BENEFITS OF THE ESTA CERTIFICATE
If you’re planning to visit the USA for business or pleasure, then the ESTA certificate is for you. It allows tourists and business travelers to enter the U.S. without having to obtain a U.S. visa. ESTA is part of the Visa Waiver Program, and facilitates access to the U.S. territory while reinforcing its security. How does this unique travel authorization work? Find out in this dedicated article.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE ESTA CERTIFICATE?
Since 2009, all travelers (adults and children alike) wishing to visit the USA by air or sea have been required to have an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) certificate. This travel authorization is the result of international cooperation, and is now part of the formalities for visiting the USA.
The countries participating in the VWP are :
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Malta, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Holders of passports issued by the countries listed above are eligible to apply for ESTA. The ESTA application requires answers to a number of questions, including: full names, aliases, city of birth, passport information, traveler’s contact details, parents’ full names, emergency contacts and U.S. address.
If the application is accepted, the ESTA’ s two-year validity period allows travelers to undertake regular trips (maximum 90 days per stay).
HOW TO OBTAIN AN ESTA CERTIFICATE
The ESTA certificate can only be applied for over the Internet, via the official U.S. customs website or on platforms specializing in travel to the USA. Given the risk of terrorism that now exists throughout the world, we advise our readers to scrupulously follow the ESTA certificate application criteria, otherwise admission will be impossible:
- be a national of a country participating in the VWP without also being from Iraq, Iran, Syria or Sudan (dual nationality);
- an electronic or biometric passport;
- plan a stay not exceeding 90 consecutive days;
- use the services of an airline or shipping company recognized by the U.S. government;
- not have a criminal record in the United States, not suffer from contagious diseases or mental disorders, not have visited any country deemed incompatible by U.S. authorities;
- have not recently been refused a visa.
As a general rule, we advise travelers to apply for an ESTA certificate at least 72 hours before departure. If the request is urgent, esta-officiel-usa.com can help you complete the ESTA form online and obtain an ESTA certificate as quickly as possible. It offers the advantage of full service in French, including online assistance available 6 days a week to answer all your questions.