Quick answer
If your ESTA is denied, you can still travel to the United States, but not under the Visa Waiver Program. You need to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a US embassy or consulate. You pay only the $10.62 processing fee for a denied application, not the full $40.62.
Checked on November 13, 2026 against the official ESTA FAQ (esta.cbp.dhs.gov).
On this page
Key facts about an ESTA denial
- An ESTA denial does not decide whether you are eligible for a visa.
- For a denied application, you pay only the $10.62 processing fee. The $30.00 authorization fee is charged only when an ESTA is approved.
- If your circumstances have not changed, a new ESTA application will also be denied.
- Giving false information in a new application makes you permanently ineligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
- US embassies and consulates cannot give details about an ESTA denial or resolve it.
- No court has jurisdiction to review an ESTA eligibility decision.
What “Travel Not Authorized” means
A denial means you cannot travel under the VWP. It is not a ban on entering the United States and not a decision about a visa.
A denial can follow from your answers to the eligibility questions. A recent visa refusal, for any reason, can also result in an ESTA denial, additional screening, or a refusal of entry. For the full eligibility rules, see ESTA requirements: passport, eligibility and exclusions.
What to prepare before you act
- The passport you used in the application. Check the passport number, name, date of birth, and nationality against what you entered.
- A record of your answers. Go through the eligibility questions again and note what you answered.
- A list of what has changed. A new application makes sense only if something relevant is different from the first one.
- Your travel dates. You need them to decide whether to apply for a visa now.
What to do: step by step
- Check for a data error. If the mistake is in an answer to an eligibility question, contact the CBP Info Center through the link at the foot of the ESTA website. If you made an error in your passport details or personal data, you cannot fix it in the existing application. You need to submit a new application and pay the fee again.
- Review your eligibility answers. Compare them with your circumstances and note whether anything relevant has changed since you applied.
- Decide whether to reapply. Reapply only if your circumstances have changed. If nothing has changed, the new application will also be denied, and you pay the processing fee again. Never change a truthful answer to get approval. False information makes you permanently ineligible for the VWP. To submit a new application, use the official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov and follow How to apply for ESTA: step by step.
- Apply for a nonimmigrant visa. This is the official route after a denial. You apply at a US embassy or consulate. The ESTA denial does not decide your visa eligibility; the visa is assessed on its own. See ESTA or visa: which one do you need for the US? for the differences.
- Consider a DHS TRIP inquiry. You can submit a redress inquiry through the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). It does not guarantee that your ineligibility will be resolved.
Common mistakes after a denial
- Changing answers to pass. False information leads to permanent VWP ineligibility. This is far worse than a single denial.
- Asking an embassy or consulate to explain the denial. They cannot provide details about an ESTA denial or resolve it. They handle your visa application, not the ESTA decision.
- Planning a court appeal. No court can review a decision on ESTA eligibility.
- Treating DHS TRIP as a quick fix. A redress inquiry does not guarantee a change.
- Assuming you are banned from the US. “Travel Not Authorized” applies only to travel under the VWP.
Cost and validity
| Situation | What you pay or get |
|---|---|
| ESTA denied | $10.62 processing fee only |
| ESTA approved | $10.62 processing + $30.00 authorization = $40.62 |
| New application after a data error | The fee is charged again |
| New application with no change in circumstances | Fee charged again; the application will also be denied |
| Validity if approved | Usually two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first |
More on fees: ESTA cost and validity: the fee and how long it lasts.
Which option fits your situation
| Your situation | Best next step |
|---|---|
| You entered a wrong passport number or personal data | Submit a new ESTA application with correct data |
| Your circumstances have changed since the first application | A new ESTA application may be considered |
| Nothing has changed and your answers were correct | Apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a US embassy or consulate |
| You had a recent US visa refusal | Expect a possible ESTA denial; the visa route applies |
| You believe the denial relates to a screening problem | DHS TRIP inquiry, with no guaranteed result |
Frequently asked questions
Do I get a refund if my ESTA is denied?
You pay only the $10.62 processing fee. The $30.00 authorization fee is added only when the ESTA is approved, so a denied application costs $10.62, not $40.62.
Can I apply for ESTA again after a denial?
Yes, but if your circumstances have not changed, the new application will also be denied. If the denial was caused by an error in your passport or personal data, submit a new application with the correct data. The fee is charged again.
Can the US embassy tell me why my ESTA was denied?
No. US embassies and consulates cannot provide details about an ESTA denial or resolve the problem. They can process a visa application.
Will an ESTA denial affect my visa application?
An ESTA denial does not determine your eligibility for a visa. The visa application is assessed separately at the embassy or consulate.
If I later get an ESTA or visa, am I sure to be admitted?
No. An approved ESTA does not guarantee entry. A CBP officer at the port of entry decides on admission. See Arriving in the United States: border control and the I-94.
Sources
- ESTA Frequently Asked Questions – esta.cbp.dhs.gov
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA – cbp.gov
- Visa Waiver Program – travel.state.gov
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. US Visa Entry is an independent website and is not connected with the US government.