Have you made your first trip to the United States and would like to repeat the experience? There’s nothing to stop you, as long as your travel documents are up to date: valid passport and valid ESTA.
The question then arises as to whether your ESTA is still valid in the eyes of the American government. We’ll find out in this article.
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How long is the ESTA valid for?
In theory, an ESTA authorization is valid for 2 years. In practice, the validity of the ESTA depends on the validity of the passport with which it is associated. If the passport expires in less than two years at the time of the ESTA application, the ESTA validity date will be identical to the passport expiry date. It may be advisable to apply for a new passport at your local town hall. Passport photos will be required, as well as fingerprints for a biometric passport.
Since the ESTA is linked to the passport number, it’s important to note that a change of passport (lost or stolen, change of family situation, etc.) requires a new authorization application. This must be done with the details of the new passport. It is not possible to transfer the validity of an ESTA from one passport to another.
The duration of validity of the travel authorization is not to be confused with the duration authorized on American territory. There is no question of being able to stay in the USA for 2 years. Any stay in the USA under the Visa Waiver Program must comply with its requirements, i.e. a temporary stay of no more than 90 days, whether for tourism or business purposes.
How do I check the validity of my ESTA?
To check the validity of your ESTA, simply visit the official U.S. government website. You’ll be asked for your application number. If you don’t know this number, enter your passport details instead (passport number, country of issue, date of issue and expiry), as well as your date of birth.
Note: if you applied for ESTA via a private website, you will find all your information in your customer area.
If your ESTA has expired or lapsed, you’ll need to reapply online using the same ESTA form. The procedure is the same as for your first application: go to the site of your choice (official or private site), fill in the application form and pay the required fee. You’ll receive a reply from the American authorities within 72 hours.
Applications are processed independently, so there is always a risk of refusal. Be careful not to make a typing error. Make sure you are still eligible too. The latest changes in the conditions for obtaining an ESTA are based on so-called high-risk countries: nationals of countries that are signatories to the Visa Waiver Program and hold dual nationality (Iraqi, Iranian, Syrian or Sudanese) are not entitled to travel to the USA with an ESTA. What’s more, anyone who visited Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan or Yemen after March 1, 2011 risks having their ESTA application rejected.
If you are refused, you will need to apply for a visa at the American embassy. This takes longer (starting with an online form and ending with an interview with a consular officer) and costs more.