How to Apply for an ESTA - Everything You Need to Know

If you are traveling to the USA, for business or pleasure, or even if you have a layover in the US, there is a good chance you can, and have to, apply for an ESTA.

But what is an ESTA visa exactly? How does applying for an ESTA work? And how long is an ESTA valid?

This article will walk you through the fundamentals of the ESTA and the specifics you need to know to travel to any location in the United States.

Applying for an ESTA

1. What Is an ESTA?

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, is a prerequisite for entry into the United States for citizens of countries that take part in the Visa Waiver Program.

Through this program, citizens of certain countries can travel to the United States for up to 90 days, on business or for leisure, without a visa.

So even though you’ll sometimes see it referred to as the ‘ESTA Visa’ it’s technically not a visa. It’s a form you fill in online.

You can apply for an ESTA at any time before you travel, but I’d recommend that you apply as soon as you start planning your trip.

The application process is quick and easy. It only takes a few minutes to complete. But we’ll get into more detail about how to apply for an ESTA later.

2. Who Can Apply for an ESTA?

To qualify for an ESTA you must:

● Have a passport from a qualifying country.

● Have an e-passport, which is a passport that holds the symbol.

● Have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your planned departure from the USA.

● Be traveling to the USA for business, pleasure, or transit.

● Have a return ticket or other proof of leaving the country.

● Not have any plans to stay in the USA for more than 90 days.

Qualifying countries are countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Currently, those countries are:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.

When you meet all of these requirements, you can get an ESTA.

If you are traveling as a family, each member of your family, and that includes infants and children, must have their own passport.

Note: as you see, the list above includes transit. This means that even if you only have a short layover in the USA, and don’t plan to leave the airport, you will still need to apply for an ESTA.

Can You Really Travel to the USA for Business on an ESTA?

Well, you can, but only for certain business-related activities.

When traveling on an ESTA you are allowed to:

● Attend business meetings.

● Consult with business associates.

● Attend business conventions, conferences, or trade shows.

● Negotiate contracts.

But, you are not allowed to travel to the USA for paid work or study. For that, you would have to obtain an appropriate visa.

3. How to Apply for an ESTA?

Applying for an ESTA is surprisingly uncomplicated and only takes a few minutes.

The official website to get an ESTA is esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

The only things you have to do is fill out an online form, pay an application fee of US$ 21, and wait to get the ESTA approved.

On the form, you will be asked for some basic information such as your name, address, date of birth, and of course your passport details.

You’ll also be asked a few questions about the destinations you plan to visit during your trip and whether or not you’ve ever been convicted of a crime.

If you are granted an ESTA you do not have to apply for any other visa for your trip to the United States.

But, an approved ESTA does not guarantee entry into the USA. The Customs and Border Protection officials at your port of entry have the authority to deny anyone admission to the United States.

4. How Long Does It Take To Get an ESTA?

After applying online you normally receive your ESTA within 3 days (72 hours).

Often you even receive your ESTA almost instantly.

But, to be on the safe side, it’s recommended to apply for an ESTA more than 72 hours before your planned departure.

5. How Long Is an ESTA Valid For?

Now that you know how to get an ESTA, you might be wondering how long it will stay valid.

Your ESTA will remain active for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

And, an ESTA is valid for multiple entries.

Each individual stay in the US can not be longer than 90 days, and you can only spend a total of 180 days per year in the US when you are using an ESTA.

If, for example, you get an ESTA when your passport is valid for another six months, then your ESTA will also only be valid for six months.

You have to apply for a new ESTA once you renew your passport or when you receive an emergency or temporary passport.

You will also have to apply for a new ESTA if you change your name, change your gender, change your country of citizenship, or have to change your responses to any of the “yes” or “no” questions on the ESTA application form.

6. What Are the Benefits of Having an ESTA?

There are two main benefits of having an ESTA.

First of all, applying for an ESTA is significantly cheaper than applying for any American visa.

Secondly, applying for an ESTA is a lot easier and takes a lot less time than getting any type of visa.

On top of that, the ESTA is valid for two years and for multiple entries, which is a great benefit if you are planning to visit, or even just fly through, the US more than once.

In short, if you qualify for an ESTA, it’s without a doubt the best visa, or technically visa waiver, to use for traveling to the USA.

Applying for an ESTA – Conclusions

Yes, applying for any type of visa, including this visa waiver, can feel somewhat stressful.

But, I hope this article has answered all your questions about applying for an ESTA and shown you that it is quite an easy process.

Just make sure you apply early enough!

And if you do still have any doubts or other questions about getting an ESTA, feel free to leave a comment below.

Safe travels to the USA!

Also Read:

How to Apply for an ESTA – Everything You Need to Know