Applying for ESTA in 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide

You submit your ESTA application online through the official government website esta.cbp.dhs.gov. You need a valid electronic passport (e-passport) from a Visa Waiver Program country such as Germany, complete the form with passport, travel and contact details plus eligibility questions, and pay the fee of 40.27 US dollars (as of 2026). Most applications are approved within minutes, but it can take up to 72 hours – so apply at least 72 hours before departure. An approved travel authorization is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

This guide walks you through the entire process step by step – from prerequisites and the required data to payment, status checks, and what to do if you see "Authorization Pending" or "Travel Not Authorized".

What is ESTA and who needs it?

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization, run by the US border agency CBP (Customs and Border Protection). It is not a visa, but a pre-travel authorization that lets travelers from the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enter the USA without a visa for tourism, business or transit for up to 90 days.

Germany has been part of the Visa Waiver Program from the start. As a German citizen you do not need a visa for a short trip to the USA – you need an approved ESTA, provided you meet the requirements. Whether ESTA is the right document for your trip or you actually need a visa is covered in ESTA or visa. Unsure? Our visa check classifies your situation in a few steps.

Important context: an ESTA is not a guarantee of entry. It only authorizes you to board a plane or ship bound for the USA. The final decision on entry and the permitted length of stay is made by the CBP officer on arrival at the US airport or seaport. ESTA is therefore the first, but not the only, step toward a smooth entry.

Important: ESTA is mandatory for every entry by air or sea under the Visa Waiver Program. Without an approved ESTA, your airline will usually deny boarding.

When is ESTA not enough?

The Visa Waiver Program covers short stays for tourism, business meetings and transit. For other purposes ESTA is not suitable and you need a regular US visa, including: paid employment in the USA, secondments beyond 90 days, study or school exchange with enrollment at a US institution, stays over 90 days or intent to remain or immigrate, and certain paid public performances or journalistic work. Special exclusions also apply: anyone who has been present in certain countries since 2011 (e.g. Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen) or holds their nationality is usually excluded from the VWP, as are some travelers with prior visa refusals or certain criminal records.

What requirements must you meet?

Before starting the application, check these three core requirements:

• Citizenship of a VWP country: You hold citizenship of one of the roughly 40 member countries (e.g. Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
• Electronic passport (e-passport): Your passport must be a biometric e-passport with a chip and machine-readable zone. The chip symbol on the cover identifies it. Plain paper passports or non-biometric children's passports are not VWP-eligible.
• Purpose and length of stay: Tourism, certain business activities or transit for a maximum of 90 days. Anyone staying longer, working, studying or immigrating needs an appropriate visa.

Note for families: Babies and children also need their own ESTA and their own e-passport. German children's passports without a chip are not ESTA-eligible.

Where do I apply – and which sites should I avoid?

There is only one official application website: esta.cbp.dhs.gov. It belongs to the US government (domain ends in .gov). Here you pay only the official fee of 40.27 US dollars.

Warning about copycat websites: Many commercial third-party sites look legitimate but charge inflated surcharges (often 70–100 US dollars or more) and sometimes sell unnecessary "service" subscriptions. These sites are not official. Always check for the .gov ending in the address bar.

If you would rather not file the application yourself – for example due to language barriers, group travel or past refusals – we support you with a transparent, correct submission. Learn more under our services.

What data do I need for the ESTA application?

Have the following information ready before you start, so you can complete the form quickly and without errors:

Answer the eligibility questions truthfully. False statements can lead to refusal or problems at entry.

Step by step: how to apply for ESTA

1. Open the official site. Go to esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Check the .gov ending and the padlock for a secure connection.
2. Choose language and application type. Set the language and choose between an individual or group application.
3. Confirm the security notices. Read and accept the liability and privacy declarations.
4. Enter passport data. Enter all details from your e-passport exactly as they appear in the passport, with correct spelling and dates.
5. Enter personal and contact details. Add your home address, phone, email and any additional nationalities.
6. Provide travel and employment details. Enter your first US address, an emergency contact and employer information.
7. Answer the eligibility questions. Answer all yes/no questions truthfully and completely.
8. Review your entries. Check the entire form carefully. Errors – especially in the passport number – often cause problems.
9. Pay the fee. Pay the fee of 40.27 USD by card or PayPal. Note down your application number.
10. Check the status. Wait for the decision. It usually arrives within minutes, but allow up to 72 hours and only travel once the status reads "Authorization Approved".

