Effective September 8, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security will require travelers using the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to pay a new fee when applying for travel authorization using the ESTA.

The new fee is $14.00. The ESTA registration form already in use will walk users through the payment process for this fee when ESTA registration is completed. To apply for ESTA authorization, please click here.

Each ESTA approval is valid for a period of two years unless the traveler's passport expires sooner. The ESTA approval authorizes multiple visits to the U.S. within the approval period.