ESTA CERTIFICATE APPLICATION
Is a trip to the USA in your future plans? You’ll need to make sure that your administrative affairs are in order, and apply for the necessary documents if you haven’t already done so. In addition to a valid biometric or electronic passport, you’ll need to apply for an ESTA certificate.
WHAT IS AN ESTA CERTIFICATE?
An ESTA certificate is an official document issued by the American authorities. Unlike a visa, the ESTA does not need to be applied for at a US embassy or consulate, as the document is available online on the official government website, or on the websites of private companies.
ESTA, for Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is an electronic travel authorization system that allows its holder to travel to the United States without a visa.
This visa waiver is only available to nationals of countries covered by the Visa Waiver Program. VWP partner countries allow their citizens to travel to the United States without a visa.
List of VWP member countries
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
You must meet the ESTA eligibility requirements to apply for authorization online, such as:
- be in possession of a biometric passport or electronic passport valid for the duration of the planned stay;
- Organize a trip of less than 90 consecutive days in the United States;
- planning a tourist, transit or business trip;
- use a U.S. government-approved airline or shipping agency;
- complete the online form and answer the required questions ;
- not to have visited Sudan, Somalia, Iraq or Iran after March 1, 2011;
HOW TO APPLY FOR ESTA AUTHORIZATION?
Applying for an ESTA certificate is easy and straightforward. All you have to do is visit the U.S. government website, or hire a private company to help you with the paperwork, and then fill in the ESTA form.
To apply for ESTA authorization, you’ll need to provide information about yourself, your valid and current passport, your state of health and your criminal record.
ABOUT YOU
You’ll be asked to provide information about your identity, such as your surname, first name, place of birth, date of birth, marital status and gender, as well as the identity of your parents (first and last names of your mother and father). Your e-mail address will also be required, especially if you have used an independent service to receive your ESTA authorization, as this is how you will receive it. Make sure you don’t make any mistakes when entering your details, as this is often the reason why ESTAs are refused (typing errors, misprints…).
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PASSPORT AND YOUR PLANNED TRIP TO THE USA
The following information will need to be provided: your official postal address, your nationality (and dual nationality if applicable), your telephone number, your biometric or electronic passport number, the country where the passport was issued (as well as its date of issue and expiry date). You’ll also be asked which city you’re boarding from, and whether your trip is merely transit.
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND LEGAL HISTORY
You’ll have to answer a series of questions about your health (e.g. whether you carry any serious contagious diseases), your drug use and whether you’ve ever been in trouble with the law. These questions are designed to identify potentially dangerous people.
These are closed questions, i.e. you can only answer “yes” or “no”. A single “yes” may automatically cancel your chance of obtaining your ESTA. However, you must answer truthfully if you want to travel to the USA (you can apply for a visa after an ESTA refusal).
With our advice, you’re ready to apply for an ESTA certificate the right way – good luck!