US Details ESTA Requirements for Visa Waiver Travelers

The US government has outlined essential requirements for citizens of 43 Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) countries who wish to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). According to the information published on the official ESTA portal operated by US Customs and Border Protection, applicants must prepare several items before submitting their application.

These include a valid passport from a VWP country, a selfie photo, a valid email address, a home address and phone number, and an emergency point of contact's phone and email. The application fee is set at $40.27 USD, with accepted payment methods including MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover (limited to JCB or Diners Club cards), and PayPal.

The ESTA system allows eligible travellers to visit the United States for tourism, business, or transit purposes for up to 90 days without needing a traditional visa. Having all required documents and payment details ready can help avoid delays in the application process.