What is ESTA?
Definition
ESTA
ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) is the US online pre-screening required for travellers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries before flying to the United States. It is not a visa — it is a security check that approves or denies boarding. Valid for two years or until passport expiry.
Key facts
| Operator | US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security. |
|---|---|
| Fee | $40.27 — $10 taken when you apply and $30.27 only if the application is approved; if it is refused, only the $10 is charged. The statutory minimum of $40 applies to applications made on or after 30 September 2025 under Public Law 119-21; the amount is adjusted for inflation each year, and the official portal shows the exact figure at payment. Checked August 2026. |
| Validity | 2 years or until passport expiry, multiple entries within that window. |
| Processing time | Usually under 1 hour; can take 72 hours for additional review. |
| VWP countries | 42 countries — the UK, most EU and Schengen states (but not Bulgaria, Romania or Cyprus), Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Qatar, Taiwan and others. |
| Who cannot use it | Anyone who has been in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011, or in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021. Dual nationals of Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria are excluded too — even if they have never travelled there. |
Who needs ESTA
Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries: the UK, most Schengen states, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and others. Citizens of any country not in the VWP need a US visa (B1/B2 or other category) instead. Holding a VWP passport is not always enough — travel to a short list of countries since 2011, or dual nationality with Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria, removes the right to use ESTA and sends the traveller to a consulate for a visa.
Is a photo needed for ESTA?
No physical photo is required for the ESTA application form. ESTA is purely an online pre-screening based on passport details and security questions. The biometric photo comparison happens at the US border on arrival, using the photo stored in your passport chip.
ESTA vs B1/B2 visa
ESTA is for short tourist or business trips (up to 90 days) from VWP countries — fast, cheap, no interview. A B1/B2 visa is for longer trips, frequent visits, study under 18 hours/week, or applicants from non-VWP countries. The B1/B2 requires a 2 × 2 inch DS-160 photo and an in-person interview.
Frequently asked questions
Is ESTA the same as a US visa?
No. ESTA is a visa-waiver authorisation for short trips from 42 specific countries. A US visa is a separate document for applicants who are not from a Visa Waiver Program country or who need to stay longer than 90 days.
Can ESTA be denied?
Yes. ESTA can be denied for a criminal record, previous immigration violations, or certain national-security indicators. It is also refused outright if you have been in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since 1 March 2011, or in Cuba since 12 January 2021, and if you hold dual nationality with Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria. A refused ESTA means applying for a B1/B2 visa instead, in person at a US consulate. Note that the $10 processing part of the fee is charged even when the answer is no — only the remaining $30.27 depends on approval.
Does ESTA require fingerprints?
No. ESTA is a passport-data-only check. Fingerprints are collected at US border control on arrival, not at the ESTA application stage.