How Much Does It Cost to Enter the US on ESTA? 2026 Fees, Explained
By The Visit America editorial team · Last verified July 17, 2026
If you travel on the Visa Waiver Program, your only required US-government entry cost is the ESTA fee — US$40 as of 2025, paid once at the official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov and 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.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.