How to Fill Out Your ESTA Authorization Correctly

Since January 2009, travelers need to obtain travel authorization from the U.S. government before entering the United States: the ESTA. The process is straightforward. Here’s how to apply step by step.

1/ Make sure you’re on the official website

• Search for “ESTA” online and you’ll find numerous third-party websites offering to submit your application. These sites are legal and the authorization they obtain is valid, but they charge service fees on top of the government cost. Some charge as much as €139 when the ESTA itself costs $40.27 as of October 1, 2026. Avoid these sites.
• To submit your application, go to the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
• The official site is easy to identify: its address ends in .gov (for “government”). On the official site, ESTA costs exactly $40.27, nothing more.
• You can display the form in different languages. Look for the language selector at the top right of the page.

2/ Accept the terms and conditions

• On the official site’s homepage, you’ll see a button to submit an application. Click it to access the form.
• Before accessing the form, you must accept the terms and conditions and the Travel Promotion Act of 2009. You’ll need to confirm “Yes” to each question to proceed. Check the box and click “Next” to move to the application form.

3/ Fill out the form

• You now have the application form in front of you. Fill in the required fields: name, date of birth, and so on. Have your passport ready—you’ll need to enter your passport number, country of issue, issue date, and expiration date.
• Tip: enter information exactly as it appears on your passport. Use your name precisely as written. Important: do not use accents or special characters, as you’ll have to correct them later. If your name is François or Léa, enter Francois and Lea.
• Each person needs their own form. If you’re traveling as a couple or with children, fill out one form per person (and pay $40.27 each time).
• Once you’ve completed the form, check the attestation box confirming you’ve read and understood all questions and statements, then click “Next”.

4/ Review your information

• You’ll reach a page titled “Application Submission” where you can review your information.
• Check that everything is correct. If you spot an error, click “Previous” to fix it. If you notice a mistake after your ESTA is approved, you’ll need to submit a new application and pay another $40.27. It’s worth taking time to review carefully.
• If everything looks good, complete the verification information at the bottom of the page and click “Submit Application”.

5/ Pay the processing fee

• Since 2010, ESTA requires a processing fee. The cost is $40.27 as of October 1, 2026. Payment must be made by credit card. Accepted cards include Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
• Enter your credit card details and expiration date, then click “Process Payment”. The page will ask you to wait while your payment is processed and your authorization is issued. As the screen indicates, this can take several minutes.

6/ Print your authorization

• In a few moments, if all goes well, you’ll see the message “Authorization Approved”. You’re one step closer to the United States.
• On the same page, you’ll see this note: “The DHS (Department of Homeland Security) recommends that you print this page for your records, but you are not required to present a copy of your authorization to travel.” In other words, printing your ESTA is optional, but it’s a good idea to have a copy with you. Have a great trip!