Apply for your U.S. ESTA online

Citizens from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries (such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, Qatar, and many EU nations) require a U.S. ESTA for short visits.

If you are not from a VWP country, or if you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you must apply for a U.S. B1/B2 visa instead. Note that travelers who have visited Cuba (since 2021), Iran, Iraq, North Korea, or several other restricted countries since 2011 may be ineligible for ESTA and must apply for a visa.

The authorization is digitally linked to your passport number. Once approved, you will receive an email confirmation. While there is no physical sticker, we highly recommend keeping a digital copy on your phone or a printed version, as airlines frequently check for your authorization number during check-in.

You can stay for up to 90 days per visit. The ESTA itself is generally valid for two years (or until your passport expires), allowing for multiple entries.

Important: Time spent in Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands usually counts toward your 90-day limit if you are returning to the U.S. during the same trip.

While most applications are approved within minutes, the U.S. government advises that it can take up to 72 hours. With iVisa, we process your application immediately and provide expert review to ensure your submission is accurate to avoid delays.

Yes. Every traveler, including infants and children, must have their own individual ESTA linked to their own e-passport. You can manage family applications together in a single session using our "Add another person" feature.

Yes. The U.S. does not have a "transit-only" area that allows you to bypass immigration. All VWP travelers must clear Customs and Border Protection even if they are just catching a connecting flight, meaning an approved ESTA is mandatory for transit.

As of September 30, 2025, the U.S. government increased the official ESTA fee to $40 USD (comprised of processing, travel promotion, and treasury fees). If you apply through iVisa, our service fee is added to this to cover our expert application review and 24/7 support.

If your ESTA is denied, you must apply for a B1/B2 Visitor Visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, which involves a DS-160 form and an in-person interview. A denial often occurs due to previous overstays, criminal records, or travel to restricted countries.

iVisa offers denial protection and can assist you in pivoting to a full visa application if needed.

No. An ESTA stay cannot be extended or renewed while you are in the United States. If you need to stay longer than 90 days, you must depart the country. Attempting to "reset" the clock by taking a short trip to Canada or Mexico rarely works and can lead to being denied entry upon return.