Almost 66 million travellers go to the United States yearly, flying in for every part from procuring excursions in NYC to ranch stays within the nation’s desertscapes. However, in accordance to the nation’s strict visa guidelines, journeys to the USA require slightly prior planning.
In order to enter the USA, travellers are required to acquire both a visa or an ESTA. The latter applies to most British and European jetsetters.
However, issues are about to get slightly pricier. A legislative package deal permitted by the US Congress in July 2025 signifies that, as of Tuesday, 30 September, the price of an ESTA rises from $21 to $40.
Plane flying over the streets of Los Angeles, CaliforniaGetty Images
Here, we glance into what precisely an ESTA is, the necessities for acquiring one, and the routes to apply.
What is an ESTA?
ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, and is described by gov.uk as an ‘automated system that determines the eligibility of tourists to journey to the US beneath the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP).
Travellers planning to vacation in, or transit by, the United States through air, sea, or land should have an permitted ESTA to entry ports of entry.