Are you traveling to the United States for less than 90 days on business or tourist trips? If the answer is yes, you need an ESTA authorization to travel to the USA.
All travellers, including minors and persons travelling to the USA in transit, must complete a travel authorization.
The ESTA or Electronic System for Travel Authorization is an electronic travel authorization issued by the U. S. government to allow travellers to stay in the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
Created with the aim of strengthening security measures in the United States, it defines your eligibility to stay in the United States or not.
Anyone citizen from countries participating to the Visa Waiver Program wishing to travel to the United States for any reason may apply for an ESTA travel authorization, whether they plan to travel by sea or air.
This authorization has been put in place as part of the Visa Waiver Program. In other words, any person holding an American VISA is not required to apply for a travel authorization. It is addressed to all those who wish to stay in the United States without applying for a Visa.
It is not necessary to book tickets or even know the exact date of departure in order to apply. You can take the necessary steps online on the website as soon as you plan a trip to the United States.Note that this request must be made at least 72 hours before the day of departure.
Plan a stay of less than 90 days.
Be a national of a country benefiting from the EPI (Visa Waiver Programme).
Hold a valid passport issued in a EPI beneficiary country.
Have no prior history with the United States Homeland Security: refoulement measures, overstay, etc.
Since the Transit Without Visa program has been cancelled, obtaining a travel authorization or VISA is mandatory even for passengers in transit in the United States.
The document is valid for two years from the day you obtain it. In other words, you will be able to travel to and from the United States under your travel authorization during this period, as long as you have not exhausted your 90-day right of residence.
However, please note that if your passport expires before this deadline, your ESTA will also lose its validity. A new application will therefore be required.
You can renew your application in the following cases:
1. Expiry of its validity: when the two-year period has expired or when you have exhausted your right of residence for 90 days.
2. Passport renewal: when your passport has expired and you have renewed it.
Please note that only the email address can be modified. The modification or correction of any other information is no longer possible once your request has been sent. In other words, before submitting your request, be sure to check all the information provided. Because if you make a mistake, you'll have to start again.
If the U. S. Immigration Services and the Department of Homeland Security refuse your application, you have two options:
1. You make another request: you do indeed have the right to return your request even after you have been refused. Note, however, that if there has been no change since the first application, the outcome may also be the same. If you have to enter the same information accordingly, this step is completely useless.
2. You are applying for a VISA: if you absolutely must go to the United States, consult the U. S. Embassy or Consulate and start immediately to apply for your Visa.
To obtain your ESTA authorization, you will have to complete a number of mandatory formalities
The ESTA request is made online via a computerised form Once it has been obtained, you only need to print out your authorisation.
To obtain your authorisation, you must make an official ESTA request via an accredited website.
With the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, the future of ESTA is rather uncertain.
The EU and the EUThe European Commission is considering the creation of a European ESTA to better control migratory flows within the Union.
The terms and definitions to be known are compiled in this glossary dedicated to your ESTA request.
