At a glance
- Who needs it
- Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries traveling to the U.S. for business or tourism for 90 days or less[2],[3]
- Who doesn't
- Travelers who already hold a valid U.S. visa[3]
- Cost
- A fee is charged for each new ESTA application; pay by credit card[3]
- Children
- Every child, regardless of age, needs their own ESTA approval[3]
In this guide
The short answer
If you're a citizen or national of a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country and you're flying or sailing to the United States for business or tourism for 90 days or less, you need an approved ESTA before you board. ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization — an automated system that determines your eligibility to travel to the U.S. under the VWP.[1],[2],[3]
An approved ESTA is not a visa. It lets you travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program, but it does not guarantee you'll be let in. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer makes that decision when you arrive.[1],[3]
If you already hold a valid U.S. visa, you don't need an ESTA. You can travel on that visa for the purpose it was issued.[3]
Who needs it (and who doesn't)
You need an ESTA if you're an eligible national or citizen of a VWP country and you plan to travel to the U.S. for temporary business or pleasure under the program. That includes arriving by airplane or vessel — regardless of where you're flying from — or presenting yourself at a U.S. land border port of entry.[3]
Children need their own approval. Accompanied and unaccompanied children, regardless of age, must each obtain an independent ESTA approval.[3]
If you're only transiting through the U.S. on your way to another country, you still need either an ESTA or a visa. When you fill in the application, enter "In Transit" and your final destination in the address lines under "Address While In The United States."[3]
You don't need an ESTA if you already have a valid U.S. visa. That visa still lets you travel to the United States for the purpose it was issued for.[3]
What it costs
There is a fee for each new ESTA application you submit. You'll need credit card information to pay the associated fees and complete the application.[3]
The fee applies every time you submit a new application — for example, when you get a new passport or when your current ESTA approval or passport expires.[3]
What you'll need
Before you start, gather the following. Having it all ready makes the application straightforward.[1],[3]
- An e-Passport. This is an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip. You can identify one by the unique international symbol on the cover. As of April 1, 2016, all travelers must have an e-passport to use the Visa Waiver Program.[1],[2]
- A machine-readable zone on the biographic page. This is two lines of text — letters, numbers and chevrons (<<<) — at the bottom of the personal information page, along with your picture.[2]
- Biographical data in English: your name, birth date and passport information.[3]
- Answers to VWP eligibility questions, including questions about communicable diseases, arrests and convictions for certain crimes, past history of visa revocation or deportation, and other questions.[3]
- Credit card information to pay the associated fees.[3]
- Possibly additional details: other names or aliases, other citizenships, your parents' names, a National Identification Number if applicable, contact information such as email, phone and points of contact, employment information if applicable, and your city of birth.[4]
Your passport must meet VWP requirements. It must have a machine-readable zone and be an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about you. E-Passports are issued by the proper passport issuing authority and must meet international standards for securing and storing information.[2],[3]
All VWP countries must issue passports with a digital photograph printed on the data page — one printed on the page, not glued or laminated in. If your country joined the program before 2008 and you have a valid passport with a machine-readable zone issued before October 26, 2005, you can still travel without a visa even if it lacks a digital photograph. You can also travel without a visa if you have an e-Passport, which includes an integrated chip storing biographic information, a digital photograph and other biometric information.[2]
If you were issued a passport on or after October 26, 2005 and it does not meet the requirements, you'll need to obtain a visa. If your passport lacks a machine-readable zone, you can obtain a qualifying new passport if your country of nationality is producing one, or obtain a visa. Contact your passport-issuing agency or your country's embassy with questions about your country's production of a qualifying e-Passport.[2]
How to apply, step by step
- 1
Check your passport first
Confirm you have an e-Passport with the international symbol on the cover and a machine-readable zone on the biographic page. If your passport does not have a machine-readable zone, you can obtain a qualifying, new passport if your country of nationality is producing one, or you can obtain a visa.[1],[2]
