What are the ESTA validity rules?

The ESTA travel authorization allows citizens of Visa Waiver Program member countries to travel to the United States without a visa. The ESTA has a maximum duration of 2 years for most applicants. The exceptions are citizens of Brunei and Hungary, whose ESTA is valid for a maximum of 1 year.

The validity period of an ESTA is reduced in certain cases. An ESTA is no longer valid once the traveler’s passport expires. The ESTA also becomes invalid if the traveler has changed name, gender or nationality within the last 2 years.

To obtain your travel authorization for the United States: simply click on ESTA online form.

The U.S. State Department recommends checking the validity of your ESTA at least 72 hours before boarding your plane for the United States.

How do I check the validity of an ESTA?

To check the status of your ESTA, go to the official ESTA website. On the home page, click on the link: Check your ESTA status.

The U.S. authorities ask you to fill in a form with your personal details to access your ESTA status. You must provide your passport number and date of birth, then choose :

Your ESTA application number
Or your country of citizenship, the date of issue and the expiry date of your passport.

Once the information has been entered and validated, you will receive the status of your ESTA application.

Image of ESTA status check page

Check ESTA application status — ESTA application status page

What are the different ESTA application statuses?

Here are the different possible statuses for an ESTA application:

ESTA approved: Your travel authorization for the United States is approved. You are now authorized to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. However, an ESTA does not guarantee entry into the United States. The final decision will be made by a U.S. Customs agent when you arrive at the U.S. border.

ESTA refused: If your ESTA is refused, it means that you are not authorized to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. On the other hand, you can apply to the State Department for a U.S. visa for your trip.

ESTA pending: When your ESTA is on hold, this means that your application is still under review. This answer does not mean that your ESTA will be refused. Your request will be finalized within a maximum of 72 hours.