Visa rules change frequently — always verify before you book.
This guide was last reviewed in June 2026. Entry requirements, fees, and stay lengths can change at short notice. Confirm the current rules with the official government sources linked below before booking flights or travelling.
- Visa needed?
- No visa for Visa Waiver Program countries — but an ESTA is required. Other nationalities need a B-2 visitor visa.
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days per visit under the Visa Waiver Program
- Cost
- $40.27 per applicant (as of June 2026; raised from $21 on 30 September 2025)
- Validity
- ESTA valid 2 years, or until your passport expires — multiple visits
- Processing time
- Often approved within minutes; apply at least 72 hours before travel
Whether you need a visa for the United States depends on your nationality. Citizens of around 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) — including the UK, most of the EU, Australia, and Japan — do not need a visa for short visits, but they must hold an approved ESTA before they travel. Everyone else needs a US visa.
This guide explains the Visa Waiver Program, what an ESTA now costs, how to apply, who qualifies, and who must apply for a B-2 visitor visa instead. The figures below are from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and were last checked in June 2026; fees and rules change, so confirm the current details on the official sites linked at the end before you book.
US ESTA at a Glance
The table below summarises the key facts for a tourist or short business visit under the Visa Waiver Program, taken from CBP as of June 2026.
| Detail | What to know (as of June 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who needs one | Visa Waiver Program nationals (around 42 countries) travelling for tourism or business |
| Who needs a visa instead | Anyone not from a VWP country, or staying over 90 days, working, or studying |
| Cost | $40.27 per applicant ($4 processing + $36.27 authorisation); only $4 if refused |
| Validity | 2 years, or until the passport expires — whichever is sooner |
| Stay per visit | Up to 90 days, multiple entries |
| How to apply | Official CBP site (esta.cbp.dhs.gov) only — nothing to print |
| Decision time | Often within minutes; apply at least 72 hours before travel |
The Visa Waiver Program & ESTA
The Visa Waiver Program lets citizens of around 42 partner countries visit the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa. To use it, you must hold an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) — an online authorisation linked to your passport — before you board.
The ESTA is not a visa; it is a pre-screening authorisation, and a border officer still makes the final decision on entry. It is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, and covers multiple visits during that time, each of up to 90 days.
What It Costs
As of June 2026 the ESTA fee is $40.27 per applicant. It nearly doubled from $21 on 30 September 2025 under a 2025 change to US law, and is made up of a $4.00 processing fee (charged to everyone) and a $36.27 authorisation fee (charged only if your application is approved). If your ESTA is refused, you pay only the $4.00 processing fee.
Every traveller needs their own ESTA, including children, and there are no family, group, or renewal discounts. Apply only on the official CBP website — third-party sites add a service charge for no extra benefit — and because the fee is adjusted over time, check the current amount on the official site before paying.
Who Is Eligible for ESTA?
The Visa Waiver Program includes around 42 countries, among them:
- The United Kingdom and most European Union countries
- Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore
- Chile and Brunei, among others
- You also need an e-passport (one with an electronic chip), and must not have travel-history or eligibility issues that exclude you
- Citizens of countries not in the VWP must apply for a US visa instead
Travel insurance is often required
Many visas and entry systems require proof of travel medical insurance — and even where it is not mandatory, it protects you against medical bills, cancellations, and lost baggage. Compare cover that meets visa requirements.
Compare travel insurance →How to Apply for an ESTA
- Apply through the official US Customs and Border Protection site (esta.cbp.dhs.gov) only
- Complete the online form with your passport and travel details
- Pay the $40.27 fee
- Most approvals are near-instant, but apply at least 72 hours before travel to be safe
- The ESTA links to your passport electronically — there is nothing to print, though keeping the confirmation is wise
Validity and Stays
An approved ESTA is valid for two years from approval, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. Within that period it allows multiple trips to the US, each for a stay of up to 90 days for tourism or business.
If you get a new passport you will need a new ESTA, because it is tied to the passport you applied with. An ESTA does not extend your permitted stay beyond 90 days per visit.
Who Needs a US Visa Instead?
If your country is not in the Visa Waiver Program, you must apply for a US visa — for tourism, the B-2 visitor visa. This requires an online application (form DS-160), a fee, and usually an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate, where wait times can be long.
You also need a full visa, regardless of nationality, if you intend to stay longer than 90 days, work, study, or travel for other non-tourist purposes. US visa fees were revised in 2025, including a new Visa Integrity Fee for many visa categories, so check the current amounts on travel.state.gov before applying.
Official Sources
Always confirm the latest requirements directly with the official government website before travelling:
Frequently Asked Questions
As of June 2026 the ESTA fee is $40.27 per applicant, raised from $21 on 30 September 2025. It is made up of a $4.00 processing fee charged to everyone and a $36.27 authorisation fee charged only if you are approved — so a refused application costs just $4.00. Every traveller needs their own ESTA, with no family or renewal discounts. Apply only on the official CBP site, and check the current fee there before paying, as it is adjusted over time.