ESTA authorization is mandatory for anyone wishing to travel to the USA. This is an electronic travel authorization system linked to the passport number, allowing for a tourist or business stay of up to 90 days. To obtain it and travel to the USA, you need to apply to the American authorities for authorization via the ESTA form. The applicant must meet all requirements such as being a citizen of a member country of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, possessing a round trip airline ticket and a biometric or electronic passport.
The trip must be made with a company recognized by the USA. The application for authorization must be submitted as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours before boarding. As a reminder, ESTA authorization in no way replaces a U.S. visa. However, travelers with a valid US visa do not need to obtain ESTA authorization in order to travel to the USA.
What is ESTA authorization for?
Previously, to travel to the USA, travelers had to apply for a visa. There are several depending on the reasons for your trip, for tourism, work or study. This formality requires long procedures and a certain budget. Since 2009, the authorities have chosen to implement an online application for authorization for :
- Encouraging tourism to the USA while strengthening American homeland security;
- Simplify administrative procedures for applicants with ESTA, a quick and easy online form;
- Relieve congestion at American embassies and consulates, since the ESTA form is available online.
Data contained in the ESTA form
Before applying, it is important to check that you are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program:
- Are you a national of one of the countries covered by the scheme?
- Do you have a valid passport?
- Are you traveling to the USA for less than 90 days?
If the answer to all these questions is yes, you can apply for ESTA.
The ESTA application consists of filling in an ESTA form online on the US government website.
The ESTA form is divided into three sections, the first of which identifies the traveler and his or her passport. Check the expiration date carefully, if it is no longer valid on the date of your departure, you must apply for a new passport. The second part concerns the questions/answers related to the traveler’s intentions during his stay in the USA. The third part of the form contains all the information about your stay in the United States. You must specify where you intend to stay for example.
It should be noted that the ESTA authorization must be renewed if the traveler changes his or her passport (due to a lost or expired passport) or his or her identification data (e.g. gender, name or home address). Let’s take the example of a woman who applied for ESTA before getting married. If the passport has since been updated with her married name and no longer mentions her maiden name, a new ESTA form will have to be filled out.
The other reason why people need to renew their electronic travel authorization is because it is out of date. An ESTA is valid for 2 years.
It is important to know that this renewal is not free of charge, as it requires a new verification work. Once again, be careful when filling in the ESTA form, because even if you have received authorization the first time, this does not guarantee that you will receive it again.
What you need to know about ESTA
ESTA authorization granted
Once the authorization is granted, you are authorized to enter the United States by air, land or sea. No need to print your ESTA authorization. The ESTA form can only be filled out online and is electronically linked to your passport. At the customs control, the reading of your electronic or biometric passport reveals your authorization.
ESTA authorization rejected
If your application has been rejected, you are obliged to apply to the consular services (American consulate or embassy) to obtain a USA visa. Since the ESTA application is processed immediately and automatically, there is no possibility of cancelling the application even if errors were made when filling out the form. In this case, you must submit a new ESTA form that will cancel the old one.