Quick answer
Use ESTA if you hold a passport from a Visa Waiver Program country, will stay 90 days or less for tourism, business or transit, and are not excluded. Apply for a visitor (B) visa if your country is not in the programme, you want to stay longer, your ESTA was denied, or the exclusions apply to you.
| ESTA | Visitor (B) visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries | Any nationality |
| Where you apply | Online, official ESTA website | Online form DS-160, then usually an interview at a US embassy or consulate |
| Official fee | $40.62 if approved | $185 application fee; some nationalities also pay an issuance fee |
| Stay | 90 days or less per visit | Set by the CBP officer on arrival |
| Extend or change status in the US | Not possible | May be requested in some cases |
On this page
When you must get a visa
- your nationality is not on the Visa Waiver Program list
- you plan to stay longer than 90 days
- you will study for credit, work, or work as a journalist
- you have been in Cuba since 12 January 2021, or in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since 1 March 2011
- you are also a national of Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria
- your ESTA application returned Travel Not Authorized
- you arrive on a private aircraft or a carrier not approved for the programme
Can I choose a visa even if I qualify for ESTA?
Yes. The State Department says you may apply for a visitor (B) visa if you prefer to have a visa in your passport.
If your ESTA is denied
A new application made without any change in your circumstances will also be denied. The official advice is to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a US embassy or consulate. Reapplying with false information makes a traveller permanently ineligible for the Visa Waiver Program.
Sources
Checked on 13 November 2026. Rules can change; the official pages below always take priority.