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VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
Frequently Asked Questions: ESTA

(日本語)

Table of Contents

General Information on the Visa Waiver Program

Under what circumstances can I use the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA?

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. In order to use the VWP as of January 12, you will need to get ESTA travel authorization. If you are traveling to the U.S. for purposes other than tourism or business, such as to work or study in the U.S., you need a visa and you are not eligible to use the VWP or ESTA.

Which countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program?

Citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP:

Andorra Iceland Norway
Australia Ireland Portugal
Austria Italy San Marino
Belgium Japan Singapore
Brunei Liechtenstein Slovenia
Denmark Luxembourg Spain
Finland Monaco Sweden
France the Netherlands Switzerland
Germany New Zealand United Kingdom

On Nov. 17, 2008, the United States expanded the VWP to include the following countries:

Czech Republic Latvia
Estonia Lithuania
Hungary Slovakia
Republic of Korea  

As of December 30, 2008, the United States expanded the VWP to include nationals of Malta.

Eligible citizens or nationals from these new VWP countries may now travel to the United States under the VWP provided they have an e-passport and an approved authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

I will transit the U.S. on my way to a third country. Do I still need ESTA travel authorization?

Yes. If you are transiting without a visa, you are utilizing the VWP and therefore must have ESTA travel authorization as of January 12, 2009.

Can I enter the U.S. if I have ESTA travel authorization?

ESTA travel authorization does not guarantee you entry into the U.S. CBP officers reserve the right to deny entry to any traveler.

Who Needs to Apply for ESTA

Who is required to apply for an electronic travel authorization via ESTA?

Effective Jan. 12, 2009, citizens or nationals from all VWP countries will be required to obtain an approved travel authorization via ESTA in order to be eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP. Accompanied and unaccompanied children, regardless of age, will be required to obtain an independent ESTA approval. Third parties, such as relatives, friends, or travel agents, are permitted to submit an ESTA application on behalf of a VWP traveler.

Can a person other than the traveler apply for ESTA travel authorization on the traveler’s behalf?

Yes. Another individual may apply for ESTA travel authorization on the traveler’s behalf so long as he or she knows the traveler's information. The person filling out the ESTA form must provide (in English) biographical data on the traveler including name, birth date, and passport information, as well as travel information such as the flight number and destination address in the U.S. The person filling out the online form will also be required to answer eligibility questions regarding communicable diseases, arrests and convictions for certain crimes, and past history of visa revocation or deportation, among others.

What happens if a VWP traveler flies to the United States after ESTA is mandatory, but somehow does not have an ESTA?

Once ESTA is mandatory, all nationals or citizens of VWP countries who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP will require an approved ESTA prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States under the VWP. Travelers who have not received ESTA approval by the mandatory compliance date may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry.

How to Apply for ESTA

My passport was issued overseas. How should I answer the question "Passport Issuing Country"？

Please choose the country of your nationality, not the physical location where the passport was issued. For example, if you have a Japanese passport issued in the US., choose Japan.

Can a VWP traveler with more than one passport travel to the United States on the passport that was not used when applying for an ESTA?

No. Each VWP traveler must have an approved ESTA for the passport he or she plans to use for travel to the United States. If a traveler acquires a new passport, he or she must submit a new ESTA application for their new passport.

How far in advance of my trip do I need to apply for travel authorization?

Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel. We recommend that travel authorization applications be submitted as early as possible, as soon as travel is planned. DHS realizes that not all travel is planned in advance, and applications for last-minute or emergency travel will be accommodated.

How much time does it take for ESTA travel authorization to process my approval?

ESTA will provide almost immediate determinations of eligibility for travel under the VWP. There are three types of responses: Authorization Approved, Authorization Pending, and Travel Not Authorized. Those applicants who receive an approval are then authorized to travel to the U.S. under the VWP. Applicants whose ESTA Applicants are denied will be referred to www.travel.state.gov for information on how to apply for a visa to travel to the U.S. Applicants who receive an Authorization Pending response will need to check the website for updates within 72 hours to receive a final response.

Is there any fee for ESTA application?

DHS will not initially collect a fee for ESTA applications, but a fee may be charged in the future.

There are Web sites that charge for information about ESTA, or to apply for an ESTA on behalf of VWP travelers. Is there any benefit to utilizing one of these services?

No. The U.S. government maintains a Web site where visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) can apply directly for travel authorization via ESTA at no charge. [https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov]. The ESTA application Web site is available in 16 languages and includes a help section that provides additional information for VWP travelers to guide them through the application process.

Can prospective travelers apply for an ESTA without specific travel plans if they want to be able to travel to the United States later on short notice?

Yes. VWP travelers are not required to have specific plans to travel to the United States before they apply for an ESTA. VWP travelers are not required to complete the travel itinerary and destination details before submitting an ESTA application. If a traveler’s destination address in the United States is unknown when he or she completes the ESTA application, the traveler may enter the name of the hotel or approximate location he or she intends to visit. Travelers may update this information when their plans are finalized, but they will not be required to update their destination addresses or itineraries should they change after their ESTA has been approved. DHS recommends that ESTA applications be submitted as early as possible, as soon as, or even before travel is planned. ESTA will accept applications from last minute and emergency travelers – those VWP travelers that arrive at the airport without an approved ESTA.

