Electronic System for Travel Authorization

This page is dedicated to the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization, ESTA. This system is designed for visa-free travelers to obtain travel authorization prior to traveling. Through ESTA the intending traveler will find if s/he can indeed travel visa-free. ESTA will in due time replace the green I-94W Arrival/Departure record. The most recent articles are at the top of the page.

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ESTA Authorization Required for All Visa Waiver Program Countries Beginning January 12

DHS News release of November 13, 2008, continued from homepage:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today that beginning Jan. 12, 2009, eligible citizens or nationals from all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries must obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the United States under the VWP.  On Monday, DHS will formally announce the addition of seven allies to the list of countries authorized to participate in the VWP.  The seven countries are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia.

“We are especially pleased to welcome these allies into the Visa Waiver Program,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Expanding the number of countries whose citizens can travel to the U.S. without a visa increases business and social ties between our countries and at the same time deepens cooperation on required security measures.”
The administration sought authority for years to reform the VWP.  DHS received authorization through the issuance of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The VWP is administered by the department and enables eligible citizens or nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. To be admitted to the VWP, a country must meet various statutory requirements, such as more enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports.  VWP members are also required to maintain high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.

The citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Beginning Nov. 17, eligible citizens or nationals from the new VWP countries may travel to the United States under the program provided they have an e-passport and an approved authorization via ESTA, a web-based system that determines the preliminary eligibility of visitors to travel under the VWP prior to boarding a carrier to the United States.

Required authorization through ESTA will substantially strengthen the security of the VWP by providing the department with the capability to conduct advance screening of VWP travelers. ESTA is key to transforming the VWP from a program that evaluates security threats on a country-by-country basis to one that is capable of making traveler-by-traveler judgments. In addition to enhancing security, ESTA will provide for greater efficiencies in the screening of international travelers by reducing traveler delays at the ports of entry.

The department has submitted notices summarizing these changes to the Federal Register for publication. For more information on the Visa Waiver Program, please visit http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/business_pleasure/vwp/. For additional information on ESTA, visit www.cbp.gov/esta.

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ESTA now available in 13 languages

October 16, 2008  DHS issued a press release announcing the availability of ESTA in no less than 13 languages, including Dutch.

Click here to read more ...

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ESTA informatie in het Nederlands

12 augustus 2008  Een ESTA aanvragen kan voorlopig alleen nog in het Engels maar het Department of Homeland Security, Custom and Border Protection, heeft nu ESTA informatie in meerdere talen beschikbaar gemaakt.  U kunt hier de Nederlandse en een aantal andere versies bekijken:

• ESTA Nederlandse versie (PDF File, 192Kb)
• ESTA French version (PDF File, 190Kb)
• ESTA Spanish version (PDF File, 189Kb)

 

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ESTA information Videos released

July 24, 2008  The Department of Homeland Security released video material that will help explain the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

By clicking on the logo below you will find a longer video which explains about ESTA and several shorter ones that address one specific topic. You may choose to download the longer version or just watch the topic that interests you. Note that downloading these videos may take some time.

 

 

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More information on ESTA published by DHS CBP

July 15, 2008  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Custom and Border Protection (CBP) published an information leaflet on the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) that will be available on a voluntary basis beginning August 1.  Click here to download this leaflet (PDF file, 198Kb). Please also read the earlier articles on ESTA further down this page.

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United States Plans New Online Travel Procedures for 27 Countries
(Implementation to take effect January 2009)

By Jonathan Schaffer

Washington -- Beginning January 12, 2009, travelers to the United States from 22 countries in Europe and five in the Asia-Pacific region currently exempt from certain U.S. visa requirements will be using a new online travel authorization process.

Under the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), all nationals, including children, from the 27 countries under the U.S. visa waiver program will be required to fill out an electronic travel authorization form posted on the Web (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/) prior to boarding a U.S.-bound plane or vessel.

Initially, there will be no fee to submit an application. It will require answering questions about criminal records, communicable diseases, past history of visa revocation or deportation, and basic biographical data such as name, birth date and passport information. Changes in address and itinerary can be easily made online after the ESTA form has been first submitted.

