The United States government has introduced an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) which applies to all Australian passport holders visiting or transiting the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Holding an ESTA is mandatory for all eligible Visa Waiver Program travellers to the United States.

From 4 September 2010, the United States government will charge a US$14 as payment for the mandatory ESTA for all individuals proposing to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. The fee is payable by credit card and, it is very important to make payments through the official website.

ESTA’s official website can be accessed here.

We caution against using links in emails or from other websites to get to this site.

There have been reports of unauthorised websites charging users to fill out ESTA applications. See our Unauthorised ESTA Websites section below for more information.

The United States government administers a strict entry regime and you may be refused entry, detained or deported on arrival if you don't comply with entry requirements. We strongly recommend you contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the United States of America about your specific circumstances, well in advance of travel, including if you plan to transit the United States.

Australian passport holders may be eligible to be admitted to the United States for 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program. If you wish to work (including on journalism assignments), study, or stay for more than 90 days, you are not eligible for entry under the Visa Waiver Program and you must obtain a visa before travelling. For up-to-date visa information, you should review information contained on the following US Government websites before deciding whether to seek entry under the Visa Waiver Program or to apply for a visa:

• Embassy of the United States of America in Australia
• Destination USA
• US-VISIT Program

More infomation about "Electronic System for Travel Authorisation" (ESTA)

All Australian passport-holders eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program must obtain approval through ESTA preferably at least three days (or 72 hours) prior to travel to the United States.

ESTA is a web-based system administered by the United States Government that determines the preliminary eligibility of visitors to travel under the Visa Waiver Program prior to boarding a carrier to the United States. Travellers who do not have a valid ESTA may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing or be denied admission at a United States’ port of entry.

To obtain a travel authorisation, each family member travelling is required to complete an ESTA application using the online system. The United States government recommends that travellers use the online system no later than three days (72 hours) before departure; applications can be made after that but approval may not be received ahead of travel.

It is recommended that travellers keep a print out or record of their ESTA application number for reference, if required, at airports or seaports.

If your ESTA application is refused, you will need to apply for a visa for travel to the United States. Currently ESTA refusals are less than one half of a per cent.

The United States government advises that each approved ESTA application will be valid for a period of two years, so a visitor may travel to the United States repeatedly within a two-year period without having to apply for another ESTA. Travellers whose ESTA applications are approved, but whose passport will expire in less than two years, will receive an ESTA that is valid until the passport’s expiration date. In the same way that a valid visa does not constitute a determination of admissibility, an approved ESTA is not a guarantee of admissibility to the United States at a port of entry. In all cases, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers make admissibility determinations at US ports of entry or pre-clearance facilities.

Page Modified: 08 August 2011