ESTA fee: US$40.27, and what it covers
The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) lets citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. It costs US$40.27 per application since 1 January 2026, on the official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov or in the ESTA Mobile app.
Where the US$40.27 goes
| Part | Amount |
|---|---|
| Processing fee (charged even if refused) | US$10.27 |
| Authorization fee (travel promotion $17 + Treasury General Fund $13), charged only if approved | US$30 |
| Total if approved | US$40.27 |
If the ESTA is refused, you pay only the US$10.27 processing part. The 2026 increase comes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21), which added the US$13 Treasury General Fund fee and raised the operational part to at least US$10.27; the US$17 travel promotion fee did not change. CBP collects the new amount since 1 January 2026; before that the total was US$40.00.
Children and families
No discount and no exemption: CBP requires an ESTA for "each member of your party … regardless of age". A group can be paid in one go (up to 50 applications) within 7 days of submitting the second application; the travellers do not have to fly together.
Who needs an ESTA: the 42 countries
Citizens of the Visa Waiver Program countries, listed by DHS:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Chile
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom (British citizen)
Not on the list, so a visa is needed: Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania among EU countries (Romania was designated in January 2025, but the designation was rescinded on 2 May 2025 before taking effect). For the UK, only British citizens with the right of abode qualify; for Taiwan, only e-passports with the household registration number.
US citizens and Canadian citizens do not need one.
When ESTA is not possible
The ESTA form asks whether you have been to Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011. Such travel generally rules out the ESTA (for Cuba: travel on or after 12 January 2021), and dual nationals of Cuba cannot use ESTA. You then need a visitor visa. CBP notes that ESTA ineligibility "is not a bar to travel": it means a visa interview instead.
Transit, land and sea
- Transit: an ESTA is needed even just to change planes in the US.
- By land from Canada or Mexico: no ESTA needed.
- By sea (cruise ships): required, as by air.
Validity
Two years from approval, or until the passport expires if sooner, for multiple trips of up to 90 days. A new passport, a new name or a new citizenship means a new ESTA. Set an expiry reminder.
CBP recommends applying as soon as you start planning, and before buying tickets.