ESTA eligibility requirements

Travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program requires ESTA travel authorization. This authorization is essential for nationals of countries participating in the VWP who wish to visit the United States for stays of up to 90 days. Eligibility requirements for ESTA include :

1. Applicant’s citizenship
2. Type of passport
3. Length of stay and reason for stay
4. Personal and safety profile

If you meet these eligibility criteria, you can complete the ESTA form online in just a few minutes.

1. Citizens authorized to apply for an ESTA

To be eligible for ESTA, a traveler must be a citizen or national of a country participating in the VWP.

2. Types of passports authorized for travel to the USA

A foreign traveler must hold a passport valid for the USA and issued by a country participating in the VWP. This passport must be :

• An electronic passport containing a digital chip.
• Valid for the duration of your stay in the United States.

3. Reason for and duration of stay

ESTA authorization is only required for short stays. ESTA is for stays of up to 90 days. If you plan to stay longer, you’ll need a tourist visa for the USA.

Acceptable travel reasons for obtaining an ESTA include: Tourism, visits with family or friends, business appointments (meetings, conferences), medical treatment or transit through the USA.

Stays for study, paid work or permanent residence are not permitted with ESTA travel authorization.

4. Personal and safety conditions

To obtain ESTA travel authorization, you must comply with the health and safety requirements of the U.S. Border Administration. The last part of the ESTA questions concerns your personal security profile for the USA:

• Criminal record: You must answer a series of security questions when applying for ESTA. Any criminal conviction, contagious disease or previous violation of U.S. immigration laws may result in the refusal of your ESTA.
• Health problems: You must declare if you suffer from certain contagious diseases. Individuals presenting public health risks may be refused ESTA.
• Travel to certain countries: If you have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen after March 1, 2011, you will not be eligible for an ESTA and will need to apply for a visa.