Print your ESTA before arriving in the USA
The ESTA authorization process takes place entirely online. Once the ESTA application has been approved, travelers often wonder whether they should print it out and present it to U.S. customs upon arrival.
To apply for a travel authorization, simply click on ESTA online form.
Do I need to print my ESTA authorization?
No paper version of the approved ESTA authorization is required upon arrival in the USA. The agent in charge of validating the traveler’s entry into the U.S. will consult the ESTA certificate directly in the computer system.
However, it is advisable to keep a copy of the approved ESTA certificate among your travel documents for the USA.
An ESTA authorization is not a visa for the USA, it is an essential travel document for nationals of Visa Waiver Program member countries wishing to travel to the USA without a visa.
How do I print my ESTA travel authorization?
When the ESTA application is approved, the ESTA holder may choose to :
- Download ESTA certificate
- print ESTA certificate
The certificate that appears on the traveler’s screen also contains the ESTA payment receipt. When the ESTA certificate is printed, it mentions the price paid for the ESTA by credit card.
Image of an ESTA authorization printed in English
Here is a printable image of an approved ESTA authorization. It lists the main information required to obtain authorization to travel to the United States.
