How to apply for ESTA: step by step

Updated · Checked against official US government sources · How we check facts

Quick answer

You apply online on the official ESTA website, esta.cbp.dhs.gov. CBP estimates the form takes 23 minutes on average. You need your e-passport, an email address and a payment card or PayPal. The fee is $40.62 if you are approved.

On this page
  1. Before you start
  2. The steps
  3. How early to apply
  4. Families and groups
  5. After approval
  6. Sources

Before you start

  • e-passport from a Visa Waiver Program country (see requirements)
  • a working email address, which you will have to verify
  • MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover (JCB, Diners Club) or PayPal
  • an address in the United States, if you have one

The steps

  1. Open the official website
    Go to esta.cbp.dhs.gov and choose an individual application or a group of applications.
  2. Enter passport and personal details
    Passport number, issuing country, citizenship and date of birth cannot be changed after you submit, so check them carefully.
  3. Answer the eligibility questions
    Answer truthfully. If you are only passing through, answer Yes to the question about transit to another country.
  4. Pay
    You can pay immediately or within 7 days of submitting. Unpaid or unfinished applications are deleted after 7 days.
  5. Check the answer
    The status is shown on the website: Authorization Approved, Authorization Pending or Travel Not Authorized.

How early to apply

CBP encourages travellers to apply for ESTA far in advance of the trip. If the answer is Travel Not Authorized you would need a visa, and the State Department cannot guarantee next-day visa appointments.

Families and groups

One person can submit a group of applications and pay for up to 50 of them in one payment. The travellers do not have to travel together. Every application needs a verified email address, and children need their own application.

After approval

You do not have to carry a printout: the airline receives your ESTA status electronically. CBP still recommends printing the result so that you have your application number. After approval you can change only your email address and your address in the United States. A new passport means a new application and a new fee.

Can I pay for someone else?

Yes. A group contact person can submit and pay for several applications. When you complete an application for a child you answer the questions as their guardian.

What if my application is Pending?

Check the status again on the official website. In a group, payment is taken only once every application has been approved or denied.

Sources

Checked on 13 November 2026. Rules can change; the official pages below always take priority.

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