Travel formalities

How much does ESTA cost?

2 November 2025 Leave a Comment

The ESTA and the visa are two travel authorizations. While the visa is a document valid in all parts of the world, the ESTA is intended only for nationals of certain countries, for travel to the USA. However, there are other conditions that must be met in order to use the ESTA rather than a U.S. visa. For example, the duration of the trip must not exceed 90 days, and the chosen means of transport must be by air or sea. The ESTA is more affordable than a visa. What’s more, the Temporary Resident Permit requires less red tape, making it much easier to obtain. This is why the majority of travelers to the USA benefit from visa exemption.

ESTA authorization prices and fees since 2010

When ESTA was first introduced in 2009, the U.S. authorities provided ESTA authorization free of charge. Since 2010, however, a fee has been required to apply for ESTA authorization.

You can apply for your Temporary Resident Permit exclusively online, unlike the USA visa, which requires you to visit the U.S. embassy or consulate general. To make your ESTA request, visit the official U.S. government website and fill in the online form.

Prices for an ESTA application on the US government website

The ESTA fee is set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is composed as follows:

  • A $13 contribution to the U.S. Treasury’s General Fund;
  • The $10 processing fee for financing the ESTA system;
  • A $17 contribution to the promotion of travel in the United States.

To apply for ESTA authorization on the U.S. authorities’ website, you’ll need to pay a total of $40.

The ESTA payment stage always comes after you’ve completed the online form. Please note that your ESTA application will not be processed until you have made payment. To pay the ESTA fees, you can use your usual credit card (Visa, Master Card, American Express…).

How much does it cost to renew an ESTA?

The ESTA is valid for two years. If your authorization expires and you plan to visit the USA again after the expiry date, you will need to renew your ESTA. The same applies if your authorization is still valid, but the information contained in your document is no longer up to date, as in the case of a new passport, for example.

A new ESTA application is not free of charge. The fee will be exactly the same as for the first application.

Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements before paying for ESTA

If you don’t meet the ESTA requirements, your online application will be rejected outright. To avoid unnecessary costs, please check beforehand that you meet the pre-requisites imposed by the U.S. authorities for obtaining ESTA :

  • your stay in the USA is limited to a maximum of 90 days;
  • you arrive on American soil by air or sea;
  • the reason for your visit must be tourism, business or transit ;
  • you are a national of one of the VWP signatory countries.

If at least one of these conditions is not met, you will need to apply for a visa at the American consulate general or embassy.