“Getting this information in advance enables our front-line personnel to determine whether a visa-free traveler presents a threat before boarding an aircraft or arriving on our shores,” Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said June 3. “It is a relatively simple and effective way to strengthen our security, and that of international travelers, while helping to preserve an important program for key allies.”

Currently, travelers from these countries must fill out a paper form detailing their passport information, travel plans and intended length of stay when arriving on a carrier to the United States.  In conjunction with the establishment of ESTA, the Department of Homeland Security is developing plans to phase out this form.

While U.S. authorities strongly recommend that the applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel, ESTA can accommodate last-minute and emergency travelers and travel authorization is good for two years or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever is first.  However, if the traveler acquires a new passport or changes a name or other identifying biographical information, a new travel authorization would be required.

The countries currently included in the visa waiver program are Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Other countries being considered for inclusion in the program at a later date include Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Malta and Korea.

The new process is intended to determine whether a traveler to the United States is a law enforcement or security risk.  And U.S. officials warn that after ESTA becomes mandatory, travelers who have not received prior approval may be denied boarding, experience delays or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry.

Also, ESTA is not a substitute for a visa and visas will still be required for certain travel from the visa waiver countries.  It is principally for those individuals planning to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure.  Individuals from those and other countries traveling under valid visas will not be required to apply through ESTA.  And just like with visas, those traveling with an ESTA approval will still be required to go through pre-clearance facilities at U.S. ports of entry.

If an applicant is not approved for travel through ESTA, he or she would have to apply for travel through the normal visa process.  And if a traveler previously had been refused admission or a visa to the United States, he or she would not be eligible for ESTA.

Around August 1, 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin to accept voluntary ESTA applications through the ESTA Web site: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. Initially, the Web site will be in English only, but other languages will be added by October 15.  U.S. officials say that all answers to questions must be completed in English and that the applicant’s computer should be configured to include a suitable English font.

They also say that the latest technology is being used to prevent unauthorized access to the information entered.For more information on the ESTA, please go to www.cbp.gov/esta and http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

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ESTA IS COMING!

Department of Homeland Security Announces Electronic System for Travel Authorization

June 3, 2008  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk. Under the ESTA program, travelers who are citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program, which includes The Netherlands, will be required to receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or vessel. Beginning August 1, 2008, the program will be introduced on a voluntary basis. On January 12, 2009, the program will become mandatory and all business and pleasure travelers will be required to obtain travel authorization before boarding. Prospective travelers will complete an online application containing questions similar to the current I-94 form which U.S.-bound passengers currently complete prior to entering the United States. In most cases ESTA will provide an almost immediate determination of eligibility to travel under the VWP. For more information about ESTA, go to the DHS's Customs and Border Protection agency's website: www.cbp.gov/esta.

ESTA KOMT!

Het Department of Homeland Security kondigt een elektronisch systeem aan om vooraf toestemming te krijgen zonder visum te reizen

3 juni, 2008  Het Department of Homeland Security (DHS) heeft plannen voor het Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) aangekondigd. ESTA is een geautomatiseerd systeem om vast te stellen of bezoekers zonder visum naar de Verenigde Staten kunnen reizen, en of het bezoek een mogelijk veiligheidsrisico voor de V.S. inhoudt. Onder het ESTA programma dienen reizigers die staatsburger zijn van landen die deelnemen in het visumontheffingsprogramma (VWP), waaronder Nederland, voor vertrek elektronisch toestemming voor het visum-vrij reizen te vragen. Met ingang van 1 augustus dit jaar, wordt het programma gestart op vrijwillige basis. Met ingang van 12 januari 2009, wordt het programma verplicht en zullen alle reiziger voor zaken of vakantie ESTA toestemming moeten verkrijgen alvorens visum-vrij te reizen. De aanvraag hiervoor zal online gedaan moeten worden. De vragen zullen vergelijkbaar zijn met die op het huidige aankomst/vertrekformulier I-94, wat momenteel voor aankomst in de V.S., ingevuld moet worden. In de meeste gevallen zal ESTA onmiddelijk uitsluitsel geven omtrent het visum-vrij kunnen reizen. Voor meer informatie kunt u terecht op de website van de U.S. Customs and Border Protection, onderdeel van het DHS: www.cbp.gov/esta. De informatie op deze site is voorlopig alleen in het Engels beschikbaar.

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