Your US ESTA Could Soon Almost Double in Cost
US legislators are considering raising ESTA fees for visa-waiver travelers from $21 to $40 to fund federal immigration costs—here’s what you need to know.
Travelers preparing to visit the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) may soon face a significant increase in the cost of their Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). A proposal currently under review by U.S. lawmakers suggests raising ESTA fees from $21 to $40—nearly doubling the current rate.
This potential increase is part of a broader set of legislative recommendations from the House Judiciary Committee, outlined in a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report dated May 19, 2025. The goal behind the fee hike is to generate additional federal revenue to help offset rising costs associated with immigration management and national security.
Estimated spending and revenue through 2034 as assessed by the Commission
The CBO, a nonpartisan federal agency that evaluates the financial impact of proposed legislation, analyzed the budgetary impact of the ESTA fee increase. According to its projections, enacting the ESTA fee provision alone could raise $3.8 billion in revenue from 2025 to 2034, while increasing outlays by approximately $716 million—resulting in a net reduction to the federal deficit of around $3.1 billion over the same decade.
It’s important to note that, for now, this fee increase remains a proposal and has not yet been enacted into law.
The U.S. legislative process requires the bill containing this measure to first be debated and approved by the House of Representatives, then reviewed and voted on by the Senate. If both chambers agree, it must next be signed into law by the President of the United States. Only after enactment would relevant agencies—such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—implement the new regulations.
Given President Donald Trump’s strong opposition to the European travel authorization equivalent (ETIAS), the ESTA fee hike could emerge as a key point of contention in ongoing trade and policy discussions.
An approved ESTA authorization is typically valid for up to two years or until the traveler’s passport expires—whichever comes first. It allows multiple entries into the United States, with each visit capped at a maximum of 90 days. However, it is important to remember that an ESTA approval does not guarantee entry; final admission decisions remain with CBP officers at the port of entry. |
