ESTA application for Australians

If you are from Australia and you plan to visit the United States for business or pleasure, you may be eligible to be admitted for up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) on an Electronic System for Travel Authorization. Below you will find information about ESTA.

Before travelling to the United States, all Australian passport holders visiting or transiting in the United States under the VWP must apply for an ESTA, preferably at least 3 days prior to travel. Travellers who do not have a valid ESTA before travelling may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing or be denied admission at a United States’ port of entry. The cost of ESTA Application is 59.00 USD and is payable online by credit card or PayPal account. Please visit our website for more information: www.usa-esta-org.com. An online ESTA application must be completed for each VWP travelers, including children. Please note that if you wish to work, study, or stay more than 90 days, you are not eligible for entry under the VWP on an ESTA and you must obtain a visa before travelling.

Passport requirements

To enter the United States under the VWP, your passport must be:

• machine-readable and have a digital photograph if issued on or after 26 October 2005; or
• an e-Passport if issued on or after 26 October 2006.

Australian passports without two lines of 44 characters at the bottom of the photo/biodata page are not machine-readable. Australian citizens travelling on an Emergency Passport, Document of Identity or Provisional Travel Document cannot enter the United States under the VWP. Holders of these documents must obtain a valid United States visa.

If you obtain a new or replacement passport, you must apply for a new ESTA. Discrepancies between ESTA, ticketing, and passport data will likely result in you being referred for secondary inspection by a United States immigration official, which may take several hours. You can also be referred for secondary inspection and experience delays if you have been issued a new passport and have not updated your frequent flyer account with the new passport number.

VWP additional requirements

Australian citizens travelling to the United States under the VWP must be in possession of an onward or return ticket.

If you need more information how to complete ESTA application, please visit our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section and find all the information and advice you could possibly need.