Updated: Aug 24, 2023
Prior to September 8th 2010, ESTA was free for eligible U.S. visitors. However, currently there is no longer a free ESTA. There is now a fee charged per ESTA application which was brought into effect by the 2009 Travel Promotion Act. The Travel Promotion Act called for the inclusion of a charge to be paid per ESTA submission by the applicant. The ESTA fee is split into two parts in that one part is for the Corporation for Travel Promotion and the remainder is passed onto CBP to cover administrative expenses incurred for processing an ESTA application. In May 2022, the ESTA government fee was increased to $21.
The ESTA application fee serves the following purposes:
The fee is used to cover the costs associated with administering the ESTA system. This includes database maintenance, security measures, and other operational expenses to ensure the system's efficacy and integrity.
The primary objective of the ESTA is to enhance security measures. Rigorous checks are conducted on all ESTA applications to identify security risks and individuals who might be ineligible to enter the United States under the VWP. The fee partially supports the financial aspects of this security infrastructure.
Part of the fee also goes towards the Corporation for Travel Promotion (also known as Brand USA), which is responsible for encouraging international travel to the United States. This body aims to boost tourism and, by extension, the U.S. economy.
While the notion of offering ESTA for free might appear welcoming and could potentially encourage tourism, there are several concerns. First, the absence of a fee might lead to an unmanageable number of applications, straining the system's resources and possibly compromising security. Second, the financial support that the fee provides for maintaining high-quality checks and balances would be lost, which could weaken the effectiveness of the entire system.
It's crucial to be cautious of any third-party services that claim to offer a "free ESTA." These are most likely scams and could put your personal information at risk. Always use the official U.S. government website to apply for your ESTA.
If an ESTA is denied, the Corporation for Travel Promotion part of the fee will be refunded. If an ESTA is approved, no part of the fee will be refunded.
If an applicant disputes the ESTA charge and the application was approved, the applicant risks the possibility of having their approved ESTA revoked.
The justifications for charging travelers a fee can seem trivial considering the economic strength of the United States. However considering the volume of travelers visiting the United States yearly, the fees amount to the millions and cover a variety of costs for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The systems utilized by CBP can be seen in a number of manifestations. One example is the ESTA website, which processes the applications and cross-checks applicant information across numerous global databases. Another example are the kiosks at U.S. airports which collect traveler biometric data and verify the traveler’s authorization. Thus, travelers’ can appreciate the level of investment required in building and maintaining these systems, which their ESTA application fees go towards.
Other countries have adopted similar systems to the ESTA and use similar justifications for charging travelers a fee. One recent example if the ETIAS system being adopted by the European Union, which would work similar to the ESTA in that it is also an electronic travel authorization.
© 2011-2024 USA-ESTA.COM. All rights reserved.
We are not affiliated with any government or embassy. This website only provides information about the U.S. ESTA. This website does not provide any services. This website contains links to third-party websites. For additional information, please see our Privacy Policy.