The U.S. administration has officially announced that it will nearly double the fee for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) from 21 usd to 40 usd starting at the end of September.

The new price is already listed on the official website esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq.

The ESTA fee increases follow the introduction of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", which increases the operating fee and introduces a new fee to the Treasury Fund.

More comprehensive information on ESTA and visas to the U.S. will be developed over time in our guide to the United States.

Since when does the new fee apply?

Travellers will pay for ESTA 40 usd from 30 September 2025.

If you manage to pay the new ESTA application by this date, you will pay the existing 21 usd.

However, if you apply before September 30 and pay after that date, you are already subject to the new $40 fee.

What if I still have a valid ESTA?

The ESTA is normally valid for 2 years, which has not changed. Note, however, that the ESTA is tied to your passport, so if you need to change your passport, you will need to pay for a new ESTA.

If you already have a valid and paid for ESTA from an earlier time 21 usd, you do not need to apply for a new one. Your ESTA is valid until the original date, 2 years from the date of issue.

The new fee only applies to future applications after September 30, 2025.

If you know you will be travelling to the US in the coming years, it is therefore worth applying for an ESTA now.

Apply for ESTA only through the official website esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

TIP: On the website, we also describe our experiences with airport-to-downtown transportation and recommend top attractions to visit around the world.

New Form I-94 (Land Border) Fee

As of September 30, there is also an increase in the fee for filing Form I-94, which you need in addition to your ESTA authorization when crossing the border by land or water.

Until now, the fee was 6 usd (+ 21 usd from ESTA).

The new fee for the I-94 is 30 usd (+ 40 usd from ESTA).

So when entering the US from Canada or Mexico by land, you will now pay up to 70 usd.

The I-94 form is filled out on the official website i94.cbp.dhs.gov.