WHAT IS THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (ESTA)?
To strengthen the security of travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, requirements to travel visa-free have...
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ESTA AND A VISA?
An approved travel authorization is not a visa. It does not meet the legal or regulatory requirements to serve in...
WHO IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION?
All passengers traveling under the Visa Waiver Program are required to have an approved travel authorization prior to traveling to...
WHY DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN ESTA APPLICATION IF I’M TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM?
The “Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007” (9/11 Act) amended Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality...
DOES A TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION GUARANTEE ME ADMISSION TO THE UNITED STATES?
If your electronic travel authorization is approved, this approval establishes that you are eligible to travel to the United States...
WHAT IS THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM?
The Visa Waiver Program allows foreign nationals from certain countries to travel to the United States for business or pleasure,...
DO I NEED TO APPLY IF I’M ONLY TRANSITING THE UNITED STATES EN ROUTE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY?
Eligible nationals or citizens of countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program require either a travel authorization or a...
IF I HAVE A TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION THROUGH ESTA, DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN I-94W?
The implementation of the ESTA program allowed DHS to eliminate the requirement that Visa Waiver Program travelers complete an I-94W...
WHICH COUNTRIES PARTICIPATE IN THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM?
Andorra Australia Austria Belgium Brunei Chile Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Japan Latvia...
WHAT ARE THE PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAVEL UNDER THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM?
Visa Waiver Program requirements are: The passport must have a machine-readable zone on the biographic page. The passport must be...
WHEN MUST I OBTAIN A VISA TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES?
If you intend to arrive in the United States aboard a non-signatory air carrier. If you intend to visit the...
ARE THERE DISADVANTAGES TO USING THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM?
Before using the Visa Waiver Program, be aware of the following conditions that apply and carefully consider your options: If...
WHAT IF A VISA WAIVER PROGRAM APPLICANT IS FOUND TO BE INADMISSIBLE?
Travelers applying for admission to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program who are determined to be inadmissible to...
WHAT IF I HAVE DUAL CITIZENSHIP, BUT MY NON-VWP PASSPORT IS EXPIRED OR I DO NOT HAVE A PASSPORT FOR THAT COUNTRY?
If you have any additional passports, please enter the most recent passport information, even if that passport is expired. If...
WHAT IF I HAVE DUAL CITIZENSHIP AND/OR HAVE A PASSPORT FROM MORE THAN ONE COUNTRY?
Each Visa Waiver Program traveler must have an approved travel authorization for the passport they plan to use before they...
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF I AM A CITIZEN OF A VISA WAIVER PROGRAM (VWP) COUNTRY AND…?
I have a valid visitor (B1/B2) visa and am traveling to the U.S. for short-term business or tourism under the...
IF I AM IN CANADA OR MEXICO AND WANT TO DRIVE TO THE U.S., DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA?
If you are a citizen of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and you enter the...
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF: I am a citizen of Canada?
No, citizens of Canada who are traveling with a Canadian passport do not need an ESTA.
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF: I am a Landed Immigrant of Canada?
If you are a landed immigrant of Canada and a citizen of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver...
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF: I am a citizen of a VWP country and am visiting the U.S. from Canada or Mexico?
If you are a citizen of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and you enter the...
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF: I am a citizen of a VWP country and am traveling to the United States by air to transit the U.S.?
Yes. You must apply for ESTA even if you are only transiting the U.S. In the address field of the...
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF: I have dual citizenship from both a VWP country and a non-VWP country?
If you are flying under the terms of the VWP, with your VWP passport, you must apply for ESTA. If...
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF: I am a citizen of a VWP country and am going to Guam or Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)?
For international travel to Guam/CNMI under the VWP, ESTA is required. Nationalities that are eligible for Guam/CNMI VWP can travel...
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF: I am a citizen of a VWP country and am traveling for short-term business or tourism under the VWP to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands?
Yes, ESTA is required for travel to these locations.
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF: I am traveling with a minor (child under age 18) who is a citizen of a VWP country?
If the minor is traveling to the United States under the VWP as a tourist 90 days or less, he/she...
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF: I am a U.S. Citizen with dual citizenship in a VWP country?
U.S. Citizens are not required to have an ESTA and are required to use their U.S. passport to travel to...
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ESTA IF: If I have a current, valid visa?
Individuals who possess a valid visa will still be able to travel to the United States on that visa for...
How much time do you need left on your ESTA?
Is is necessary to renew an ESTA if it expires during a visit: An ESTA authorisation is valid for a visit to the United States of less than 90 days, and...
Can I do business on an ESTA?
The ESTA allows you to travel for tourism or business purposes. Provided you are travelling for periods of 90 days or less, your ESTA allows you...
What does the ESTA check for?
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel...