how much is an esta

An ESTA for travel to the U.S. now costs about $40 per person on the official U.S. government site, with a very small inflation-linked increase to about $40.27 from early 2026.

Current ESTA price

• The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) fee was raised from $21 to $40 for Visa Waiver Program travelers on applications made on or after 30 September 2025.

• Under the 2026 inflation adjustment rules, the fee is set to $40.27 from 1 January 2026.

What that fee includes

• The $40 consists of roughly a processing charge (around $10) plus an authorization fee (around $30) when the ESTA is approved.

• If an application is refused , only the smaller processing part is charged, not the full amount.

Watch out for extra charges

• Many third‑party “assistance” sites charge more than $40 because they add their own service fee on top of the official ESTA cost.

• Official U.S. government sites end in .gov ; using other sites can mean you pay significantly more for the same authorization.

Quick practical tips

• Apply on the official U.S. ESTA website to pay only the official fee (about $40–40.27 in 2026).

• If your trip is within the next two years and you are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, you can apply now and your ESTA will normally remain valid for up to two years or until your passport expires.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.