How much does it cost to obtain an ESTA?
The cost of an ESTA has changed over the years. If you apply online from the U.S. government website, you will be asked to pay the sum of US$21.
ESTA UPDATE
Before tackling the question of the price of ESTA, check that ESTA authorization is suitable for your travel plans to the United States. The ESTA allows travelers from VWP member countries to enjoy a considerable advantage: visa-free travel to the United States. Here are the various conditions to be met so that you can be sure of your choice of authorization:
- you must have either a biometric passport or an electronic passport;
- this passport must be valid ;
- you must be a national of a country covered by the Visa Waiver Program (VWP);
- your stay in the USA must not exceed 90 days;
- your arrival and return are either by air or by sea aboard a company recognized by the American authorities;
- you must not be suffering from any contagious or mental illness.
If you comply with all these points, you can consider using an ESTA to travel to the United States. If you don’t meet one or more of these conditions, you’ll probably need to apply for a visa to travel to the USA.
WHAT ARE THE FEES FOR ESTA?
Why do you have to pay $21 for an ESTA: This amount is used to pay the application fee. Here is how the $21 is broken down in detail:
- 17 is donated to several U.S. government agencies, helping to promote tourism in the United States;
- the remaining $4 is simply for the ESTA department.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ESTA AWARDS?
The official price of $21 for an ESTA corresponds to a simple issuing service when you order it yourself on the official U.S. government website.