ESTA

ESTA APPLICATION: WHEN TO APPLY AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

In most cases, you can obtain ESTA authorization in just a few hours. But beware: most does not mean all! We therefore advise you to make your request at least 72 hours in advance, to anticipate any delays or complications in processing your form. Your preparations will be that much smoother.

THE TIME NEEDED FOR YOUR ESTA RESPONSE

ESTA authorization is required to enter the USA, if you meet the criteria. But be sure to apply in good time. First of all, you must be a citizen of one of the 38 countries participating in the VWP or Visa Waiver Program (certain exceptions apply to dual nationals). Otherwise, you need a visa to enter the USA. The official ESTA is subject to other conditions:

Do you meet these criteria? Bring your passport and fill in the online questionnaire, which will be processed by the American authorities.

Don’t wait until you’ve defined all the details of your trip (departure date, ticket reservation, etc.) to start the procedure. The maximum processing time is 72 hours, so don’t take the risk of submitting your form the day before takeoff, for example. If you make a typing error, you could find yourself without an ESTA at the airport, in which case it would be impossible to enter the United States.

As you can see, even if 99% of applications receive a positive response quickly, it’s best to plan ahead as soon as you have a few minutes! In the worst-case scenario, you’ll receive a refusal that may require you to reapply for a visa. If this happens to you, you’ll need a lot more time to hope to travel to the USA (and the cost will be higher).

ONE WATCHWORD: ANTICIPATE YOUR NEEDS!

What happens once your ESTA form has been sent to the US authorities via the Internet? Your answers are processed by computer, to check that your information is correct and that you pose no threat to US homeland security. Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because you’ve filled in the form correctly, the authorization will necessarily be issued quickly. In fact, your application may be randomly selected for in-depth review. This is totally unpredictable, which is why any anticipation is welcome.

Remember, however, that ESTAs are generally issued well before 72 hours. If you were unable to plan your trip in advance (for last-minute professional reasons, for example), you can rest easy: it’s likely that you’ll still be able to take your plane or boat to the USA.

There are many other questions about ESTA fees, passport types and how to apply for ESTA on the official website. Check out our other pages for the answers!