ESTA Requirements 2025: Complete Eligibility Guide
Complete list of ESTA requirements including passport requirements, eligibility criteria, and what you need to qualify for U.S. travel authorization under the Visa Waiver Program.
ESTA Requirements Overview
To qualify for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), you must meet specific requirements set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This guide covers all eligibility criteria in detail.
Quick Check
You can apply for ESTA if you are a citizen of a VWP country, have an e-passport, are traveling for 90 days or less, and have not been denied a U.S. visa or had visa violations in the past.
1. Citizenship Requirements
You must be a citizen or eligible national of one of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries:
- ✓European Countries: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
- ✓Asia-Pacific: Australia, Brunei, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan
- ✓Americas: Chile
Dual Citizenship Restriction
If you are a dual citizen of a VWP country AND Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria, you are NOT eligible for ESTA. You must apply for a visa.
2. Passport Requirements
Your passport must meet these strict requirements:
- ✓E-Passport: Must have an electronic chip containing your biometric information (look for the small camera icon on the cover)
- ✓Validity: Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure from the U.S. (some countries are exempt from this rule)
- ✓Machine-Readable: Must have a machine-readable zone (MRZ) with two lines of text at the bottom of the biographical page
- ✓Individual Passport: Each traveler, including infants and children, must have their own passport
How to Check if You Have an E-Passport
Look for a small rectangular icon of a camera or microchip on the front or back cover of your passport. This indicates it contains an electronic chip. All passports issued by VWP countries since 2006 are e-passports.
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Start Your Application →3. Travel Purpose Requirements
ESTA is ONLY valid for specific types of travel:
- ✓Tourism: Vacation, sightseeing, visiting friends/family, recreational activities
- ✓Business: Attending meetings, conferences, consultations, negotiating contracts (no actual work or employment)
- ✓Transit: Passing through the U.S. to another destination
- ✓Medical Treatment: Receiving medical treatment from U.S. healthcare providers
Maximum stay: 90 days per visit (cannot be extended)
NOT Allowed with ESTA
You CANNOT use ESTA if you plan to: work for a U.S. employer, study for academic credit, stay longer than 90 days, arrive by private aircraft, become a permanent resident, or work as foreign media/journalist.
4. Eligibility Questions
You must answer "NO" to all of these questions to be eligible:
- ✓Do you have a communicable disease of public health significance?
- ✓Do you have a mental or physical disorder that poses a threat to yourself or others?
- ✓Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude?
- ✓Have you ever been arrested or convicted of two or more offenses with total sentences of 5+ years?
- ✓Have you ever been a controlled substance trafficker, or aided/abetted drug trafficking?
- ✓Do you seek to engage in terrorism, espionage, or sabotage?
- ✓Have you ever committed fraud or misrepresented yourself to obtain a U.S. visa or entry?
- ✓Have you ever stayed in the U.S. longer than your authorized period?
- ✓Have you ever been removed or deported from the United States?
Important
Even a single "YES" answer to these questions will likely result in ESTA denial. You will need to apply for a visa instead.
5. Travel History Restrictions
You are NOT eligible for ESTA if you have traveled to or been present in these countries on or after March 1, 2011:
- ✓Iran
- ✓Iraq
- ✓Libya
- ✓North Korea
- ✓Somalia
- ✓Sudan
- ✓Syria
- ✓Yemen
Limited Exceptions
There are limited exceptions for diplomatic or military travel for VWP governments. If you traveled to these countries for government purposes, you may still be eligible.
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Start Your Application →Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Can I apply for ESTA if I have a criminal record?
Q:What if my passport expires in 5 months but my trip is only 2 weeks?
Q:Can I apply for ESTA if I was previously denied a U.S. visa?
Q:Do I need ESTA if I am just transiting through the United States?
Q:What is an e-passport and how do I know if I have one?
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