Since January 12, 2009, all travelers from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (including French nationals) are not required to have a visa to travel to the United States for stays of up to 90 days. However, they must obtain travel authorization before departure. Discover everything you need to know to apply for an ESTA for the United States.

What is the ESTA?

The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is the electronic travel authorization system for the United States. Indeed, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established this system as part of the Visa Waiver Program, which allows travelers from partner countries to visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa.

In short, while a visa is not mandatory for traveling to the United States for a maximum of 90 days, an ESTA application is required beforehand.

Note:

The ESTA must be obtained for any trip of up to 90 days to the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Who is eligible to apply for an ESTA?

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) does not apply to all citizens worldwide, but to all nationals and citizens of partner countries who plan to travel to the United States for business or leisure for a maximum of 90 days.

Even infants and children, accompanied or not, must obtain travel authorization before boarding an aircraft or ship bound for the United States. In this case, the ESTA application can be submitted by a third party on behalf of a traveler eligible for the Visa Waiver Program.

Which countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program?

Here is a list of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program:

• Andorra,

• Australia,

• Austria,

• Belgium,

• Brunei,

• Chile,

• Croatia,

• Czech Republic,

• Denmark,

• Estonia,

• Finland

• France,

• Germany,

• Greece,

• Hungary,

• Iceland,

• Ireland,

• Israel,

• Italy,

• Japan,

• Latvia,

• Liechtenstein,

• Lithuania,

• Luxembourg,

• Republic of Malta,

• Monaco,

• Netherlands,

• New Zealand,

• Norway,

• Poland,

• Portugal,

• San Marino,

• Singapore,

• Slovakia,

• Slovenia,

• South Korea,

• Spain,

• Sweden,

• Switzerland,

• Taiwan,

• United Kingdom.

Attention!

Some citizens of Visa Waiver Program partner countries must still be in possession of a visa before departure. Here are the individuals concerned:

• Persons holding dual nationality with certain countries (Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen) and/or who have traveled there since February 2011;

• Individuals who have traveled to Cuba since January 12, 2021 and those who plan to go there before their trip to the United States.

What about travelers in transit through the United States?

Eligible nationals or citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program must obtain travel authorization or a visa to transit through the United States.

As mentioned on the official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: "If a traveler plans only to transit through the United States en route to another country, when completing the travel authorization application in ESTA, they must select 'Yes' to the question 'Is your trip to the United States in transit to another country?'".

When should you apply for an ESTA?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends submitting your travel authorization application (ESTA) at least 72 hours before your trip. That said, we recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid any unexpected delays or unforeseen issues.

Where can you apply for an ESTA?

The ESTA application must be made on the official website of the Department of Homeland Security: esta.cbp.dhs.gov. You can also submit your application through the ESTA mobile app, available on Android and IOS.

What documents are needed to apply for an ESTA?

Here is a list of documents required to submit an ESTA application:

• A valid passport from a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program (the passport must have a machine-readable zone on the biographical page and be an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport holder);

• A valid email address;

• Traveler information (name, first names, address, phone number, date of birth, city of birth, etc.);

• Emergency contact information (phone number and email address).

What are the steps to apply for an ESTA?

Discover our step-by-step tutorial for applying for an ESTA:

Step 1:

Visit the official website of the Department of Homeland Security: esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Click on "change language" in the top right corner to access the site in English.

Click on "Create a new application" then "Individual Application" if you are applying for yourself, or "Group Applications" if you wish to submit multiple applications. Read the information and click on "Yes, I have read and understood the information and accept the terms and conditions".

Step 2:

Upload your passport and fill in all required information: passport biographical information, personal information, travel details, eligibility questions, etc.

Note:

You will receive a 4-digit code in your email to verify your email address. Once your email is verified, you will receive another email containing your application number, which you should keep.

Step 3:

Once all information is entered, you can verify the accuracy of your information at step 6. Make changes if necessary and/or click "Next" then "Confirm and Continue" to proceed to step 7.

Step 4:

For this final step, you must check the "Disclaimer" box and click "Pay Now" to enter your payment information and proceed with payment.

Step 5:

Your application is then processed by the system to determine whether you are eligible or not. You should normally receive a response within a maximum of 72 hours. In the meantime, you can always check the status of your application on the home page of the website by selecting "Check ESTA Status" and entering your personal information.

How long does it take to complete the ESTA application process online?

The estimated average time to fill out the information and submit an ESTA application is 23 minutes.

Step 6:

You will receive one of the following responses:

• Authorization Approved: you are authorized to travel to the United States without a visa for a maximum of 90 days. Be aware, this does not always guarantee admission. Indeed, you must present your travel authorization to customs and border protection agents upon arrival. They will decide whether you can enter the territory or not.

• Travel Not Authorized: you are not authorized to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. This does not mean you cannot visit the territory, but it indicates that you must apply for a visa from the State Department for your trip.

• Authorization Pending: your travel authorization is still under review. You must wait and check back later to verify your ESTA status on the website.

How long is the ESTA valid for?

The ESTA is valid for a period of two years from the date of approval or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. In other words, you can travel to the United States multiple times during this period (for a maximum of 90 days with each trip) without having to submit a new authorization.

Note that a new authorization may be required in certain situations:

• You have received a new passport,

• You change your name and/or first name,

• You change your gender,

• You change your country of citizenship,

• Your personal situation changes (criminal record, contagious disease, etc.).

What does an ESTA cost?

The registration fees for submitting an ESTA application are 21 USD per person in total. The payment includes:

• Processing fees of 4 USD,

• Authorization fees of 17 USD.

If your travel authorization is denied, you will only be charged for processing your application, which is 4 USD.

Good to know:

All payments must be made by credit/debit card or PayPal. Note that only MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover credit cards are accepted.