An American tourist visa is valid for up to 10 years for French nationals and most Europeans, but applying for one is time-consuming and costly. The ESTA authorization, while more convenient and easier to access, does not have such longevity. How long is ESTA valid, and what situations require a new application? We tell you all about it in this article.
ESTA validity period
Summary :
To be valid, an ESTA requires a valid passport. In fact, one of the mandatory conditions for obtaining an ESTA is to have a biometric or electronic passport. This is because only these two types of passport contain the electronic systems needed to store the owner’s personal information, including the electronic travel authorization. You’ll need to present your passport to U.S. customs when you get off the plane or ship.
The American government has announced that the ESTA is valid for a maximum of 2 years. After this period, a new application is required if you intend to travel to the USA again. This 2-year period should be taken with caution, as the ESTA is only valid if your passport is valid. The validity of the ESTA and the validity of your passport are intrinsically linked. Let’s say, for example, that you’re an ESTA holder with a passport whose validity date expires in a year and a half, your ESTA expiry date will also be in a year and a half, not in two years. If, on the other hand, you obtained your ESTA with a passport still valid for 10 years, your ESTA will be valid for a full 2 years. The ESTA authorization is therefore only valid for 2 years if your passport is sufficiently valid.
When your ESTA is invalid
There are several situations in which your ESTA may no longer be valid, and you may have to reapply for authorization to continue traveling to the United States. They are all closely or remotely linked to the validity of your passport.
The first is simply to obtain a new passport. A new passport means a new passport number. As a result, the link between your passport and your ESTA is no longer active. If your passport is lost or stolen, be aware that applying for a biometric passport takes about 1 month, if not longer. It’s important to take this into account when planning your stay in the USA. Please note that emergency passport applications are not compatible with ESTA applications.
Only foreign nationals covered by the Visa Waiver Program can obtain an ESTA. However, if you acquire a new citizenship, your dual nationality may be incompatible with the rules required by the Visa Waiver Program, and therefore make you ineligible to apply for an ESTA. Excluded nationalities are Iraqi, Syrian, Sudanese and Iranian.
A change of gender, name, or any other important information should prompt you to complete the online form again to ensure that you still meet the requirements for security measures.
If you feel that any of your answers to the closed questionnaire at the end of the ESTA form are out of date or need to be changed, you must reapply, or risk prosecution in the future. Remember that homeland security is a very sensitive issue in the United States of America, and it’s in your best interest to be in order when you enter the country.
How can I check that my ESTA is still valid?
If you don’t have your travel authorization at hand, you may be having trouble remembering when it expires. To check that you can still use your ESTA for your next trip to the USA, go to the official website and access your application file. To do this, enter your application number (or, failing that, your passport details) and your passport number.
If your ESTA is still valid, you are entitled to travel to the USA. However, be sure to plan your stay in the USA in line with the requirements of the American authorities. The ESTA can only be used for transit through the USA, or for tourist or business travel of up to 90 days. You must enter the USA by air or sea. No extensions are possible, and you must leave the country within the allotted time.
What should I do if my ESTA authorization is invalid or expired?
If your ESTA is invalid for any of the above reasons, simply apply again. To renew your travel authorization, you need to proceed in the same way as for your first application. As a reminder, an ESTA application is an online request that only requires you to fill in a form, and no supporting documents are required. You can choose to fill in the ESTA form on the official U.S. government website, or ask a service provider to do it for you. The form requires a valid passport and a payment card.
Please note: your electronic travel authorization must be valid when you enter the USA, but not when you leave. So if your ESTA expires during your stay in the USA, you don’t have to apply for a new authorization immediately.