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Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
Practical Law Glossary Item 4-518-4153 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
An automated system managed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to evaluate the eligibility of travelers to the US under the visa waiver program. The system requires travelers who do not apply for a visa to submit their biographic and basic eligibility information for review by CBP before traveling to the US. The travel authorization must be issued before the traveler may enter the US. Once issued, an ESTA travel authorization is valid for the earlier of either:
- Two years.
- The traveler's passport expiration.
A new ESTA authorization is required if the traveler:
- Is issued a new passport.
- Changes her first or last name.
- Changes her gender.
- Changes her country of citizenship.
- Experiences certain changed circumstances that may affect her eligibility (such as being convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or contracting a contagious disease).
The fees for ESTA include a:
- Processing fee of $4, paid by all ESTA applicants.
- Authorization fee of $10, paid by applicants who receive ESTA travel authorization.
Applications are submitted at the ESTA website.