American Visa Bureau   »   American Immigration   »   Tourist Visa   »  Electronic System for Travel Authorization

Electronic System for Travel Authorization - ESTA Visa

From January 2009, the American Department of Homeland Security will implement a mandatory Electronic System for Travel Authorization - the ESTA - for visitors from countries currently part of the American Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Nationals of countries which are part of the VWP will need to apply in online for clearance to travel to the United States before they fly.  The new ESTA system will process visa applications against law enforcement and immigration databases to screen for potential threats to the United States.

ESTA applications will be optional from August, 2008.

For most travellers, ESTA processing will be nearly instant.  Even if travel is not authorized under ESTA, the system will provide clear instructions to help travellers apply for a paper travel visa to visit the United States.  ESTA applications will have one of three results:

• Authorization Approved
• • The traveller is cleared to travel to the United States with their relevant travel documents (including, but not limited to, a validpassport).
• Travel Not Authorized
• • The applicant is not cleared to travel to the United States and should apply for a travel visa, if possible.
• Authorization Pending
• • The request required further detail for a decision to be made.

If an ESTA application is approved, it is valid for multiple entries into the United States.  An ESTA is valid for up to two years, or until the traveler's passport expires.

Please note that an ESTA is necessary, but does not guarantee admission into the United States at the port of entry.  An ESTA only authorises a traveller to board an air or sea carrier to travel to the United States.

The final decision to authorise entry will be made by U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of entry.

The ESTA system is functionally similar to the Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) system for electronic travel visas to Australia.