Do VWP travelers need to bring a paper printout of their ESTA approval to the airport?

No. However, DHS recommends that travelers print out the ESTA application response in order to maintain a record of their ESTA application number and to have confirmation of their ESTA status.

Updating Your ESTA Registration

Do I ever need to reapply for travel authorization through the ESTA?

Yes, there are instances when a new travel authorization via ESTA would be required. If you have acquired a new passport or have had a change in name, gender, or citizenship, or if the answers to any of the "yes or no" ESTA questions have changed, a new application must be submitted. Also, once the travel authorization expires, a new travel authorization via ESTA is required.

What if my destination addresses or itineraries changes after I obtain ESTA travel authorization?

Applicants may update their destination addresses or itineraries should they change after their ESTA has been approved, although this will not be required.

How can an applicant correct a mistake after completing their ESTA application?

The ESTA Web site will prompt applicants to review the data submitted for the overall application prior to submission. In addition, the ESTA Web site will require the applicant to reaffirm the passport number prior to submission. If an applicant makes a mistake when filling out the passport information, identifying biographic information, or eligibility questions, and he or she realizes the mistake only after having submitted the ESTA application, he or she will need to submit a new ESTA application. Any other mistakes, including e-mail address, telephone number, carrier, flight number, city of embarkation, and address while in the United States may be corrected or updated by using the ESTA update function.

How can applicants correct a mistake on Passport Issuance Date or Passport Expiration Date after completing their ESTA application?

If applicants enter the wrong Passport Issuance Date or Passport Expiration Date and they realizes the mistake only after having submitted the ESTA application they will not be able to correct this. They will have to notify CBP by email ESTA@cbp.dhs.gov to have their application cancelled so they can re-apply. As long as the application has been approved, they can still travel.

Do travelers need to update their ESTA if it will expire before the traveler departs the U.S.?

If an ESTA expires before the traveler leaves the United States, the traveler is not required to apply for another ESTA. However, the traveler will need to apply for a new ESTA for future travel.

ESTA and U.S. Visas

Is the ESTA travel authorization a visa?

No.The ESTA travel authorization is not a visa and travelers who are required to have a visa still must have one.

I have a U.S. visa. Do I need ESTA travel authorization?

You do not need to apply for ESTA if you possess a valid visa and will travel to the U.S. on that visa for the purpose it was issued.

ESTA Denials

I was denied ESTA travel authorization. Is it possible for me to be admitted entry to the U.S.?

If you have been denied ESTA travel authorization, you may still be eligible to travel to the U.S. by applying for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulates. Please see http://japan.usembassy.gov for information on how to apply for a visa.

Should a traveler not approved for travel through ESTA reapply?

If an ESTA application is not approved ("Travel Not Authorized"), a traveler may reapply for an ESTA after a period of 24 hours, but unless the circumstances have changed, the traveler will not qualify for an ESTA and will need to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. In addition, reapplying with false information for the purposes of qualifying for an ESTA could render an individual inadmissible, and therefore, ineligible for admission, to the U.S.

How can a traveler find out the reason an ESTA application was denied?

DHS has carefully developed the ESTA program to ensure that only those individuals who are ineligible to travel to the United States under the VWP or those whose travel would pose a law enforcement or security risk are refused an ESTA. While the ESTA Web site provides a link to the DHS Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) Web site, there are no guarantees that a request for redress through DHS TRIP will resolve the VWP ineligibility that caused an applicant’s ESTA application to be denied.

Please note that Embassies and Consulates are not able to provide details about ESTA denials or resolve the issue that caused the ESTA denial. Embassies and Consulates are able to process an application for a non-immigrant visa, which, if approved, will be the only way that a traveler whose ESTA application has been denied will be authorized to travel to the U.S.

If a traveler was denied ESTA approval and needs to travel immediately, is it possible to get an emergency visa appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate?

Unfortunately, the Department of State is unable to guarantee next-day appointments because of varying demand for visas. As a result, we encourage travelers to apply for an ESTA approval far in advance of the proposed travel. Information about the appointment process is available here.

Visa Waiver Program Eligibility Questions

When would I check the box "yes" for the portion of question "A" that asks: "Do you have a communicable disease?

Only answer yes if one of the following applies:

Communicable Diseases

When would I check the box "yes" for the portion of question "A" that asks about a physical or mental disorder?

Answer "yes" if you:

Answer "No" if:

When would I check the box "Yes" for the portion of question "B" that asks: Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude?

A crime involving moral turpitude is an offense that is inherently base, vile, or depraved and contrary to the accepted rules of society and the duties owed between persons or to society generally. Some examples of crimes involving moral turpitude include, but are not limited to, murder, rape, sexual offenses, crimes against children, prostitution, robbery, theft, fraud and crimes of violence.

When would I check the box "Yes" for question "G" that asks: Have you ever asserted immunity from prosecution?

Answer "Yes" to this question if:

This FAQ, updated on Feb. 13, 2008 by the U.S. Embassy Tokyo Consular Section, is based on the DHS FAQs, but tailored for Japan.