FREE ESTA

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is a document issued by the US government to nationals of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. It allows travelers to enter the USA without having to obtain a visa first, but simply an ESTA. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at its definition and answer the question: can I get an ESTA for free?

FREE ESTA: HOW DOES IT WORK?

Millions of travelers visit the United States every year, and are therefore required to obtain an ESTA online before boarding a plane or ship. ESTA authorization allows travelers to stay in the country for up to 90 consecutive days for tourism or business purposes. Access to the online ESTA form is free of charge, either on the U.S. customs website or on specialized platforms, but an application fee of $21 must be paid in order to finalize the request.
Before starting the procedure, it is important to know the conditions for obtaining ESTA:

• Be a national of one of VWP’s partner countries, without holding dual Syrian, Iraqi, Iranian or Sudanese nationality;
• An electronic or biometric passport valid for the duration of the stay;
• Plan a stay of less than 90 days for tourism or business purposes;
• Be in possession of a return or onward ticket;
• The airline or shipping company chosen is approved by the US government;
• No criminal record, health problems or travel to a country incompatible with ESTA.

Despite what you may read on the Internet, there is no such thing as a free ESTA, or at least, there isn’t one any more: introduced at the beginning of 2009, the ESTA form became fee-based on September 8, 2010.

WHY IS FREE ESTA NO LONGER AVAILABLE?

The cost to the U.S. government of processing an ESTA application is $21. This fee is used to improve security at U.S. airports and to promote tourism in the United States. It is therefore not possible to obtain an ESTA free of charge, but this authorization offers substantial advantages that fully justify its price:

1. The possibility of staying in the USA for 90 days;
2. You can use ESTA to transit the United States;
3. No need to make an appointment at the American embassy;
4. Visa exemption ;
5. You can do this online;
6. Only your passport is required to complete the form;
7. The ESTA is valid for 2 years, allowing multiple stays;
8. Requests are usually processed within a few hours;
9. The price of an ESTA is 10 times less than that of a traditional visa.

The form is available on the US Customs website. No additional services are offered. However, the American authorities can be very severe when it comes to applications that do not comply with the criteria for obtaining a passport. Any typing error or incorrect passport number can result in immediate refusal of your application.