What does ESTA cost in 2026 – and how is the fee composed?

The ESTA fee has been 40.27 US dollars per person since 1 January 2026. It almost doubled in September 2025 from the previous 21 US dollars (following the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, HR-1) and was raised at the start of 2026 by an inflation adjustment (CPI-U, +2.70%) from 40.00 to 40.27 US dollars.

Good to know: If your application is denied, you only pay the 4.00 US dollar processing fee – the 36.27 US dollar authorization fee is not charged in that case.

Payment is made only on the official site by credit/debit card or PayPal. Beware of third parties charging a multiple of this.

How long does processing take?

In the vast majority of cases you receive the decision within minutes. Sometimes the status is initially "Authorization Pending" – an additional review then runs that can take up to 72 hours. Apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before departure, ideally when you book your trip. There is no way to expedite the review.

How long is ESTA valid?

An approved ESTA is valid for two years from issue or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If your passport expires sooner, ESTA validity ends on that date. Within its validity, ESTA allows multiple entries of up to 90 days each.

You need a new ESTA if, among other things, you get a new passport, change your name, acquire a different nationality, or your answers to the eligibility questions change.

Group and family applications

For families or travel groups you can use the "Group of Applications" feature to manage and pay for several applications together. Each person still needs their own application and their own e-passport – including children and babies. The group feature only simplifies management and payment; it does not replace individual entries.

How do I check my ESTA status?

After submitting you receive an application number. With this number, your passport number and date of birth you can check the status anytime on esta.cbp.dhs.gov under "Check ESTA Status". Check the status again shortly before departure – in rare cases a previously approved authorization can be revoked later.

There are three possible status results:

Which mistakes should you avoid?

Many problems stem not from ineligibility but from avoidable input errors. Watch out for these in particular:

• Wrong passport number or typos: The most common error source. Copy the passport number, name and dates exactly from the machine-readable passport.
• Applying too late: Build the 72-hour buffer firmly into your planning so you are not refused boarding.
• Overpriced third parties: Landing on a copycat site often means paying double or triple. Always type the official address yourself.
• Outdated ESTA: After a new passport, name change or changed eligibility answers, a new ESTA is required – the old one becomes invalid.
• Overestimating the stay: ESTA allows a maximum of 90 days per entry; an in-country extension is generally not possible under the VWP.

Tip: After approval, save or print your application number and the result so you can recheck the status anytime and keep proof at hand.

What happens after approval, at entry?

Once your ESTA is approved, the airline is informed electronically – a printout is not required but useful. On arrival you go through CBP border control: the officer checks your passport, usually takes fingerprints and a photo, and asks about the purpose and length of your stay. Only here is the actual entry and specific length of stay decided. Customs clearance follows. How this control works and what you must declare is explained in detail in US entry: customs and CBP. Answer at the border calmly, honestly and consistently with your ESTA data.

What to do if you see "Authorization Pending" or "Travel Not Authorized"?

• "Authorization Pending": Your application is still under review. This is not a refusal. Wait for the decision (usually within 72 hours) and check the status again. Do not file a second application while the first is pending.
• "Travel Not Authorized": Your ESTA was denied. You may then not enter visa-free and must apply for an appropriate visa at a US consulate. A denial does not automatically mean an entry ban – it only means the Visa Waiver Program is not available for this trip.

What a denial means in detail and what options you have is covered in ESTA denied – what now?. How actual entry and border control work is explained in US entry: customs and CBP.

Conclusion

The ESTA application is straightforward if you follow the right order: check your e-passport and VWP eligibility, apply only on esta.cbp.dhs.gov, enter all data correctly, pay the 40.27 US dollars and wait for the approved status at least 72 hours before departure. The final decision on travel authorization and entry rests solely with the US authorities. If you need support, we are happy to assist – start with our visa check or look at our services.