- 2
- 3
- 4
Fill in the application in English
Provide your name, birth date and passport information, and answer the VWP eligibility questions. If you're only transiting, enter "In Transit" and your final destination in the address lines.[3]
- 5
Pay the fee
Enter your credit card information to pay the associated fees and complete the application.[3]
- 6
Save your response
DHS recommends printing out the ESTA application response as a record of your application number to confirm your status.[3]
How long it takes and when to apply
You can submit an ESTA application at any time before you travel. CBP recommends applying as soon as you begin preparing your travel plans — ideally before you purchase airline tickets.[1],[3]
Applying early gives you time to deal with any issues. If you haven't received an ESTA approval, you may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry.[3]
What you can and can't do with it
The Visa Waiver Program lets citizens of participating countries travel to the U.S. for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa. ESTA is the authorization that lets you travel under that program.[2],[3]
An approved ESTA is not a visa, and it does not determine whether a traveler is admissible. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer makes that decision when you arrive. For ESTA purposes, "United States" means the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.[1],[3]
An ESTA is not the equivalent of an electronic visa. B1/B2 visa requirements are different under U.S. statute and more complex — applicants must complete a DS-160 and interview with a consular officer, and submit biometric information in advance. Those biometric and additional biographic requirements don't exist for VWP travelers.[4]
Arriving at the border
When you arrive, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer determines whether a traveler is admissible. An approved ESTA does not change that. It only allows you to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program.[1],[2]
Bring the passport tied to your approved ESTA. Each traveler must have an approval for the passport they use, and every child needs their own.[3]
If something goes wrong
CBP has denied over 22,500 ESTA applications from people who applied using a passport reported as lost or stolen. Make sure the passport you apply with is valid and in your possession.[4]
If you get a new passport or your ESTA approval or passport expires, you must apply for a new ESTA. The fee applies each time.[3]
If you already hold a valid visa, you can still travel to the United States on that visa for the purpose for which it was issued.[3]
Questions people ask
Do I need an ESTA if I already have a U.S. visa?
No. Individuals who possess a valid visa are not required to apply for ESTA. You can travel on that visa for the purpose for which it was issued.[3]
Does my child need their own ESTA?
Yes. Accompanied and unaccompanied children, regardless of age, are required to obtain an independent ESTA approval.[3]
Can someone else apply on my behalf?
Yes. A third party, such as a relative or travel agent, is permitted to submit an ESTA application on behalf of a VWP traveler.[3]
What passport do I need for the Visa Waiver Program?
You must have an e-Passport — an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip — and it must have a machine-readable zone on the biographic page. As of April 1, 2016, all travelers must have an e-passport to use the VWP.[1],[2]
When should I apply for ESTA?
You can apply at any time before travel, but CBP recommends applying as soon as you begin preparing your travel plans or before purchasing airline tickets. If you don't have an approval, you may be denied boarding or experience delayed processing.[1],[3]
I'm only transiting through the U.S. Do I need an ESTA?
Yes. Eligible nationals or citizens of VWP countries require either an ESTA or a visa to transit the United States. On the application, enter "In Transit" and your final destination in the address lines.[3]
What happens if my ESTA is denied?
If you wish to continue with the trip, you'll be required to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. U.S. Embassies and Consulates cannot provide details about ESTA denials or resolve the issue that caused the denial.[3]
Where this comes from
Every rule, fee and deadline above is taken from these official pages, which we read on October 19, 2026. Rules change, so check the official page before you apply or pay.
- [1]Electronic System for Travel Authorization | U.S. Customs and Border Protection · U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- [2]Travel Document Requirements | Homeland Security · U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- [3]Frequently Asked Questions about the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) | U.S. Customs and Border Protection · U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- [4]Strengthening Security of the VWP through Enhancements to ESTA | U.S. Customs and Border Protection · U.S. Customs and Border Protection