ESTA APPLICATION: How to apply for USA Electronic Visa?

Planning your dream trip to the United States? Before you get to see famous American landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore, you’ll need to make sure that you have your ESTA Application completed and all in order. To ensure you don’t jeopardize your Stateside vacation, read our handy guide on how to apply below!

What is ESTA and why do I need a Visa?

The United States requires all travellers to complete a visa before they can enter the country. Without an electronic visa, you may be refused entry and your dream holiday, ruined. ESTA, USA Electronic Visa,  was created by the Department of Homeland Security of the United States so that citizens of 39 select nations have the freedom to travel to the US without needing to apply for an official American visa.

Your ESTA application, Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is a simple and easy way of sorting your entry to the US online before you make your trip. By using this travel authorization service, travellers from those 39 countries can travel to the United States for either business or pleasure purposes. This lasts for 2 years, as long as each trip lasts no more than 90 days and that you meet all the necessary requirements for ESTA.

How to apply online

If you want to apply for ESTA, follow the steps below. To qualify, you must be a citizen from one of the 39 nations that are participating in the Visa Waiver Program. The countries are:

• Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Malta, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.

Starting your application

To start your ESTA application, you can visit ESTA’s website and click on the ‘Apply for ESTA button.’ You’ll be presented with forms to fill out in English where you must provide important information such as your name, address, DoB and contact details.

Entering your personal details

Next, you will be asked to fill out further information such as:

• Your employment
• Your emergency contact information
• Details about your travel plans while in the United States
• Your passport information

Additional eligibility questions

You’ll then be asked a series of eligibility questions in which you must answer truthfully and correctly, as Homeland Security will screen all ESTA applications. If you are denied entry due to one of these questions, then you will need to re-submit your ESTA application.

Complete your application

Before you submit your application, be sure to double-check that all the information you have supplied is correct and up to date. You can’t change your application once it’s been submitted, so if something is wrong, you will have to apply for ESTA again. After you’ve confirmed all your details, you’ll then be taken to a secure payment screen where you can pay for your ESTA application.