This page is general orientation, not legal advice. Entry rules are set by the US government and can change — always confirm your specific situation on the official government site before booking anything.
The two paths: ESTA or a visa
Citizens of around 40 countries — most of Western Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and a growing list of others — can travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days using ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) instead of a full visa. This is the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). If your country isn't on that list, you'll need a standard tourist visa (typically a B1/B2) instead, which involves an embassy or consulate appointment.
How ESTA actually works
- Applied for entirely online, no interview required
- Requires an e-passport — one with the digital chip, which most passports issued in the last 15–20 years have
- Asks a handful of security and eligibility questions, plus your payment card details for the application fee
- Valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first — and covers multiple visits, not just one
- Approval is usually fast, often within minutes to 72 hours, but CBP recommends applying as soon as you start planning your trip, not the night before
Where to actually apply
The only official ESTA site is run by US Customs and Border Protection. A number of unofficial, lookalike sites will process your application for a marked-up "service fee" well above the real cost — they're not scams exactly (some do forward a valid application), but you're paying extra for something the official site does directly. Search for the application yourself rather than clicking a sponsored ad, and confirm you're on a genuine .gov domain before entering payment details.
If you need a full visa instead
Applicants from non-VWP countries should start the visa process months, not weeks, before travel — embassy interview wait times vary widely by location and season, and last-minute applications are one of the most common reasons a planned trip gets delayed.