Starting September 30, 2025, the fee for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the U.S. will increase from $21 to $40.
Every year, millions of tourists and business travelers use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to travel to the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
Forty-two countries, including most European Union member states, participate in the US Visa Waiver Program, allowing their citizens, under certain conditions, to travel without a visa and obtain ESTA authorization for short stays.
But as expected for several months, this formality will soon become more expensive…
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed today that the ESTA application fee will increase from $21 to $40 as of September 30, 2025. This is an increase of nearly 90%, the largest since the program was created.
ESTA fee increase: an adjustment imposed by Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”
This increase stems from federal law HR-1, officially titled “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, adopted on July 4, 2025. This broad and structuring text thoroughly revises the financing of immigration procedures and electronic border control systems.
In a general notice published Thursday in the Federal Register, the CBP notes that, prior to the enactment of HR-1, the fee for an ESTA authorization was $21.
Following the adoption of this law, the agency specifies that “the ESTA fee is now the sum of three amounts: $17 per travel authorization pre-existing fee; an amount not less than $10; and the new $13 per travel authorization fee, for a total minimum of $40.”
The CBP also emphasizes that it “will begin assessing the new HR-1 fees described in this notice on September 30, 2025.”
The current ESTA price is still valid for a few more weeks
Travelers planning a trip to the United States still have a few weeks to save money on their ESTA application.
Any application submitted before September 30, 2025, will still be charged $21, which is nearly half the future rate. After that date, the cost will rise to $40, with no exceptions.
For families or groups, the impact can quickly become significant: four applications submitted today would cost $84, compared to $160 after the new rates come into effect. It’s a timeline to keep in mind to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Tourism professionals already fear a deterrent effect for some occasional travelers, particularly families or young people who are sensitive to costs.
Remember that ESTA remains valid for two years, or until the passport expires, and allows you to stay up to 90 days per trip to the United States.
Other formalities affected by the reform
ESTA is not the only procedure affected by the fee adjustments. Two other systems are also seeing their fees increase:
- The I-94 form, required for land entries, will increase from $6 to $30.
- Registration with the EVUS system, used by Chinese citizens holding 10-year B1/B2, B1, or B2 (visitor) visas, will now cost $30.
These measures, which will all come into effect on September 30, 2025, confirm a clear trend: the United States is banking on an overhaul of its fee policy to finance and secure its immigration systems.
