ESTA 2026: the US Travel Authorization — Price, Requirements, Denials

Flying to New York, Miami or Los Angeles without setting foot in an embassy: that is what ESTA, the US electronic travel authorization, promises. But beware of outdated information. First, the price has nearly doubled: since late September 2025, under the US budget law H.R.1 (the "One Big Beautiful Bill"), the fee jumped from $21 to $40, then to $40.27 as of January 1, 2026 after an inflation adjustment. Second, ESTA only covers about forty nationalities: France and most of Western Europe qualify, but no African country is on the list, and neither is Ecuador. Finally, a simple stopover in Cuba or an old trip to Iran can be enough to disqualify you. Here is everything you need to know in 2026, based on official sources only.

ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is not a visa: it is a mandatory pre-travel electronic authorization for citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries. It allows entry to the United States without a visa for stays of up to 90 days, for tourism, business (meetings, negotiations — no paid work), transit or medical treatment.

As of July 2026, the VWP includes 42 countries:

Two essential points for our readers:

• No African nationality is eligible for ESTA. Citizens of Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria and every other African country must apply for a B1/B2 visa at a US embassy. Note that Romania, briefly admitted in January 2025, was removed from the program by DHS in May 2025 — proof that the list can move in both directions.
• Ecuador is not a VWP member (Chile is the only Latin American country admitted). Ecuadorian citizens must therefore obtain a B1/B2 visa before any trip to the United States.

In both cases, follow our complete US B1/B2 visa guide (DS-160, interview, section 214(b)).

Even for eligible nationalities, three conditions apply: a valid electronic or biometric passport, a stay of 90 days maximum (non-extendable), and proof of onward travel out of the United States.

H.R.1 mandates an annual inflation adjustment, so expect small increases every January 1. A new ESTA is required if you change passport, name, gender or citizenship, or if any of your answers to the eligibility questions change (for instance after a trip to Cuba).

Important: an approved ESTA does not guarantee entry into the United States. The final decision always rests with the CBP officer on arrival.

1. Go only to [esta.cbp.dhs.gov](https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov), the official CBP website (or the official "ESTA Mobile" app). The form is available in multiple languages.
2. Have your passport ready: the number, expiry date and your identity details must be copied exactly. A single typo can cause a denial or a problem at boarding.
3. Fill in the form: identity, contact details, employer, emergency contact, address of your first night in the US, and social media identifiers (a section now present in the form).
4. Answer the 9 eligibility questions: health, criminal history, drugs, terrorism, prior visa refusals, overstays, and presence in certain countries (see denial reasons below). Answer honestly: a detected false statement means a long-term ban.
5. Pay the $40.27 online and save your application number.
6. Wait for the decision: it often arrives within minutes, but CBP recommends applying at least 72 hours before boarding, as some applications go through manual review. Three possible statuses: Authorization Approved, Authorization Pending (check again within 72 hours), Travel Not Authorized (denied).

Our advice: apply for your ESTA when you book your ticket, not the day before departure. The cost is the same, and you keep enough time to apply for a B1/B2 visa if you are denied.

CBP never discloses the precise reasons for a denial, but the known causes are well documented:

• Travel to certain countries: any presence in Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 1, 2011 makes you ineligible for the VWP (2015 law, with limited exceptions for diplomatic or military service on behalf of a VWP country).
• Cuba: any stay or stopover in Cuba since January 12, 2021 makes you ineligible — CBP even revokes already-approved ESTAs of affected travelers.
• Dual nationality: also holding the nationality of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria or Cuba makes you ineligible, even if you have never set foot there.
• Immigration history: prior US visa refusal, overstay, deportation, unauthorized work.
• Answering "yes" to one of the eligibility questions (arrests, drugs, listed communicable diseases…).
• Data entry errors: wrong passport number, misspelled name — a frequent and avoidable cause.

What to do after a denial? There is no appeal procedure. You may reapply after a minimum of 10 days, but CBP warns that without a change in circumstances (or the correction of a genuine typo), the denial will repeat. If you believe you are the victim of mistaken identity, the DHS TRIP program (trip.dhs.gov) lets you request a review of your profile.

An ESTA denial is not a ban from entering the United States: it simply excludes you from the simplified procedure. The standard route remains open: the B1/B2 visa (business/tourism), applied for via the DS-160 form, with the consular fee ($185) and an interview at the embassy or consulate.

It is exactly the same procedure as for nationalities not eligible for the VWP (all African countries, Ecuador…). One caution: during the interview, honestly disclose the ESTA denial if asked — it is visible in the system anyway. An ESTA denial linked to a mere trip to Cuba or Iran generally does not prevent you from obtaining a B1/B2 if your case is solid.

Every step (DS-160, appointment booking, interview, section 214(b)) is detailed in our US B1/B2 visa guide. You can also check the requirements for your nationality, for example Ecuador → United States or Côte d'Ivoire → United States.

ESTA is a favorite hunting ground for fraudulent or "assistance" websites:

• The only official website is [esta.cbp.dhs.gov](https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov) — a .gov domain operated by CBP. Any other address (esta-usa.com, apply-esta.net, etc.) is at best a commercial middleman.
• These sites charge $70 to $100 or more for a service that costs $40.27 directly, with no priority processing whatsoever: nobody can "expedite" or "guarantee" an ESTA.
• Some are outright scams: payment collected without any application being filed, or passport data harvested and resold.
• Reflexes: check for the .gov domain, be wary of sponsored ads at the top of Google results, and only use the official form or the ESTA Mobile app.

If you have already paid on a third-party site, check on esta.cbp.dhs.gov ("Check existing application") whether an authorization actually exists in your name.

• Does ESTA guarantee entry into the United States?

No. It only authorizes you to board a flight to the US under the VWP. The CBP officer on arrival decides on admission and its length (90 days maximum).

• Do I need an ESTA for a simple layover?

Yes. Any transit through a US airport requires an approved ESTA (or a visa), even if you never leave the international zone.

• Do babies and children need their own ESTA?

Yes, every traveler, regardless of age, needs their own ESTA ($40.27 each) and their own passport.

• I am a dual French-Cameroonian national: can I use ESTA?

Yes, by traveling on your French passport (unless your other nationality is Cuban, Iranian, Iraqi, Sudanese or Syrian). What counts is the nationality of the passport you present, not your country of residence.

• Can I extend an ESTA stay beyond 90 days?

No. No extension or change of status is possible under ESTA. Overstaying permanently excludes you from the VWP.

• Can an ESTA be renewed?

There is no renewal as such: when the 2 years (or your passport) expire, you simply file a new application at the current fee.

• I visited Cuba in 2023 with a valid ESTA: what happens?

Your ESTA is subject to revocation and you are now ineligible for the VWP. You will need to apply for a B1/B2 visa for your next trip to the United States.