ESTA: Beware of Fake Official Websites!

Planning a trip to the United States? Learn how to spot counterfeit ESTA websites and avoid overpaying for your travel authorization.

Make sure you’re on the official ESTA website

If you’re traveling to the United States soon, you’ll need to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) from the U.S. government. You submit this application online through the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection Administration website.
But make sure you’re actually on that official site. Search for “ESTA” on Google or Bing and you’ll find dozens of websites offering to fill out your ESTA for you. These aren’t scams exactly—there’s no law against offering intermediary services, and they do submit your ESTA application. The catch is the price.

The problem with unofficial sites is simple: money. The official ESTA fee is $40—nothing more. That’s the official price as of September 30, 2025. On fake sites, though, prices skyrocket with completely unjustified charges: some sites demand $139 per person. These sites go out of their way to look like the official one and trick you into thinking they are.
Some position themselves as help and assistance services. They mention in small print that “you can get your application for $21 on the official U.S. embassy website, but then you won’t benefit from our help and assistance.” They charge a lot for that service—some ask €59, others €69 per ESTA. It’s completely pointless because all they do is copy your passport information.

If you need help filling out your ESTA, read my article on how to complete your ESTA application correctly. It’s free! 🙂
You can also ask any questions on the New York forum: forum members and I are happy to help, and it’s completely free. Don’t waste your money on these pointless services—save it for your trip to New York instead! 🙂