Dreaming of a trip to the United States? Travelling to the USA has never been easier! Thanks to ESTA, there’s no need to go to the U.S. embassy and pay hundreds of dollars for a visa – a simple electronic authorization is all you need! However, the U.S. authorities have defined strict rules to qualify for the visa waiver program.
Requirements for ESTA applications
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The U.S. government imposes several eligibility requirements for ESTA applications. Here you’ll find all the prerequisites for traveling to the USA without a visa.
Nationals authorized to apply for an ESTA
The U.S. government has introduced ESTA authorization as part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This visa waiver program applies to citizens of 41 nations. Member countries include the European Union and, since 2023, Taiwan, Singapore and Israel.
Stays covered by ESTA
The U.S. government created the ESTA to secure travel under the VWP and facilitate entry into the U.S. territory. However, this authorization does not apply to all types of stay in the USA. Here are the three reasons for travel where an ESTA document is a necessity:
- tourist stay ;
- business travel (not to be confused with working in the U.S.);
- transit.
The reason for your trip to the USA is essential in determining whether you need to apply for an ESTA or a US visa, but it’s also essential to consider the length of your stay.
Length of stay in the United States
ESTA is a temporary entry authorization that allows travelers to stay in the USA for up to 90 days. If your trip to the U.S. exceeds the authorized stay by one day, you won’t need ESTA authorization, and you’ll need to apply for a U.S. visa.
The ESTA is valid for a maximum of 2 years. So there’s no need to apply for authorization each time you travel to the USA. It is, however, important to check the validity of your ESTA before departure. In the event of a new passport, the ESTA becomes invalid and a new application must be made.
Check passport validity before applying for ESTA
If all the above conditions apply to you, you can apply for an ESTA online. Please note that whether you order a visa or an ESTA, you absolutely must have a valid passport, otherwise you won’t be able to travel to the USA. Two types of passport are accepted by the American government: the electronic passport and the biometric passport.
When should I apply for ESTA in the United States?
Compared to a visa, the ESTA offers much greater flexibility in terms of organization. Travelers can request their travel authorization up to 72 hours before boarding. If you’re a fan of last-minute bookings, the ESTA is perfect for you!
Applying for ESTA authorization is quick and easy, with no need to provide countless supporting documents like for a visa. All you need is your passport and a credit (or debit) card.
To obtain your ESTA, you need to complete an online form issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The ESTA form’s primary function is security: it enables the U.S. authorities to draw up an accurate profile of applicants before they enter the country. When you apply online, you’ll be asked to fill in information such as your marital status, the reason for your stay in the USA, your passport number and date of issue. You will also be asked to answer a series of 9 closed questions. The purpose of this questionnaire is to check that you pose no risk to the country’s internal security. You will be asked, for example, whether you have recently traveled to one of the Muslim Ban countries, whether you have ever been convicted of a crime, or whether you are a carrier of a serious transmissible disease.
If you meet all the VWP eligibility requirements, obtaining an ESTA should not be a problem. However, if you need help filling in the application form, you can delegate this task to a private site. In all cases, a final decision on your application is made within 72 hours of payment and submission.
It is rare for customs to refuse an ESTA application. However, if they do, you will need to apply for a visa from your US embassy.