Would you like to travel to or from the USA, but have lost your ESTA file? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security offers you the possibility of recovering your ESTA form. The formalities for recovering your ESTA are quick and easy, so let’s take a look at the procedure you need to follow to get your hands on your authorization to travel to the USA.

The ESTA file for people wishing to travel to the USA

The United States has a reputation for strict safety standards. And that’s not about to change. Since 2009, everyone traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) has been required to have an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) travel authorization.

Without this file, they cannot board a plane or ship.

Depending on the context of your stay in the USA, ESTA authorization may be required for travel within the country. Nationals of countries that are members of the Visa Waiver Program are covered by the ESTA document. To obtain ESTA authorization, they must travel to the USA for less than 90 consecutive days, for tourism, business or transit. Once granted, ESTA authorization is valid for two years.

To obtain Temporary Travel Authorization, travelers must apply online via the official U.S. government website or a specialized private website. To validate this request, you need to fill in an online form, answering various questions about your identity, passport, health and legal history.

Does a lost ESTA require a new application?

As soon as you submit your ESTA form, a personal space is created, containing all the essential information about your ESTA document. It’s now possible to retrieve your ESTA.

To retrieve your ESTA authorization, simply enter your name, date of birth and passport number on the site where you made your ESTA application. You won’t need to reapply, and you won’t have to pay any additional processing fees. The priority is to have your biometric or electronic passport with which you first applied for authorization.

Please note that if the information you entered when you placed your first order is no longer current, your ESTA will be obsolete in any case. This may be the case, for example, if you have applied to renew your passport. In this case, you will be asked to reapply for an ESTA online with your new passport.

Procedure for recovering a lost ESTA file

The procedure for obtaining your ESTA file is very simple, and no supporting documents are required. There are two possible scenarios.

You have the lost ESTA file number

Whether or not your ESTA has been approved following your online application, the American authorities have assigned you a file number corresponding to your ESTA document. If you know this number, simply enter it, along with your electronic or biometric passport number and your date of birth.

You don’t know your ESTA identifier

If you can’t find your ESTA application number, simply enter your passport number, its date of issue and expiry, the issuing country and your date of birth.

Print authorization to go to the USA

If all the requested information is correct, you can access your online space again, retrieve your ESTA and check that it is still valid.

To avoid this kind of unforeseen event again, we recommend that you print out your US entry document, so that you can travel to the USA with greater peace of mind.