As of September 30, 2025, the price of the electronic travel authorization ESTA will almost double, from $21 to $40. This increase, confirmed by the American authorities, will apply to all travelers under the Visa Waiver Program wishing to visit the United States.
Reasons for the rise
A proposal on the significant increase in the cost of ESTA had been under discussion by US legislators since May 2025.
The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", passed last July by the 119แต U.S. Congress, confirms the revision of the ESTA tariff. This increase is used to finance and strengthen border controls, support tourism promotion and feed the US Treasury budget. The new amount breaks down as follows: $17 for travel promotion (amount unchanged), $10 operational fee (instead of $4 previously) and an additional $13 for the US Treasury.
CBP system updates required to collect the new fee amount are scheduled to go into effect on September 30, 2025. All unpaid ESTA claims in the system after the September 30, 2025 update will be subject to the new fee amount of 40 $.
Official website of the American authorities esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
Terms and conditions
All ESTA requests paid before September 30 will remain at the rate of $21.. After this date, travellers will have to pay the new fare of $40, or around โฌ35. Previously validated ESTAs remain valid until they expire, with no further action required.
In addition to the ESTA, other procedures have also seen their fees increase: the I-94 required for land entry has risen to $30, and the EVUS system for certain Chinese travelers now costs $30.
Tourism professionals are anticipating repercussions, particularly for families and cost-sensitive travelers. It is advisable to apply for a ESTA before the fare change to benefit from the old price, the authorization is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires.
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