Information

on the Esta​

Find out the essential information you need to know about esta

esta support statue of liberty

INFO ON ESTA

Since 2009, all citizens of those country endorsing the Visa Waiver Program are required to get an ESTA authorisation to travel or stopover to the USA

ESTA allows you to remain in the USA for a period of up to 90 days, for business or touristic trips. Esta is issued by the US Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP). It serves to check the people entering the USA and streamline the procedures to enter the country. 

ESTA replaces the green I-94W form that VWP citizens used to have to fill in in-flight before reaching the US. Besides, it is a faster alternative than the non-immigrant visa, which requires longer approval times.

travel to usa with esta

REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING AN ESTA

Esta authorisation is limited to citizens of the 39 member states of the Visa Waiver Program .

Currently, the countries endorsing the Visa Waiver Program are 38:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Malta, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom

To get Esta, you need to have an electronic passport valid throughout the whole stay in the United States.

If you are planning to travel with your family, please note that each traveller, including infants and children, needs to have their individual passport and Esta authorisation

Procedure for Esta approval

To request Esta, you simply need to fill in an online form. The questions you will find there concern different topics, such as: personal details, information on the trip and security questions, to verify your eligibility to enter the United States. 

Did you know that 25% of travelers make mistakes when completing the application? Any error can compromise the time required to obtain approval of the request.

Esta.Support was created to help travellers to get their authorisation in time for their departure date. 99% of the applications submitted through us are approved.

We have such high figures because we check all data entered and we call you back if we find any discrepancies.

United States travel with esta

After applying for ESTA

Normally, an Esta authorisation is approved within two hours from application. Approval times depend on the US Department of Immigration and can take up to 72 hours.

Once it is approved, you will receive your Esta authorisation at the email address you have provided when filling in the application form

Esta.Support will be with you during this stage, also. In case your application is rejected, we will help you to find a solution to allow you to travel to the United States.

You can contact us if there are delays in the approval of your application. We will make sure everything will go as it should.

Who can get an ESTA
Esta authorization rejected

How to use ESTA

The Esta authorisation will be required at the airport both at check-in and at customs, upon arrival to the United States.

It is not necessary to print out the Esta authorisation and take it with you. The security personnel can access it from their terminals.

However, please note that the Esta authorisation alone will not guarantee entry to the United States. In fact, Esta is an authorisation to travel. Upon arrival, immigration agents are tasked with approving your entry through some quick checks.