Six conditions decide whether you can travel to the USA on an ESTA. Miss one and your application fails, or the airline stops you at check-in. Here is each one in plain terms.
1. Your nationality
You must hold a passport from one of the 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program. Residence does not count. A French resident with an Indian passport travels on the Indian passport, so that person needs a visa.
Not every EU country takes part. Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus are outside the programme. Switzerland, Norway and Iceland are inside it, although they are not EU members. Check the full list of the 42 eligible countries before you assume.
2. An electronic passport
Your passport must carry a chip. You can spot one by the small gold symbol on the cover. Machine-readable passports without a chip no longer qualify.
As a rule, keep at least six months of validity beyond your return date. Some countries have an agreement that lowers this to the length of the stay, but airlines are strict. Six months is the safe answer.
3. A permitted purpose
The ESTA covers two kinds of trip:
- Tourism. Holidays, visiting friends or family, short recreational courses, medical treatment.
- Business. Meetings, conferences, contract negotiations, professional consultations.
It does not cover paid work for a US employer, degree study, or work as foreign press. Those need the matching visa. Our comparison of the ESTA and the US visa sets out which route fits which trip.
4. Ninety days, no more
Each entry allows a stay of up to 90 days. There is no extension. None. Overstaying by a single day ends your access to the programme and shows up on every future application.
5. Your travel route
You can enter by air, by sea, or by land. Since 2022 the ESTA has also been required at the Canadian and Mexican land borders, where it replaced the old paper Form I-94W.
If you fly or sail, your carrier must have signed the relevant agreement with the US authorities. Every major airline has. Private aircraft follow separate rules.
6. No disqualifying history
Two rules remove eligibility even when your passport qualifies.
Where you have travelled
You cannot use the programme if you have been in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011. The same applies to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021.
Which nationalities you hold
You are also excluded if you hold a second nationality from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan or Syria. This holds even if you have never carried that passport.
If either rule applies, apply for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa instead. Never leave the information out. A false answer is a refusal, and it follows you. Our guide on what to do after an ESTA refusal explains the next steps.
What you need in front of you
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Your passport | Number, issue date, expiry date, issuing country |
| An email address | Your approval arrives there |
| Your home address | Street, city, postcode, country |
| A US address | Hotel or the place you stay the first night |
| Parents’ names | Both parents, first and last name |
| An emergency contact | Name, email, phone |
| Employer details | Only if you have a current or former employer |
Gather these before you start. Most refusals come from typing a passport number wrong, not from a real eligibility problem. See our list of the mistakes that get applications refused.
Frequently asked questions
Do children need their own ESTA?
Yes. Every traveller needs one, whatever their age. A newborn needs an ESTA and pays the same fee. See applying as a family.
My passport expires in four months. Can I still apply?
You can, but the ESTA will expire with the passport, and many airlines refuse boarding under six months of validity. Renew first.
I changed my name. Does my old ESTA still work?
No. A new name means a new passport, and a new passport means a new ESTA. The same applies after a change of gender or citizenship.
How far ahead should I apply?
As soon as your trip is set. Most decisions land within hours, but some cases go to manual review for up to 72 hours.
Ready to apply?
If you meet the six conditions above, you can start your application now. We check your details before submission.
USA ESTA Portal is a private, independent service and is not affiliated with the government of the United States.
Read next: the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries and the exclusions that can disqualify you.
