ESTA: admission requirements for travel to the United States
If you’re planning a trip to the USA, you’ll need to apply for ESTA (Electronic System of Travel Authorization) admission, in order to land on American soil. This travel authorization has been mandatory since 2009 for nationals of member countries of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
What is ESTA?
The ESTA travel authorization was created as part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to facilitate trade and the flow of people to the United States. In French, this program is called the “Programme d’exemption de visa” or PEV. The following countries are part of the program:
| Germany | Greece | Norway |
| Andorra | Hungary | New Zealand |
| Australia | Ireland | Portugal |
| Austria | Italy | Czech Republic |
| Belgium | Iceland | United Kingdom |
| Brunei | Japan | Saint Martin |
| Chile | Netherlands | Singapore |
| South Korea | Latvia | Slovakia |
| Denmark | Liechtenstein | Slovenia |
| Spain | Lithuania | Sweden |
| Estonia | Luxemburg | Swiss |
| Finland | Malta | Taiwan |
| France | Monaco | Croatia |
| Poland | Israel |
In order to enter the U.S. for tourism, business or transit, citizens of these countries are required to obtain ESTA approval.
Watch out! The ESTA travel authorization is only a pass, and in no way guarantees access to American soil. Customs officials at the airport of your final destination will determine whether you are entitled to stay in the USA.
Please note: ESTA permits are valid for 2 years. This means you can visit the USA as many times as you like during this period. However, your trips must not exceed 90 days.
How do I get ESTA approval?
It’s very important to apply for your ESTA online, at at least 72 hours before your trip to the United States. This is the maximum processing time for an ESTA application.
Your online application can be made directly from the U.S. government website . It takes the form of a form to be filled out at .
Before filling in the online form, it’s important to bring your biometric or electronic passport with you, as you’ll need the passport number and a photo.
If you are in possession of an old-generation passport, known as an “optical” passport, you need to apply for a new passport at your local town hall before applying for an ESTA. The latter is not valid for travel to the USA. To recognize an electronic and biometric passport, you can observe the cover of your passport: a small logo in the shape of a chip is displayed.
It’s also very important to take your time when answering the form. Although the questions are easy to answer because they concern you, small mistakes are possible. The American authorities are uncompromising, and the slightest mistake could result in your ESTA admission being refused. It’s also essential to be honest, and above all not to provide false information. Doing so could cost you your ESTA.
If you need help filling in the form, you can turn to a private service, which will provide you with personalized assistance to fill in the form with peace of mind. They can also correct your form before you submit it, so there’s no risk of making a mistake.
Why can’t ESTA admission be issued?
ESTA travel authorization is very rarely refused. However, in the following cases, it may be refused:
- you have already committed an offence in the United States ;
- your criminal record is not clean of certain serious offences;
- you are suffering from a contagious or very serious disease;
- you have traveled to Syria, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan since March 1, 2011;
- you have a valid passport, but the validity date has expired or will expire during your trip to the USA;
- you made a mistake on the ESTA form and it was refused. If this is the case, you will be able to reapply 10 days after the first application.
If, unfortunately, you have not been granted ESTA admission, you will need to apply for a visa at the US embassy or consulate.