All about ESTA

Going to the USA to live the American dream during a temporary stay is an incredible experience, but one that requires a few administrative formalities. Foreign nationals need a travel authorization to set foot on American soil, even for a short stay. There are a number of ways of doing this, but the ESTA is the most attractive, as is the American visa.

Why is it essential to have an ESTA document to travel to the USA? That’s the question we answer in this article.

About ESTA

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. This document was introduced in 2009, as part of the Visa Waiver Program, which makes it easier for many nationals to travel to the USA. They no longer need to apply for a USA visa at an American embassy, but simply fill in an ESTA form online.

Here is the list of countries covered by the VWP:

  • Germany,
  • Andorra,
  • Australia,
  • Austria,
  • Belgium,
  • Brunei,
  • Chile,
  • South Korea,
  • Denmark,
  • Spain,
  • Estonia,
  • Finland,
  • France,
  • Greece,
  • Hungary,
  • Ireland,
  • Iceland,
  • Italy,
  • Japan,
  • Netherlands,
  • Latvia,
  • Liechtenstein,
  • Lithuania,
  • Luxembourg,
  • Malta, Monaco,
  • Norway,
  • New Zealand,
  • Portugal,
  • Czech Republic,
  • United Kingdom,
  • San Marino,
  • Singapore,
  • Slovakia,
  • Slovenia,
  • Sweden,
  • Switzerland and Taiwan.
  • Poland,
  • Croatia,
  • Israel

As you can see, France is a member of the scheme. You can apply for ESTA authorization via the official U.S. government website, or via a website specializing in ESTA applications. All you have to do is fill in the ESTA form on the relevant site, then pay the required fee. It’s a simple formality, and the authorization is issued quickly. Whether you order your ESTA from the government site or a private site, the authorization will be exactly the same, since it comes from the American authorities.

To apply for ESTA, all you need is your credit card and a valid passport, as the passport number will be linked to your authorization. Filling in the online questionnaire is a crucial step, and it’s important not to make any mistakes. The most frequent typing error usually occurs when filling in the passport number field. So be careful with every piece of information you enter, and double-check your entries before submitting the form.

The ESTA authorization is valid for two years, and allows you to make several trips to the United States.

Why do I need ESTA authorization?

As a foreigner, you need a travel authorization to enter the USA. Tourists can choose between two types of authorization. The first is a tourist visa. This authorization allows the traveler to stay in the USA for 6 months. However, the administrative formalities are fairly lengthy, and the price is high. To apply for a visa, you need to go to the US embassy.

That’s why the second alternative is perfect: ESTA. You can apply for ESTA from the comfort of your own home, the online form is answered within 72 hours and the price is very attractive. However, not everyone can apply for ESTA. A number of eligibility criteria must be met before you can apply for authorization:

  • you must have a valid electronic or biometric passport;
  • your trip must be for tourism, business or transit before leaving for another country;
  • the stay in the USA must not exceed 90 days.

If one of these criteria doesn’t apply to you, unfortunately you’ll need to apply for a visa at the U.S. embassy before leaving for the USA.