Updated
GL-E-02
Glossary · Statuses, passports, travel
ESTA - online authorisation to enter the US without a visa
ESTA — an electronic entry authorization for the USA under the Visa Waiver Program, obtained online in advance.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- ESTA — an electronic authorisation to enter the US under the visa-free programme
- Who it is for
- Citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program
- How
- Obtained online in advance, before departure
- Keep in mind
- It is neither a visa nor a guarantee of entry
- How to use it
- Check whether your passport is in the VWP
02 / In plain words
What ESTA means
ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is an electronic authorisation to enter the United States for citizens of countries taking part in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). It allows entry to the US for tourism or short business trips without an ordinary visa, with the authorisation obtained online in advance.
The key condition is citizenship of a country on the VWP list (it includes many EU states, the United Kingdom, Japan and a number of others, but not every country). Holders of such passports fill in the ESTA form on the official website, pay a fee and receive an authorisation, usually valid for two years and for multiple short trips (as a rule, up to 90 days).
It is important to understand: ESTA is not a visa and not a guarantee of entry but a preliminary authorisation; the final decision is made by the officer at the border. For those whose passport is not in the VWP, ESTA is not available and a full US visa is needed. That is exactly why a strong passport with access to visa-free entry to the US is so valued — it opens trips to the States through a simple online procedure.
A case from practice
A client has obtained a strong passport that is in the VWP and can now travel to the US on ESTA — without an ordinary visa or an embassy interview. We explain: ESTA is obtained online in minutes and is suitable for short trips, while work or a long stay still requires a visa.
Where ESTA comes up
- Visa-free entry to the US for tourism and business
- Travel on passports of VWP countries
- Assessing a passport’s value (access to the US)
- Comparing citizenship programmes
- Short business trips to the States
- Checking the conditions of entry to the US
03 / What it covers
What matters about ESTA
Who it is available to
- Citizens of VWP countries
- Not every passport
- According to the programme’s list
How it works
- An online form
- Payment of a fee
- In advance, before departure
Conditions
- Usually 2 years
- Multiple entries
- Short trips of up to 90 days
Keep in mind
- It is not a visa
- Not a guarantee of entry
- The border decides
04 / How it works
How to obtain ESTA
Check your passport against the VWP list
Whether your passport country is in the Visa Waiver Program.
Fill in the online form
The form on the official website: passport, trip, security questions.
Pay the fee and submit
The fee is paid by card when you apply.
Receive the authorisation
The answer usually comes quickly and is linked to the passport.
The trip to the US
At the border the officer checks the passport and the purpose of the trip.
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01Who it is for
Citizens of VWP countries
Only for passports of US Visa Waiver Program countries: many EU states, the UK, Japan and others.
02What it gives
Short trips
Tourism and business trips, usually up to 90 days. You cannot work or live in the US on an ESTA.
03Validity
Usually 2 years
The authorisation covers multiple trips, but only with the passport it was issued for.
04Not a visa
Decided at the border
ESTA is a pre-authorisation. A US border officer decides whether you may enter.
Common mistakes
Counting on an ESTA with a non-VWP passport
Check the passport against the programme list; otherwise apply for a US visa.
Applying on the day of departure
Submit the form early: checks sometimes take up to 72 hours.
Using an ESTA to work or live in the US
For work or a long stay, get a visa of the right category.
Making a mistake in passport details
Check the number and dates against the passport: an error means a new authorisation.
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Before a trip to the US, check whether your citizenship is in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). If so, obtain ESTA online in advance, entering the passport details carefully, and take into account the restrictions on the purpose and length of the trip. If your passport is not on the list, plan for a full visa. Then entry to the States follows the right procedure.
What we do for you. We take access to the US into account when choosing a programme: a passport from the VWP list opens entry on ESTA — through a simple online procedure instead of a visa and interview. We show the real value of each passport for travel to the States and help choose a document for your purposes, including access to America.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization — an electronic authorisation to enter the US for citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, obtained online in advance.
No. It is an authorisation under the visa-free programme, not a visa, and it does not guarantee entry — the final decision is made by the officer at the US border.
Only citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program. If your passport is not on the list, ESTA is not available and a full US visa is needed.
The authorisation is usually valid for two years for multiple short trips (as a rule, up to 90 days) for tourism or business — not for work or long stays.
They are systems with the same logic: ESTA is for the US under the VWP, eTA for Canada and other countries. Both are obtained online in advance and are not visas.
You need a passport of a country in the VWP. The strong passports of many EU countries and other states give such access — we take this into account when choosing a programme.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
Tell us what outcome your family needs
We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.
