Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

Visa Waiver Program Requirements

The Visa Waiver Program, also known as the VWP, allows nationals of participating countries to enter the USA for tourism, business or transit purposes of 90 days or less without needing a visa. Eligible travelers must obtain an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before travel by meeting the ESTA requirements.

Below are activities that are allowed while in the USA on the VWP. You should also know that transiting through the US on the way to other countries is generally allowed for those traveling on the VWP. An ESTA can be used for tourism, business, or transit purposes of up to 90 days per visit. Additional uses of ESTA can be found on the Visa Waiver Program details page.

Visa Waiver Program Eligibility

To be eligible to travel to the USA on the Visa Waiver Program, a traveler must be a national or citizen of one of the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Malta, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.

Learn about your eligibility to apply for an ESTA visa waiver by taking the assessment.

If you have previous criminal or adverse immigration history, you might be denied an ESTA and require a U.S. visa.

ESTA Passport Requirements

Passport Validity Period

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you plan to leave the U.S. There are some exemptions for country specific agreements. If traveling as a family, each member, including infants, must have his or her own passport.

Electronic Passports Only

You must also have an e-passport to qualify to use the VWP. This kind of passport has a secure embedded electronic chip that enhances security. The chip is scanned to identify the passenger and match his or her identity to the passport. All e-passports must comply with regulations set forth by the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO. The symbol on the cover identifies the e-passport.

Temporary and Emergency Passports

To enter the United States with a temporary or emergency passport on the VWP, said passport must be an e-passport. This goes for any traveler who is transiting through the U.S.

For more information, visit the ESTA Requirements.

How to Apply for ESTA

Application Steps

• Answer all initial disclaimers
• Input information for the applicant
• Input applicant’s personal information
• Enter travel information inside the USA
• Answer all nine eligibility questions
• Review the application information
• Pay the application fee

Who Can Apply

• Citizens or nationals of VWP eligible countries (view list)
• Travelers who do not have a visitor’s visa
• Visitors who plan to travel for 90 days or less
• Travelers that plan to enter the USA for business, tourism or transit
• Each traveler requires their own approved ESTA authorization regardless of age or nationality

Required Details

• A valid passport issued by a VWP country
• A valid email address for the traveler
• The traveler’s phone number and home address
• An emergency contact for the traveler, either email or phone number
• A valid payment method such as a credit or debit card issued by Visa, MasterCard, Discover (Diners Club or JCB only), or American Express

Other Information

• Aliases or other names used by the traveler
• National ID or personal ID number
• A global entry ID number
• Phone number and address
• A USA contact, phone number, email address, a street address

Common Questions About ESTA

Below are a few common questions and answers about ESTA. A full FAQ of more questions and answers can be found here.

How to Update Your ESTA

If approved, your ESTA will be valid for two years or until the date your passport expires, whichever comes first. There are some circumstances where you will need to get a new ESTA. These include getting a new passport, or a temporary or emergency passport; undergoing a name change; a change to your gender; a change to your country of citizenship; or a change of your answers to the ESTA eligibility questions.

Determine if you need a U.S. Visa or an ESTA

If you intend to stay in the United States for more than 90 days, or if your travel purposes are not for tourism, business or transit purposes, then a U.S. visa would be a more suitable travel authorization. You can apply for a B2 or B1 visitor’s visa if you do not qualify to travel using an ESTA or wish to stay in the United States for more than 90 days. If you plan to travel on a private aircraft or non-approved VWP sea or air carrier, you must apply for a visa.

Canada, Mexico and Islands

For people admitted to the USA with the VWP, short trips to Mexico, Canada and nearby islands are permitted. You can then re-enter the USA with the VWP, provided your stay still remains at 90 days or less, total. Citizens of countries in the VWP who live in Mexico, Canada or the nearby islands don’t usually have to prove onward travel to another country upon entry into the USA. See the CBP website for more information.

How a Country Joins the VWP

There are requirements that must be met for a country to become part of the VWP. They include, but are not limited to the following:

• Enhanced data sharing with the USA for law enforcement or security related purposes
• The country issues e-passports
• Less than 3 percent visa refusal rate for 214(b)
• Timely reporting of lost or stolen passports, both blank and otherwise
• Efforts to enforce high counter terrorism, law enforcement and document security

Designation of a VWP country is at the sole discretion of the USA government. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee VWP designation.

Denied ESTA Applications

Your ESTA request is denied once you receive confirmation of the “Travel Not Authorized” notice. In these cases, you may still be able to travel to the United States using a U.S. visa.

Entering the U.S.

Having an approved ESTA allows a traveler to reach a U.S. port of entry (usually an airport) and then request permission to enter the U.S. However, an approved ESTA does not guarantee entry. CBP officials at the port of entry retain the authority to deny or permit a traveler to enter the United States.

Extended Stay

You are not allowed to extend your stay in the U.S. if you arrived using the VWP program. You must leave the U.S. on or before the date stamped when you entered the U.S. Check the USCIS website for more information.

Changing Your Status

You cannot change status once in the U.S. if you are traveling on the VWP. Check the USCIS website for more information.

Travel to Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands

Citizens who live in Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Kingdom are not required to possess an ESTA or visa to visit Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands, due to the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program. However, travelers must fill out a Form I-736 before they travel. Chinese citizens don’t need a visa if they fill out the I-736 form to gain temporary entry to the Northern Mariana Islands.