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If you’re traveling to the U.S.<\/a> any time soon and you’re a citizen of the United Kingdom<\/a> or Europe, it’s quite likely that you’ll need to apply for an ESTA before you visit.<\/p>\n Short for Electronic System for Travel Authorization, applying for an ESTA might seem daunting if you’ve never done it before. Don’t worry \u2014 we have you covered.<\/p>\n Below we break down everything you need to know about applying for an ESTA, from how much it will cost and approval times to when you should renew it and when you need to consider applying for one.<\/p>\n Related: What to know about the ETIAS ‘visa’ \u2014 when to get it, how to apply and how much it will cost<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n An ESTA is an automated part of the Visa Waiver Program that allows visitors from specific countries to visit the U.S. Visitors must be citizens of countries classed as part of the U.S. visa waiver list<\/a> to be eligible for an ESTA application. Currently, 40 countries are included on the list, including the U.K. and much of Europe.<\/p>\n ESTA holders can visit the U.S. for a period of 90 days or less without the need to apply for a standard visa if their visit is either a vacation or a business trip.<\/p>\n ESTA was initially rolled out by the U.S. in 2008 to allow the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Borders Protection to use authorized databases to pre-screen visitors to the country. It also allows the easier identification of terrorists, criminals and banned flyers, and is designed to help prevent such people from entering the country. It can also help identify those who may be a risk for overstaying their visits.<\/p>\n No, an ESTA is not a traditional visa and instead is classed as a visa waiver. As such, the application process is much more straightforward than applying for a traditional visa, and eligible travelers can do so by filling out a short online application<\/a> on ESTA’s official website.<\/p>\n The form requires applicants to share basic personal information, travel history and other simple security questions. Applications are usually processed within 72 hours.<\/p>\nWhat is the ESTA ‘visa’?<\/h2>\n
Is an ESTA a visa?<\/h2>\n