ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)
ESTA Applications for short stays of up to 90 days in the United States.
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Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
An ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) allows you to visit the United States for tourism, business or transit. This is for any length of time shorter than 90 days within a 180 day period. The ESTA is an automated system that determines your eligibility for the Waiver Program without the need for a complete visa.
If you are not eligible for the ESTA Visa Waiver, you can select a B Visa instead and go through the whole visa process.
- B1 visa – Business travelers
- B2 visa – Tourist travelers
- B1/B2 visa – Tourist travelers
Please note: receiving the ESTA to travel to the United States does not necessarily mean that US Customs and Border Protection officers will permit you to enter. Admissibility is usually decided upon the traveler’s arrival on US soil by US Customs and Border Protection officers.
Do I need and ESTA?
If you’re a foreign citizen wanting to travel to the United States, you generally need to apply for a visa. However, the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens from specific countries to visit the United States for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa. So, if your country is part of the VWP, you just need to get an ESTA to travel to the United States.
To start the ESTA visa waiver process, please click below
Start ApplicationESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) in the United States uses the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to automatically determine if travelers are eligible to visit the United States. Each ESTA application gathers biodata and answers to eligibility questions set by the VWP.
You can apply for an ESTA at any time before your planned travel dates. However, it’s best to apply as soon as you start planning your trip to the U.S., or at least before buying airline tickets.
If you’re a citizen of a VWP member country and don’t have a valid ESTA, you won’t be able to check in for any flight, cruise ship, or ferry headed for the U.S. This rule applies to children who are citizens of VWP countries as well. The only people who can travel to the U.S. without an ESTA are those entering the country by land or U.S. citizens.
If the ESTA Visa Waiver doesn’t work for you, you can opt for a B1/B2 visa and complete the full application process.
ESTA Eligibility
If you want to apply for the ESTA Visa Waiver Program, you must meet the following criteria:
Must have obeyed the terms of all previous USA entries.
Not been found ineligible for a visa in the USA.
Never have been convicted or arrested for a moral turpitude crime or offense.
Must not be barred from entering the USA for any reason other than health or national security.
You must plan a vacation, business travel, or transit trip to the USA.
What Do I Need To Apply For An ESTA?
- Valid passport(s) from a Visa Waiver Program country.
- List of Visa Waiver Countries
- Valid email address.
- Home address and phone number.
- Emergency point of contact is phone and email.
- Payment method:
- Valid payment methods include MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover (JCB or Diners Club only), and PayPal.
The following information may also be required:
Aliases or other names (If Applicable).
- National ID or Personal ID number
- Global Entry ID number
- Employer address and phone number
- US point of contact name, address, and phone
ESTA Processing Time
You should apply for a ESTA visa waiver at least one week in advance of your trip to ensure approval in time.
ESTA is not a physical document applied for on the official online platform. To apply for it, an applicant must set aside between 15-20 minutes to put together the necessary documentation for the application, read and understand the questions asked in the form, and correctly fill out the application.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated process; therefore, the wait time is short. Applications can receive approval within minutes of submission. However, submissions can take up to seventy-two hours to be approved. Applicants typically receive email or browser notifications once their submissions have received approval.
ESTA Visa Waiver Process
You can complete the ESTA visa application online; there’s no need for an in-person visit. After you submit your information, the Department of Homeland Security will review it for errors and process it.
To qualify for the visa waiver program, you must have a valid electronic passport from a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) member country. You’ll need to provide your passport number for verification. You’ll also have to give your parents’ first and last names and emergency contact details, either within or outside the United States.
If you’re traveling to the U.S. for business, you’ll need to provide contact information for the person or organization you’ll be dealing with in the U.S. This allows for the verification of your name, phone number, and address. You’ll also need to provide the name and contact details for where you’ll be staying in the U.S.
For detailed information on specific parts of the ESTA process, you can refer to the links below to find the answer to your query. If you are unable to find any particular information, please contact us via email.
Useful Resources
Other USA Visa Types
An entry visa is required for any foreign national wishing to enter the United States. It could be a non-immigrant visa for a short period of time or an immigrant visa for a long period of time. Visa Waiver citizens can apply for an ESTA, however those who are not eligible should apply for one of the following:
Will I get admission to the United States of America?
An ESTA visa waiver lets you go to a U.S. entry point, usually an airport, and ask for permission to enter the country. While we can make your ESTA application process smooth, having an approved ESTA doesn’t guarantee you’ll get into the United States.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) works quickly because it’s automated. You usually get approval within minutes after submitting your application. However, it can take up to 72 hours for approval in some cases. You’ll typically receive an email or browser notification once your application is approved.
If you’re a citizen of a country in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and you don’t have a valid ESTA, you won’t be able to check in for any U.S.-bound flight, cruise, or ferry. This rule also applies to children from VWP countries.