ESTA authorization is an electronic system allowing you to enter the United States. The ESTA allows citizens of Visa Waiver Program member countries to travel to the USA for less than 90 days without having to obtain a visa.
To make your ESTA application online in just a few minutes, click on online form.
What are the conditions to obtain the ESTA document ?
To apply for ESTA travel authorization, there are a few key prerequisites that must be met.
The first is that you must have a passport from one of the member countries of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). There are 41 countries (the last to accept Israel in October 2023), including most of Europe.
The second condition for submitting your ESTA application is to limit your stay in the US to less than three months. Finally, your trip to the United States must be for tourism or professional purposes.
With a view to maintaining homeland security, theU.S. administration remains extremely vigilant with regard to travelers entering U.S. territory. For this reason, access to ESTA authorization is systematically denied if the traveler has committed a crime or has already been imprisoned for more than five years.
If you meet all of these conditions, it is very likely that your ESTA application will be approved. Nevertheless, you will need to show a certain rigor during the filling step of the ESTA form. Indeed, a single typo is enough for the US government to declare your file non-compliant.
To find out more, click on esta usa.
ESTA form : information to be completed
The ESTA questionnaire enables the U.S. government’s border control services to prevent potential threats by obtaining accurate information on travelers before they arrive in the United States.
Completing the ESTA online form is relatively straightforward. However, before starting this step, make sure you have the passport (biometric or electronic) that will be used for the ESTA application and, above all, that it has not expired or is still valid on the date you plan to leave.
In the first place, you will be asked to provide basic information such as your surname, first name, length of stay, etc.
It will then communicate the data on your passport (expiry date, passport number, etc.).
Finally, you will have to answer specific questions related to your criminal or health history, such as: “do you have any dealings with terrorist organizations?”. The main purpose of this part is to make sure that you cannot harm the country. As the system is automated, if you answer the questionnaire correctly you will most likely be granted permission.
Whatever the final status of your ESTA, the government will inform you by e-mail of the decision within 72 hours. Sometimes the ESTA application is on hold, but this usually has no impact and results in final ESTA approval within a few hours.
Is ESTA valid for CANADA?
ESTA Canada does not exist, the electronic authorization for travel to the United States cannot allow you to enter the country. To travel to Canada, you must first obtain an electronic travel authorization from the Canadian government, called an ETA Canada. This authorization is obtained over the Internet in the same way as ESTA, which is why it’s called ESTA Canada.
Where to apply for ESTA authorization?
To obtain your ESTA authorization request, you can proceed in two different ways:
- Apply for your ESTA directly from the official government website;
- Apply for ESTA via private sites.
If you want to avoid, as far as possible, having your ESTA request rejected, we suggest you use the services of private platforms. They are staffed by experts in the field, and will guide you through every step of the process.
What is the difference between the visa and ESTA ?
As we have just seen, ESTA only applies to short stays in the USA of less than 90 days. For stays of more than three months, it is essential to apply for a visa.
What’s more, if you’re planning to work in the U.S., whether for an internship or an employment contract, an ESTA is not enough: it only authorizes business travel (signing a contract, visiting a business partner, etc.). To work in the United States, you need a Green Card.
If you’re planning an American road trip, for example, or any other tourist project lasting more than 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a B2 visa from the U.S. consulate. Applying for a visa is a very different procedure from obtaining ESTA authorization. Find out more about the different types of American visa.
Should I pay for an ESTA application?
Regardless of where you make your request, the ESTA application will always be subject to a fee. Its base price is $21, including administrative costs. If you order your ESTA via a private platform, the cost will be slightly higher, as it includes checking and correcting your data, as well as sending the form online.
What to do if the ESTA is refused?
If the esta is refused to you, it is undoubtedly due to an error during the answers provided in your questionnaire. In this case, you will be able to reapply online. Nevertheless, a period of ten days from your first ESTA order is required.
If the refusal is due to non-compliance with ESTA eligibility requirements, you will need to make an appointment and then go to the American embassy to apply for a visa. Unfortunately, this will require more time and money.
What to do after obtaining the travel authorization?
You have nothing to do. Before leaving, you can print the paper containing your ESTA number for proof of your arrival and take it with you to the airport on the day of your trip. Be aware though that this is not essential. Indeed, the airline as well as customs officers at the border post can check with your passport if you have the ESTA authorization, since the entire procedure is computerized.
When issued, the ESTA document allows the traveler to enter the United States of America as many times as necessary, for a period of two years. If your situation changes in the meantime (new name, change of address, new passport, etc.), your temporary residence permit will become obsolete, and you will have to apply for a new permit and pay the associated fees.
The ESTA gives you total freedom of movement within the U.S., meaning you can discover the American West and then decide overnight to visit New York! The only priority is to stay no longer than 90 days.
Please note that even if you have ESTA authorization, this does not guarantee 100% entry to the United States. In fact, the final decision rests with US Customs and Border Protection agents operating at border crossings.