How Much Does an ESTA Cost? The New $40.62 Fee and How to Apply

An ESTA now costs $40.62. The new fee took effect on 16 October 2026, when US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) applied an annual inflation adjustment, and a refused application costs $10.62. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is the online permission that citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, Ireland, most of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, need before visiting the US without a visa. This guide explains what the fee covers, why it has nearly doubled since 2025, how to apply on the official site and how to avoid overpaying.

How Much Does an ESTA Cost in 2026?

According to a CBP notice published in the Federal Register on 1 October 2026, the fee for an approved ESTA is $40.62, made up of three parts set by law:

• $17 travel authorisation fee
• $10.62 cost-recovery fee for running the ESTA system, which is charged on every application
• $13 fee, set by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (often called HR-1)

If your application is denied, you pay only the cost-recovery fee of $10.62. The fee is charged per person, so a family of four pays about $162.

Why Did the ESTA Fee Go Up?

For years, an ESTA cost $14, then $21. HR-1, signed in July 2025, added new immigration-related charges, and the ESTA fee rose to $40 on 30 September 2025. The law also requires the fee to be adjusted for inflation each year:

• 30 September 2025: $40
• 1 January 2026: $40.27
• 16 October 2026: $40.62, after consumer prices rose 3.36% in the year to July 2026

Expect further small increases each autumn. The fee is still lower than the cost of a US visitor visa, and higher than some rival schemes: the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation costs £20, and the EU’s planned ETIAS is expected to cost €20. Our explainers on the UK ETA and on EES and ETIAS cover those systems.

Who Needs an ESTA?

You need an ESTA if all of these apply:

• You are a citizen of one of the roughly 40 Visa Waiver Program countries
• You are travelling for tourism, business meetings, visiting family or transit, and staying 90 days or less
• You are arriving by air, sea or land
• You do not already hold a valid US visa

You cannot use an ESTA to work, study or stay longer than 90 days, and time spent in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean during the trip usually counts towards the 90 days. Some travellers are not eligible, including people who have been in certain countries, such as Iran, North Korea, Syria or Cuba, since 2011 (or since 2021 for Cuba), with limited exceptions. They need to apply for a visa at a US embassy instead.

Do You Need an ESTA to Cross the Border by Land?

Yes. Visa Waiver Program travellers entering the US from Canada or Mexico by car, bus, train or on foot also need an approved ESTA before arrival, as CBP’s October 2026 notice confirms. Travellers arriving by land without an ESTA, such as visa holders, may instead need a paper or electronic Form I-94 arrival record, which costs $30 at land border crossings. For Chinese nationals with 10-year visitor visas, the separate EVUS enrolment fee is now $31.75.

How Long Is an ESTA Valid?

An approved ESTA is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can make multiple trips during that time, each of up to 90 days. If you get a new passport, change your name or gender, change your citizenship, or your answers to the eligibility questions change, you must apply for a new ESTA and pay again.

How Do You Apply for an ESTA?

Apply only through the official CBP website, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, or the official ESTA Mobile app. The process takes 15 to 30 minutes:

• Have your documents ready: an electronic passport (e-passport) from a Visa Waiver Program country, an email address, your US address or hotel, an emergency contact, and a debit or credit card.
• Upload your passport details and, in the app, take a live photo.
• Answer the eligibility questions about health, criminal records, previous visa refusals and travel history truthfully.
• Pay $40.62 per applicant.
• Check your status: most decisions arrive within minutes, but CBP advises applying at least 72 hours before travel.
• Save your application number, so you can check or update the details later.

Approval is not a guarantee of entry. A CBP officer still decides whether to admit you at the border.

How Do You Avoid ESTA Scams and Overpaying?

Many websites that look official charge $80 to $150 to submit the same form, and some are outright scams. To protect yourself:

• Check the web address ends in .dhs.gov
• Ignore search adverts for “ESTA application” unless they lead to the official site
• Check the amount: the official fee is exactly $40.62 per person
• Never pay twice: if you have already been approved and your passport has not changed, you do not need a new ESTA

Will You Have to Share Your Social Media?

Not yet. In December 2025 CBP proposed asking ESTA applicants for five years of social media history, along with other personal details. The proposal drew criticism from travel industry groups and civil liberties organisations, and reports in 2026 suggested that CBP was considering a narrower, risk-based approach. As of 1 November 2026 no mandatory requirement has been introduced, and the social media question on the form remains optional. Check the official ESTA site shortly before you apply in case the rules change.

What Should You Do If Your ESTA Is Denied?

A refusal does not mean you can never visit the US. You will not get the $10.62 back, and you cannot appeal, but you can apply for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa at a US embassy or consulate. If you think you were refused because of a mistake, you can contact the Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). Do not keep reapplying with the same answers, as it will not change the result.

What Else Should You Budget for on a US Trip?

Beyond the ESTA, budget for comprehensive travel and medical insurance, since US healthcare is expensive. Our guide on whether travel insurance is worth it explains what to look for. And if you are new to US customs, our explainer on tipping in Canada vs the US will help you plan restaurant costs.

ESTA Cost and Rules at a Glance

• Fee: $40.62 per person from 16 October 2026
• If denied: $10.62
• Validity: two years, or until your passport expires
• Maximum stay: 90 days per visit
• Apply: at least 72 hours before travel, only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov or via the ESTA Mobile app

Featured image: CBP Partners with Chicago Department of Aviation to Launch Self-Service Kiosks at O’Hare (9525725594), by U.S. Customs and Border Protection / Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Cropped, colour-graded and combined with MediaPavilion branding.

Sources

• Federal Register (US Customs and Border Protection) — Certain DHS Immigration-Related Fees Required by HR-1: Fiscal Year 2027 Adjustments for Inflation (1 October 2026).
• US Customs and Border Protection — Official ESTA application website (accessed 1 November 2026).
• US Customs and Border Protection — Frequently asked questions about the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA (accessed 1 November 2026).
• US Department of State — Visa Waiver Program (accessed 1 November 2026).
• Skift — US plans to scale back on collecting all travelers’ social media (22 May 2026).
• US Department of Homeland Security — DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) (accessed 1 November 2026).