Published: Jun 22, 2018, Updated: Mar 11, 2020
An ESTA is travel authorization which allows eligible travelers to visit to the United States for business, tourism, medical, transit or other temporary purposes without getting a visa. It can be obtained online with relative ease when compared to the process of obtaining a U.S. visa. Prior to embarking on travel to the United States, foreign national visitors must be aware of the restrictions on using an ESTA. The rules of using an ESTA are as follows:
The ESTA rules enforce restrictions on travelers for the purposes of ensuring visitors do not pose as security or economic risks to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Regardless of these rules, ESTA remains as a versatile and convenient travel authorization that provides nearly as much utility as a U.S. visa, with much less burden to obtain.
If you hold a passport from a visa waiver country such as the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or other Western European Country, you may be eligible to obtain an ESTA for tourist, business, medical or transit purposes. Get started on your application, otherwise, visit the FAQ to learn more about the ESTA