Who Needs to Apply For The ESTA?


esta visa application


Anyone wants to travel to the United States for business or pleasure for less than 90 days and belonging to certain countries needs to apply for the ESTA.
The ESTA authorisation is required for travellers to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. So the primary eligibility criteria for the ESTA is that the applicant should be a passport holder of 38 countries and territories that have been granted Visa waiver.

Countries eligible for ESTA

As per 2018, 38 countries and territories are part of the Visa Waiver Program and hence they are eligible for the ESTA authorization

List of ESTA countries

  • Andorra
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Brunei
  • Chile
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Republic of Korea
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom

Some exemptions to ESTA countries

In 2016 ESTAs of dual citizens of Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria have been revoked. ESTA holders who have travelled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen will face additional scrutiny.
It is advisable to use a professional and accredited Portal to apply for ESTA online.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the Visa Waiver Program?

Image
Because of the US Visa Waiver Program nationals of currently 38 countries and territories do not need a visa to travel to the United States for business or pleasure for up to 90 days. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is aimed to ease travel and also to promote business between the United States and VWP nations. As a reciprocation these nations are obliged to make travel easy for US citizens.  Countries under the Visa Waiver Program Currently (May 2018) 38 nations and territories are part of this program Andorra Australia Austria Belgium Brunei Chile Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Japan Republic of Korea Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Monaco Netherlands New Zealand Norway Portugal San Marino Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan United Kingdom History of the Visa Waiver Program  This program started i...
Read more

Is an ESTA the same as a visa?

Image
The US ESTA is NOT a visa. It is an authorization to travel to the United States for business or pleasure for up to 90 days. Only nationals of 38 countries are eligible for visa free travel in the United States without needing a visa.  What you can do with a ESTA authorization  Visit the United States for up to 90 day Travel for tourism purposes Do business but not work No visa needed Difference between ESTA and visa ESTA  authoritative Visa Applicable business and tourism Various kinds for work, study and other reasons Can stay in the US for up to 90 days Extended stay depending on the kind of visa Simple process and processing within 24 hours Takes time depending on the kind of visa Application for ESTA is done online and approval is quick.
Read more

When do I need to apply for ESTA?

Image
If you are a resident of 38 nations whose passport holders do not need a visa to travel in the United States and want to travel to the United States for business or pleasure for less than 90 days you need to apply for ESTA authorisation.  The ESTA authorization is required for travellers to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Why ESTA? You need to travel to the US for business or pleasure The stay duration is up to 90 days You are a passport holder of countries or territories that are part of the Visa Waiver Program Conditions to the ESTA authorization  In 2016 ESTAs of dual citizens of Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria have been revoked. ESTA holders who have travelled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen will face additional scrutiny. It is advisable to use a professional and accredited    portal to apply for ESTA online.
Read more