Get free ESTA authorization

The U.S. Visa Waiver Program allows eligible travelers to obtain an ESTA certificate for stays of less than 90 days in the United States. You can apply for an ESTA online.

Is ESTA authorization free or subject to a fee?

The online ESTA form includes a series of questions about the traveler and ends with a payment page. Travelers must pay for their ESTA online by credit card to validate their application. The ESTA fee is set by the US State Department. It has changed several times since the Visa Waiver Program was launched in 2009.

The ESTA form is not free on the official ESTA website. The fees paid help finance the operation of the Visa Waiver Program and promote tourism to the USA.

How can I obtain an ESTA free of charge?

To find out the status of your ESTA authorization, simply log on to the official ESTA website and check the validity of your ESTA. The process is free of charge and takes just a few minutes if the traveler is in possession of his or her travel information.

The ESTA is initially valid for two years. However, for certain reasons, this period may be reduced. The main reason is the validity of the passport used to obtain the ESTA. When the passport is no longer valid, the ESTA obtained is no longer valid either.