What you need before you start
Plain checklist. Have these on hand and the application takes a few minutes.
- Citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country
- Travel for tourism, business, or transit
- Stay of 90 days or less
- Machine-readable e-passport with chip
- Valid passport (must remain valid for the entire stay)
- No prior denied US visa or removal from the U.S.
- Passport number, issue date, expiry date
- Date of birth and country of citizenship
- U.S. address (hotel or first stop is fine)
- Contact email and phone
- Employer name and address (or 'Retired' / 'Student')
- Emergency contact
- Stays longer than 90 days
- Paid employment in the U.S.
- Long-term study or academic enrollment
- Permanent residence or immigration intent
- Journalism in the U.S. on assignment
- Performing for paying U.S. audiences
- Validity: 2 years from approval, or until your passport expires — whichever is sooner.
- Multiple trips: a single approved ESTA covers multiple short visits during its validity period.
- Apply window: at least 72 hours before travel is recommended by U.S. CBP.
List per U.S. CBP. We do not control eligibility — this is a reference, not a guarantee.