthfully answered all questions and that you authorize us to submit your application to the US authorities (the responsible Department of Homeland Security). To do so, place two checkmarks in the appropriate place.

Step 2: Summary of Your Data

After completing the ESTA application, an overview of all of your entered data will be displayed. We kindly would like to ask you to carefully double-check all information you have provided. If you notice any errors, you can use the pencil symbols to go directly to the section of the application.

Step 3: Decide for the appropriate service package

Trust the USA experts at esta-application.com. We offer 3 different service packages for your ESTA application.

Are you interested in a basic application or would you like to use our "all-inclusive" package? Choose between the packages Economy, Premium, or First Class.

Step 4: Payment

In the penultimate step, the total amount to be paid will be displayed. At this point, you can also enter a possible voucher code. You can then conveniently choose between the following payment options:

• Credit Card

After you have agreed to our general terms and conditions, the data protection declaration, and the premature expiry of the right of withdrawal, you can click on the button 'Continue to payment page' to reach the page that allows you to complete the payment. Your ESTA application will then be transmitted to us and we will start working on it. 

Step 5: Application Successfully Submitted

Congratulations! You have now come quite a bit closer to your USA trip. As soon as your application has been sent to us, we will carefully check your data and will contact you directly in case of any ambiguities.

Once all details are correct, we will submit your ESTA application to the US authorities, and afterwards, you will shortly be notified of your status by e-mail.

Note: It can take up to 72 hours for the US authorities to process your application! However, we usually process your application immediately after receipt.

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DHS-CBP-PIA-007 Electronic System for Travel Authorization

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an application and screening system used to determine whether citizens and nationals from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are eligible to travel to the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is publishing this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) update for ESTA to provide notice and assess the privacy risks associated with recent enhancements to ESTA, including the launch of a new mobile application. The ESTA program and information collection has undergone several enhancements since the previous Privacy Impact Assessment published on September 1, 2016. June 2023

DHS/CBP-009 - Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

• Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA)
• Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)

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Electronic System for Travel Authorization. ESTA is a free, automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. The ESTA application collects the same information collected on Form I-94W. ESTA applications may be submitted at anytime prior to travel, though it is recommended travelers apply when they begin preparing travel plans.

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