Would you like to travel to the USA using ESTA authorization? This administrative procedure is very simple and enables a large number of travelers to go to the United States to live the American dream at a lower cost.
Are you a national of a Visa Waiver Program member country, and wish to transit through the USA, or travel by air or sea for business or pleasure for up to 90 days, with a valid biometric passport (or e-passport)? If you meet all these eligibility criteria, the ESTA is the document you need for your stay in the USA.
Thanks to the ESTA, you can enjoy a dream holiday in the U.S. state of your choice, such as North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and so on. We’ll show you the basic price of an ESTA France USA and the additional fees that may apply in the event of assistance.
Free ESTA now a requirement for travel to the USA
Going to the United States is more complex than going to a country in the Schengen area, and a travel authorization is required. This can take the form of an American visa, to be applied for at the US embassy, or an ESTA, to be applied for via an online form. Foreign nationals seeking a temporary stay in the USA for tourism or business purposes can apply for an ESTA. The same applies to a stopover.
When ESTA was first introduced, it was free of charge. However, the U.S. authorities quickly reversed course and made ESTA fee-based. ESTA is a security measure introduced as part of the VWP to reinforce American homeland security. It enables travelers to be screened before they even arrive on American soil.
The cost of an ESTA to enter the United States
When you apply on the official US government website, you’ll find that the cost of an ESTA United States has been $40 since September 2025. This price is fixed and does not change from one country to another.
If you need to apply for a new ESTA because of a new passport, a change in your personal details or because your ESTA has expired, the applicable fee remains the same. The same applies if your application has been refused due to a data entry error. Make sure your ESTA is linked to a valid passport: the validity of your ESTA depends on the passport used (passport number).
Is ESTA still the same price?
The cost of ESTA depends on how you order it. You may prefer to use a private website for your ESTA application. This choice is generally based on the desire to reduce the risk of error by delegating the order to a team of professionals. Of course, there is a cost involved in verifying your data, sending the ESTA form and providing an agent to answer your questions.
What about the US visa? Is it cheaper than ESTA?
Whether you order an ESTA for your trip to the U.S. from the U.S. government website or from a private website, you’ll find that the price of an ESTA is much lower than that of a U.S. visa.
An application for a b2 tourist visa requires a large number of supporting documents, an interview with a consular officer of the U.S. Embassy (or Consulate), a waiting period of varying length and a minimum of $185.
The ESTA requires no supporting documents, no waiting (response within 72 hours), no travel (online application) and is much cheaper than a visa application for a stay in the USA. However, if the ESTA is refused, you will have no choice but to apply for a USA visa in order to travel to the United States.
