How Much Does It Cost to Enter the US on ESTA? 2026 Fees, Explained
By The Visit America editorial team · Last verified August 21, 2026
The official ESTA fee for 2026, charged only at the official government site esta.cbp.dhs.gov, is US$40. If you travel on the Visa Waiver Program, that US$40 is your only required US-government entry cost — it is valid for up to two years. The new US$250 Visa Integrity Fee introduced for fiscal year 2026 applies to travellers who need a visa, not to ESTA / Visa Waiver visitors.
What you actually pay on the Visa Waiver Program
If your country is in the Visa Waiver Program and your trip is 90 days or less for tourism or business, the only entry cost the US government requires is the ESTA fee. There is no separate visa fee and, as of 2026, no Visa Integrity Fee for you — that fee applies to people who need a visa.
One approved ESTA covers multiple trips and is valid for two years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first — so most travellers pay the fee once every couple of years, not every trip.
The $40 ESTA fee, broken down
The ESTA fee rose from US$21 to US$40 in 2025. It is charged when you apply at the official site and is made up of a small operational/processing charge plus a travel-promotion component set by law.
Pay it only at the official application site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov. The fee is the same whether you apply yourself or an agency does it for you — anything above US$40 is a third-party markup, not a government charge.
The $250 Visa Integrity Fee — who pays it and who is exempt
A new US$250 Visa Integrity Fee was enacted for fiscal year 2026. It is paid by most nonimmigrant visa applicants (for example B-1/B-2 visitor, F student and H work visas) at the time the visa is issued, cannot be waived or reduced, and may rise each year with inflation.
Visa Waiver Program travellers — the people who use an ESTA — are exempt. If you qualify for and travel on an ESTA, you do not pay the $250 fee. You only encounter it if your nationality or trip means you need an actual visa instead of an ESTA.
Avoiding overpriced and copycat ESTA sites
Many commercial sites rank for “apply for ESTA” and charge US$80–$100 by adding a service fee on top of the government charge. They are not scams in the legal sense, but you are paying extra for something you can do yourself in minutes.
Before you pay, check the web address reads exactly esta.cbp.dhs.gov (a .gov government address). If it ends in anything else, you are on a third-party site, not the official one.
ESTA vs a US visa: the real cost difference
For a short tourist or business trip the ESTA route is far cheaper. On an ESTA your required government cost is the single US$40 fee, valid for about two years. The visa route means a US$185 nonimmigrant visa application fee (MRV) plus, from fiscal year 2026, the new US$250 Visa Integrity Fee at issuance — so well over US$400 before travel, and usually an in-person interview.
That gap is exactly why it pays to confirm you actually qualify for the Visa Waiver Program before assuming you need a visa. If your country is in the programme and your trip is 90 days or less, the ESTA saves you both the money and the interview.
Paying for a family, and what happens if you are denied
Every traveller needs their own ESTA, including infants and children, and each application carries the same US$40 fee — a family of four pays US$160 in total. You can pay for several applications together in one group submission on the official site.
If an ESTA application is denied you are only charged the smaller processing portion of the fee, not the full amount, and the fee is not otherwise refundable. A denial does not fine you or ban you; it simply means you apply for a visitor visa instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the official ESTA fee for 2026 (esta.cbp.dhs.gov)?
US$40. That is the only official fee, charged directly by the US government at esta.cbp.dhs.gov — the sole official ESTA application site. Any site asking for more than US$40 is a third-party service adding its own markup, not a government charge.
How much does an ESTA cost in 2026?
US$40, paid once at the official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov. A single approved ESTA is valid for up to two years and covers multiple visits.
Is an ESTA cheaper than a US visa?
Yes, substantially. An ESTA is a one-off US$40. A visa means a US$185 application fee plus the new US$250 Visa Integrity Fee from FY2026 — over US$400 — and usually an interview. If you qualify for the Visa Waiver Program, the ESTA is the far cheaper route.
Do children and babies need their own paid ESTA?
Yes. Every traveller needs an individual ESTA regardless of age, and each one costs US$40. A family of four therefore pays US$160, though you can submit and pay for the group together at esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Is the ESTA fee refundable if I am denied?
If your ESTA is denied you are charged only the small processing portion, not the full US$40, and the fee is otherwise non-refundable. A denial is not a fine or a ban — you simply apply for a visitor visa instead.
Do ESTA / Visa Waiver travellers have to pay the $250 Visa Integrity Fee?
No. The $250 Visa Integrity Fee applies to nonimmigrant visa holders. Visa Waiver Program travellers using an ESTA are exempt.
How long does one ESTA payment last?
Up to two years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. Within that window it covers multiple short visits, so you do not pay again for each trip.
Why do some websites charge much more than $40 for an ESTA?
They are third-party middlemen adding a service fee. The official government fee is US$40 at esta.cbp.dhs.gov; you can apply there yourself.
Once you’re cleared to enter
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Cleared to enter? Plan your US trip on Roam StatesOfficial sources
- esta.cbp.dhs.gov — Official ESTA application and fee
- CBP — ESTA information for Visa Waiver Program travellers
- travel.state.gov — Visa fees and the Visa Integrity Fee
This site provides general travel information, not legal or immigration advice, and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. Entry rules change and are enforced at the officer’s discretion. Always confirm current requirements on the official sources we link before you travel or apply.