What Is ESTA? Official Fees, Eligibility and Applying

An old US$21 price is still repeated online. It is not the current figure on CBP's payment guidance. More importantly, paying an agent extra does not buy an official priority decision. Before entering passport or card details, check that you are using the service you intended to use.

What does an ESTA allow?

An approved ESTA permits eligible travellers to travel under the Visa Waiver Program and seek admission. It does not guarantee entry or permit unrestricted work. Check your nationality, passport and personal eligibility, not just whether your country appears on a list. US citizens do not use ESTA to enter their own country.

Government fee versus service charges

The CBP payment page lists US$40.27. The older US$4 processing plus US$17 approval breakdown should not be used for a new application. Verify any payment or refund question in the official service rather than relying on an old price table.

Exchange rates and a card provider's conversion charge can affect the amount shown in pounds or euros. A commercial intermediary may charge for assistance, but must not be confused with the US government. Read its terms before paying. There is no official paid ESTA fast-track product.

When should you apply?

Apply while planning the journey, with time to respond if further action is needed. A friend's rapid approval is not a timetable for your application. Read our ESTA processing-time guide and check the actual decision before travel. A pending application is not an approved boarding authorisation.

New passports and later journeys

Check the expiry on your approval and whether your passport or answers have changed. An ESTA is generally valid for two years or until passport expiry if sooner, with nationality-specific exceptions. A new application is not a discounted extension automatically starting when an old one expires. See ESTA validity and passport rules.

A practical cost check

Illustrative example: a British traveller comparing two websites should separate the official application charge, any advertised assistance fee and currency conversion. Compare the final checkout totals, not an old US$21 headline. Do not interpret the higher quote as a faster government decision.

Before you submit

• Use the correct passport details and a working email address.
• Check your eligibility and trip purpose.
• Review the final fee and the identity of the service taking payment.
• Check the decision through the official ESTA service.

For British passport holders, our UK travellers' ESTA guide covers the wider eligibility questions. This page provides general information, not an application service or individual immigration advice.