United States To Increase ESTA Application Cost
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security approved an increase in the ESTA fee from $14 to $21 on 26 May 2022. Travellers from the countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program will have to pay this cost for the ESTA application.
The ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) by air, land, or sea. The VWP enables eligible nationals of 40 countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa if they have an approved ESTA. CBP encourages travellers to obtain an approved ESTA by using the official website Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (dhs.gov).
How Do I Apply for an ESTA?
There is only one official government site to apply for an ESTA.
It is a relatively straightforward process. You fill in your travel information (destination, intended length of stay, U.S. address, passport details etc), pay the fee and submit.
It can take a couple of hours to three days for the ESTA to be granted. And until it is, you will not be allowed to clear customs upon landing.
How much does an ESTA cost?
The cost of $21 for an ESTA application consists of two parts:
- Processing fee
- Approval fee
Do I have to pay ESTA in US dollars?
Although this is a US authority, the fee does not necessarily have to be paid in US dollars, but can also be paid in euros. The price depends on the current exchange rate.
If you submit your ESTA application with ESTA-Online, you can pay all fees in EURO.
To know more about the United States read about the 7 best places to visit on the EAST COAST of the USA and the Best places to visit on the West Coast of the USA
