What to do if you make a mistake on your ESTA application?

Even when you’re careful, mistakes can happen when filling out the ESTA electronic travel authorization, which you must complete at least 72 hours before flying to the United States. So what should you do if you make an error? There are three different scenarios:

1/ Errors you can correct

• If you made a mistake in your email address, you can access your application and correct it directly on the ESTA website. You’ll need your application reference number and passport number.
• The same applies if you entered the wrong hotel address in the United States, or if you change hotels at the last minute. You can simply update this information in your application. You won’t need to pay the $40.27 ESTA fee again—it’s just a correction.

2/ Errors that require a new ESTA

• If you made an error on your identity—particularly in the spelling of your name, date of birth, nationality, or passport number—you’ll need to submit a new ESTA.
• Your previous ESTA will be replaced, and only the most recent one will be considered. You’ll have to pay the $40.27 ESTA fee again. So be careful not to make too many mistakes!

3/ Eligibility questions

• Among all the ESTA questions, there’s a small questionnaire with “eligibility” questions. You’re asked, for example, whether you intend to commit a terrorist act in the United States, whether you’ve participated in war crimes, or whether you suffer from serious contagious diseases like plague. Obviously, you need to answer “no” to all of them.
• Unfortunately, some people accidentally check “yes” on one of these questions. It happens more often than you’d think. If you submit your ESTA application with a “yes” answer to any of these questions, your ESTA will be automatically rejected.
• What should you do? First, call the official ESTA call center and explain your mistake. The number is +1 202 325 8000. The representative can decide whether to allow you to submit a new ESTA application.
• If they refuse, you’ll need to apply for a visa at the nearest U.S. consulate. A careless mistake on the eligibility questions can be very costly.

Tip: Review before you pay

Before you submit and pay for your ESTA, you’ll have a chance to review all the information you entered. Take the time to check everything carefully and catch any errors. It’s the best way to avoid problems later.