What is an ESTA?

An ESTA — Electronic System for Travel Authorization — is permission to board a flight or ship to the United States without a visa. You apply online, it costs $40.27, and most people get an answer within minutes.

It exists because of the Visa Waiver Program, which lets citizens of 42 countries and Taiwan visit the US for short trips without going through a consulate. The ESTA is the screening step that replaced the visa interview.

What it is not

It is not a visa. A visa is issued by a consular officer after an application and usually an interview. An ESTA is an automated pre-screening decision made by CBP. Different document, different process, different rights.

It is not permission to enter. This distinction matters more than most people realise. An approved ESTA gets you onto the plane. When you land, a Customs and Border Protection officer decides whether to admit you, and can refuse even with a valid authorization. In practice this is uncommon when your stated purpose matches your circumstances — but it is why “I have an ESTA” is not an argument at the border.

It is not tied to a specific trip. Once approved it covers any number of visits during its validity, so long as each is 90 days or fewer.

What it covers

Tourism, business and transit. Concretely: holidays, visiting family, conferences and meetings, negotiating contracts, medical treatment, short recreational courses, and connecting through a US airport.

It does not cover paid work for a US employer, journalism, study for academic credit, paid performance, or arriving as crew. Those need the appropriate visa.

Who needs one

You need an ESTA if all of the following are true:

You are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country
You are arriving by air or sea — not across a land border
You are staying 90 days or fewer
You do not already hold a valid US visa in the appropriate category

Everyone travelling needs their own, including newborns. There is no family application and no child rate.

How long it lasts

Two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Within that period you can enter as often as you like. A new passport means a new ESTA — the authorization is tied to the specific document, not to you.

ESTA or visa?

	ESTA	B1/B2 visa
Cost	$40.27	Higher, plus travel to a consulate
Interview	No	Usually yes
Decision time	Often minutes	Days to months for an appointment
Maximum stay	90 days	Typically longer
Validity	2 years	Often 10 years
Extensions	Not possible	Sometimes possible

If you qualify for an ESTA, use it — it is faster and cheaper. The visa route exists for people who do not qualify, who need longer than 90 days, or who are travelling for a purpose the Visa Waiver Program does not cover.

Where to apply

The official application is at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. That is the only place the authorization is actually issued, and $40.27 is the only amount that has to be paid to get one.