ESTA Application

Every traveler who wants to enter the USA without a visa has to submit an ESTA application online in advance - even if it is only for transit! Below you will find the most important information on how to apply for ESTA.

ESTA is the Electronic System for Travel Authorization - an electronic entry procedure for the United States, which since 2009 has enabled visa-free travel to the United States under the VWP. ESTA can only be applied for online. If you have a valid ESTA, you do not need to apply for a visa.

Citizens of the following countries are eligible to apply for ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program:

¹ The validity period of an ESTA authorization for travelers from Brunei has been reduced from two years to one year, effective July 6th, 2023.

² The validity period of an ESTA authorization for Hungarian travelers has been shortened from two years to one year, effective August 1st, 2023. In addition, Hungarians are now only allowed to enter the US once per ESTA and also require a Hungarian birth certificate for the ESTA process.

All other nationalities must apply for a US visa.

The US government allows a maximum processing time of 72 hours. However, we recommend that you apply for your ESTA as early as possible. Ideally, you should apply for ESTA 6-8 weeks prior to your departure. This way, if you are denied, you will still have time to apply for an appropriate US visa.

Any traveler who wants to enter the US without a visa for a maximum of 90 days needs an ESTA - even infants! However, if you have a tourist visa, work visa, or Green Card, you do not need to apply for an ESTA.

You should apply for your ESTA at least 72 hours before your flight to the USA.

You can check your ESTA status at any time in your customer account!

Have a photo of your passport data page ready for upload. You will also need to provide the following information, among other things, when applying for ESTA:

• Personal data
• Details of the destination
• Contact persons in the USA
• Information on the current employer
• Emergency contact

In addition, there are security questions about your health, travel intentions and past, such as whether you intend to work in the United States or have ever been denied a visa or entry into the United States.

The form consists almost exclusively of mandatory fields, except for the information on social media accounts. However, if you do not know the address of your hotel when you apply for ESTA, you can change this point later.

Typically, it takes about 10 minutes to complete the ESTA application, as long as you have all the information about your upcoming trip to the USA, as well as personal information about your passport and your employer.

You can update the following information in your ESTA:

• Your e-mail address
• The address in the USA

Before re-entering the USA, we recommend adjusting the US address provided if it has changed.

However, the validity of ESTA expires if your personal data or your answers to the security questions change.

A valid travel authorization in the form of a US visa or ESTA is also required for children to enter the USA. This also applies in case of a short stopover at an American airport for transferring to another aircraft.

For children under the age of 18, the ESTA form must be completed by the parents or other appropriate third parties, such as the travel agent or an ESTA agency. The "Employer" item does not need to be filled out for children, only the passport information, US address, and parent information.

Parents as well as third parties can apply for an ESTA for children.

A passport for children is only valid for an ESTA if it is a biometric e-passport. That means the passport must be electronically readable so that the border control officer can read it. Moreover, it has to be valid for the child’s length of stay.

Children are required to apply for an ESTA before traveling to the USA as well!

The cost of applying for an ESTA is the same for adults and children. Furthermore, an ESTA is valid for two years for both adults and children.

Each person in a tour group needs their own valid ESTA to enter the United States. If you are planning your next trip through America with families or friends, then you can save time by using our ESTA group application.

Be on the safe side: Keep track of your ESTA more easily by printing it!

When completing a group application, there will be one contact person for the group who is responsible for organizing and paying for the applications. Each individual application will be checked by the USA experts at esta-application.com.

To avoid any travel stress, we highly recommend giving yourself enough time to complete the ESTA group application. As soon as you have collected all the personal data and travel details of every applicant, you can start applying for an ESTA. Ideally, you should apply for an ESTA two months ahead of time or one week before departing at the latest.

Even if you only have a layover and never leave the airport, you are required to have an ESTA. People traveling through the USA are considered visitors of the United States by the US authorities and must have, therefore, a valid US visa or an ESTA travel authorization.

Airlines are required to inform the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of their passengers’ traveling status. If you cannot show that you are in the USA with a valid ESTA, then you will not make your connecting flight.

The ESTA application for people in transit is practically the same. The only difference is that you do not need to include a contact person in the USA and a US address.

Yes, ESTA can be used to travel to the USA for business as long as you do not stay in the USA longer than 90 days and you do not work for a US company. Business trips that are allowed under the Visa Waiver Program include participating in:

• Conferences
• Meetings
• Consultations and contract negotiations
• Job fairs

Visa Waiver Program travelers entering the United States by land must also obtain ESTA approval as of October 2022. Thus, the same requirements now apply to all US travelers, regardless of the mode of transportation they use to enter the country.

If your ESTA application is rejected due to an unintentional mistake or typing error, please contact us immediately if you have applied with us. We will then immediately try to arrange a correction!

TIP:

Benefit from the expertise of esta-application.com and submit your ESTA application with our professional help. We will take care of the correct entry of all your data.