Do you need an ESTA?

ESTA fee & passport — common questions

How much does an ESTA cost in 2026?

An ESTA costs $40.27 per traveler. The fee took effect on 1 January 2026 as an annual CPI adjustment (+2.7%) of the $40.00 fee that H.R. 1 / Public Law 119-21 introduced on 30 September 2025, which itself replaced the earlier $21.00 fee. The charge breaks down into a $17.00 travel-promotion component, a $10.27 System Management component, and a $13.00 operational component. You pay it once when you apply on the official CBP portal; nobody can charge you to enter the United States after an ESTA is approved.

Which countries are in the Visa Waiver Program?

As of 2026-06-12 there are 42 VWP member countries. Israel joined in October 2023 and Qatar was designated on 27 September 2024. Romania's designation was rescinded on 2 May 2025, so Romanian passport holders now need a B-1/B-2 visa rather than an ESTA. If your passport is from a VWP country, you apply for an ESTA; if it is not, you apply for a visitor visa at a U.S. consulate.

How long is an ESTA valid?

An approved ESTA is valid for two years from the date of approval, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. Within that window you can make multiple trips to the United States, each up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program. If you get a new passport, change your name, or change your gender or country of citizenship, you must apply for a new ESTA.

Does my passport need six months' validity for the U.S.?

It depends on your nationality. The general rule is that your passport must be valid for six months beyond your intended stay. However, citizens of most Visa Waiver Program countries are exempt under the 'Six-Month Club' (9 FAM 403.9-3(B)(2)(f) and the CBP Carrier Liaison Program bulletin of 18 December 2025): their passport only needs to be valid through the end of their stay. Every VWP country is on the Six-Month Club list except Brunei. This checker applies the correct rule for your passport nationality automatically.

Do I need an ESTA if I'm only transiting through the U.S.?

Yes. Travelers connecting through a U.S. airport on the way to another country still pass through U.S. immigration and need a valid ESTA (or a visa) before boarding, even if they never leave the airport. The United States does not have an international-transit exemption the way some countries do.

Can I still travel visa-free if I've been to Iran, Iraq, Syria or Cuba?

Generally no. Under 8 U.S.C. §1187(a)(12), travelers who have been present in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011 — or in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021 — are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program and must apply for a visa. The same applies to dual nationals of Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria. Narrow exceptions exist for certain official or military travel; when in doubt, apply for a B-1/B-2 visa.

Is the ESTA the same as a U.S. visa?

No. An ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a pre-screening authorization for short tourism or business trips under the Visa Waiver Program, not a visa. It permits stays of up to 90 days and cannot be extended or used to study, work, or immigrate. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, work, or study, you need the appropriate U.S. visa instead.