United States to raise ESTA fee for inbound travellers

 Tuesday, May 24, 2022 

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is going to increase the fee as it levies on inbound international travellers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) to visit the United States from $14 to $21.

The increased fee, which includes a $4 operational fee, was revealed in a notice in the Federal Register, which said that the travel promotion part of the charge was rising from $10 to $17.  This new fee structure will take effect on May 26.

Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), which was established in 2009, allows business travellers and other passengers coming from 40 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) to enter for stays of up to 90 days without having to acquire a US visa.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) to assess whether inbound travellers are eligible for visa-free entry to the United States, with each authorisation eligible for two years.

Most European countries take part in the VWP. The new higher ESTA fee was also extended to 2027, according to the notice, which also stated that this was the first increase in the charge since 2015.

Some part of the proceeds of the ESTA fee also support Brand USA, a public-private organisation formed to promote the US as a travel and tourism destination.

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