How To Apply For a U.S. ESTA

When travelling to the U.S., international travellers will need to have an ESTA to enter the country. An ESTA is ideal for holidaymakers as it provides you with up to 90 days of travel. If you hold one of these, you don’t need to apply for a visa to travel to the U.S.

Everyone, including children and babies will need to apply for an ESTA if travelling to the U.S. For those with a U.S. work visa travelling to America for a holiday, you will also need to fill in an ESTA and pay the fee.

How Much Does An ESTA Cost?

There is a small administrative fee to be paid for each ESTA - this is currently $14 per person and can be applied for online in a few minutes. The ESTA lasts for two years from the date of application, or until the passport expires (whichever comes first).

Where Do I Apply For An ESTA?

This is the official website for applying for an ESTA: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Through this website, you can find full information about ESTAs and the Visa Waiver Programme, fill out an application for one, as well as look back at previous applications.

Beware of unofficial websites that offer to apply on your behalf, usually charging more than $14 per ESTA.

For large families and groups travelling to the U.S., this website offers you the option of creating a group application, which means you can make one payment at the end, instead of having to submit and pay for them individually. Valid payment methods include MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover (JCB or Diners Club only), and PayPal.

For each application you will need to have ready your passport details, the U.S. address of where you are staying, a U.S. contact phone number and a debit or credit card.

When Should I Apply For My ESTA?

Travellers are encouraged to apply for their ESTA no later than three days before departure. We do however recommend doing this a month or so before your holiday to give enough time for the application to be processed, as every application does vary, with some taking a lot longer than others. If your ESTA is in the ‘pending’ state, you can keep checking back on the website to see the status of it.

The ESTA Application Form

Filling out the application form on the ESTA website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ is fairly simple and as long as you have all the required details ready, the process will be a lot quicker.

The website even gives you the option of uploading a photo of your passport, taking the information from the image and adding it to the corresponding fields of the application. Be sure to double check that everything is as per your passport. You will also find information icons throughout the application if you are not sure what to enter within each field. For example, in the ‘First Name’ field you can enter your first name and middle name(s), which isn’t fully clear on first inspection.

As part of the form you will have to include an emergency address in America. Your villa address can be added here, which we send to you around a month before you travel.

Remember to record your Application Number during the process so you can amend your ESTA for future visits within the two years. You will be able to update your address on the application whenever you are planning on visiting a different place in the U.S.

What Happens if I Am Not Eligible For An ESTA?

When applying for an ESTA an immediate response is generated at the end, which usually says ‘Authorization Approved’ or ‘Pending’. If the response ‘Travel Not Authorized’ is generated, the applicant is unable to travel under the Visa Waiver Programme and must apply for a visa in advance.

If you have been arrested in the past (even if it did not result in a conviction), have a criminal record (the rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to US visa law), have a serious communicable illness, or have previously been refused admission into, been deported from, or have overstayed in the U.S. on the Visa Waiver Programme, then you will not be eligible for an ESTA and will have to apply for a visa instead. Visa appointments can be arranged online at ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/niv or call 020 3608 6998. This process can take 6-months or longer and will likely require an interview at the Embassy, so bear this in mind if you are unsure about your eligibility for an ESTA.

The ESTA and Your Passport

Each individual ESTA is linked to your passport and the passport number. If your passport expires within the two years of having your ESTA, you will have to reapply when you receive your new passport.

When adding all your information to the application form, double check that everything entered is correct, otherwise you will have to reapply.

Many UK holidaymakers believe that to travel to other countries you need at least 6 months left on your passport, however this isn’t the case for the U.S. Current information on the Gov website states that your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You don’t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this if travelling to America.

Your holiday in Orlando should be one to remember, which is why we have created this blog to make the planning and organising of your trip that little bit easier. Be sure to check out our other blogs and follow us on social media for even more advice and ideas!