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Find more info about how to answer each question below:

Select your nationality from the dropdown list. This information is used to determine the visa requirements and applicable fees.

Select the type of visa you're applying for. The various types include different durations and entry types. Make sure to choose the one that matches your travel plans.

Enter your first name and middle name exactly as they appear in your passport, using letters A-Z.

Enter your last name exactly as it appears in your passport, using letters A-Z. If you don't have a last name, enter "N/A."

Select your date of birth from the dropdown menus. Make sure this matches the date of birth listed in your passport.

Enter your email address. We'll use this to send you updates about your application. You won't be enrolled in any promotional messages unless you click the checkbox below.

Enter your passport number exactly as shown on your passport. Include all letters and numbers without spaces.

Select the date your passport was issued. This must match the issue date printed on your passport.

Select your passport expiry date. Make sure your passport is valid for your planned travel duration.
1
Destination
2
Identity
3
Passport
4
Confirm

U.S. ESTA Submission

Step 1 of 4 | ~60s per step

Application Steps

1
Trip Details
Trip Details
2
Personal Details
Basic information
3
Passport Details
Passport information
4
Processing
Processing Details
5
Review & Payment
Final review

Step 1: Destination

*
Ensure you select the nationality of the passport you'll be traveling with.
*
1

How many travelers will be on this application (including yourself)?

2 Years

Multiple entries

90 Days Max

Per entry

CBP Processed

Within 72 hrs

Order Summary
ESTA - Electronic Travel Authorization
Valid for 2 years, Multiple entries
Maximum stay: 90 days per visit
Applicants: 1
Government fees:

Specs

  • 60s avg. per step.
  • Server-side validation. Auto error-check.
  • Real-time application tracking
  • Trusted approval support

// 01 — Overview

U.S. ESTA — Travel Clearance Protocol

The U.S. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) is the mandatory pre-screening protocol for citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries entering the United States by air or sea. It replaces the paper I-94W form. Submission is electronic. Decision is automated. Validity is two years or until passport expiry — whichever comes first.

Our ESTA USA submission engine handles data validation, format compliance, and CBP gateway transmission. We are a private prep service. We are not the U.S. Government. Government fees are bundled. Our service fee covers error-checking, expedited submission, 24/7 status monitoring, and English-language support.

Auto-Validation

Field-level checks on passport number, MRZ format, date logic, and nationality match. Reduces rejection probability by 94%.

CBP-Linked

Direct gateway transmission to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. No intermediary delay. Status polled every 4 hours.

256-bit SSL

End-to-end encrypted submission. PCI-DSS compliant card processing. Data purged 90 days post-approval.

// 02 — Distinction

ESTA vs U.S. Visa

An ESTA is not a U.S. Visa. The two systems serve different applicants under different statutes. Use the matrix below to confirm which clearance applies.

Parameter
ESTA
U.S. Visa
Eligibility
VWP nationals only
All other nationalities
Decision time
Minutes to 72 hrs
Weeks to months
Validity
2 years
Up to 10 years
Max stay
90 days per entry
Varies by class
Interview
None
Embassy required
Submission
Online only
DS-160 + in-person
Cost (gov.)
USD $21
USD $185+

// 03 — Eligibility

Apply ESTA — Required Inputs

Before you start the ESTA application, gather the following. Missing data triggers manual review. Manual review extends decision time from minutes to 72 hours.

Valid e-passport

Machine-readable. VWP country issued.

Email address

Active. Used for status alerts.

Payment card

Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, JCB.

U.S. contact address

Hotel or host. Editable post-approval.

Travel itinerary

Optional. Not required for approval.

Emergency contact

Name, email, phone. Outside the U.S.

// 04 — Pipeline

ESTA Application — Pipeline

T+0s

Submit

Form posted. Payment captured. Confirmation email dispatched within 60 seconds.

T+5m

Validate

Auto error-check runs. MRZ parsed. Nationality cross-referenced against VWP list.

T+15m

Transmit

Encrypted payload pushed to CBP gateway. Tracking ID generated.

T+1h

Adjudicate

CBP returns one of three states: Approved, Pending, Refused.

T+72h

Finalise

Maximum decision window. 96% of submissions resolve under 1 hour.

// 05 — Failure Modes

ESTA USA — Common Rejection Triggers

Prior visa refusal

Any U.S. visa denial requires full visa application. ESTA disqualified.

Dual nationality

Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Cuba, Libya, Somalia, Yemen flagged.

Prior overstay

Any breach of the 90-day rule blocks future ESTA approval.

Criminal record

Moral turpitude, drug offences, multiple convictions disqualify.

Incorrect data

Passport number mismatch. Surname spelling error. Date format error.

Recent travel

Visits to Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen since 2011.

Validity Window

  • • 2 years from approval date
  • • Auto-expires with passport
  • • Multiple entries permitted
  • • Max 90 days per entry
  • • No extension possible at port

Editable Fields

  • • U.S. address (post-approval)
  • • Phone number
  • • Email contact
  • • Locked: passport, name, DOB
  • • Locked fields require new submission

// 06 — Q & A

Quick Answers

Is ESTA the same as a U.S. Visa?

No. ESTA is for VWP nationals only. A U.S. Visa is required for all other passport holders or for stays exceeding 90 days.

How fast is approval?

96% of submissions resolve under 1 hour. Maximum window is 72 hours per CBP statute.

Can I apply ESTA at the airport?

No. Submission must complete at minimum 72 hours before departure. Airlines deny boarding without an approved ESTA.

What if my passport expires inside 2 years?

ESTA expires with the passport. Renew the passport, then re-submit a new ESTA application.

Is the gov. fee refundable on rejection?

Service fee refundable on rejection per our refund policy. The USD $21 CBP fee is non-refundable per U.S. statute.

Can I work in the U.S. on an ESTA?

No. ESTA permits tourism, transit, and short business meetings only. Employment requires a work visa.

Ready. Set. Submit.

5 steps. ~5 minutes. Decision in under 1 hour. Encrypted end-to-end.

Private third-party ESTA submission prep service. Not affiliated with the U.S. Government.