How much does an ESTA cost in 2026?
An ESTA costs $40.27. That is the total charged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and it is the only amount you have to pay to get one. The fee is split into two parts: a $4.00 processing fee and a $36.27 authorization fee.
What you pay if your application is denied
Only the $4.00 processing fee. The $36.27 authorization fee is charged only when your application is approved, so a refusal costs you four dollars rather than forty.
This matters when you are weighing whether to pay for any kind of help: the amount genuinely at risk from a mistake is the $36.27 portion plus the cost of applying again — not the whole fee.
The fee nearly doubled in 2025
| Period | Fee |
|---|---|
| Before 01/09/2025 | $21.00 |
| From 01/09/2025 | $40.27 |
The increase took effect on 1 September 2025. CBP adjusts the authorization portion for inflation each year, so expect small changes every September. Many third-party sites still quote the old $21.00 figure — if you see it, the page has not been updated and its other information may be out of date too.
Every traveller pays separately
There is no family rate and no child discount. A family of four pays $40.27 × 4 = $161.08. Infants and newborns need their own ESTA and are charged the full amount.
Payment methods
CBP accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. The payment is taken at the end of the application, and your application is not submitted for a decision until it goes through.
Why some sites charge $79 or more
A large number of websites sell “ESTA applications” for between $59 and $99. They are filling in the same free government form on your behalf and charging a service fee on top of the $40.27 that still has to reach CBP. That is legal when it is clearly disclosed — and a problem when it is not.
Before paying anyone, check three things: does the site say plainly that it is not the U.S. government, does it show the government fee separately from its own fee, and does the total add up to more than $40.27? If any of those is unclear, apply directly at esta.cbp.dhs.gov instead.
We charge a separate, clearly-stated fee for optional help checking your details before you submit. You always pay CBP the $40.27 yourself, directly.
Is it refundable?
No. Once the authorization fee is charged, it is not refunded — including if you later cancel your trip, if your passport is replaced, or if you decide to apply for a visa instead. An approved ESTA is also not transferable to a new passport.