ESTA for the USA is a system developed in 2009 by the American authorities. Its aim is to curb terrorist acts on board aircraft and ships bound for the USA, while maintaining domestic security and facilitating the flow of tourists to and from the country.
Information on length of stay with ESTA
The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) authorization allows its holder to travel to the USA, in the same way as a traditional visa. However, the use of these two travel authorizations in the USA differs, as do the procedures for obtaining them.
To determine whether you are eligible for Temporary Resident Permission, you must first take into account the length of your stay in the USA, as the ESTA document is only valid for travel of up to 90 days. If this condition is not met, you will need to apply for a visa at the U.S. embassy.
In addition to the duration of your trip to the USA, there are a number of other criteria for obtaining ESTA authorization.
ESTA eligibility requirements
ESTA authorization was created following the introduction of the Visa Waiver Program in 2009. The program is open to citizens of VWP member countries. The list of countries included in the VWP includes those of the European Union. European citizens planning to travel to the USA are therefore entitled to apply for ESTA.
The ESTA document only applies to specific stays. If you’re planning to visit New York or the
To obtain the ESTA travel document in French, applicants must answer all the questions asked on the online form. This formality will enable U.S. Customs and Border Protection to identify each candidate for entry into Uncle Sam’s country. The ultimate aim is to establish a profile of each traveler, in order to eliminate potentially dangerous individuals by denying them access to American territory.
For security reasons, ESTA authorization is valid for a maximum of two years.
Free ESTA: a thing of the past since 2010
The ESTA electronic system was a free online form when it was introduced in 2009. Since September 08, 2010, the U.S. government has imposed an ESTA application fee, in the name of administrative costs. As a result, the free ESTA no longer exists.
This amount is $40 for each online application since September 30, 2025.
To obtain your U.S. travel document, visit the official U.S. government website and fill in the ESTA form directly on the site.
Although the ESTA document is no longer free, it’s still a great deal cheaper than the U.S. visa. The latter costs a minimum of $185. What’s more, it requires a physical visit to the U.S. embassy, and takes longer to obtain than the ESTA form.
