This week, the US Department of Homeland Security announced that the fee an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) waiver will increase from $14 to $21 for incoming US tourists and business travelers. The new fee will take effect May 26, 2022.
ESTA is the automated system that determines if tourists or business travelers are eligible to visit the United States and US territories under the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). An ESTA application includes biographic information about the traveler that helps the Department of Homeland Security determine if they should be allowed to travel to the United States.
Currently, citizens or nationals from the following nations are can apply for an ESTA waiver:
| Andorra | France | Liechtenstein | Singapore |
| Australia | Germany | Lithuania | Slovakia |
| Austria | Greece | Luxembourg | Slovenia |
| Belgium | Hungary | Malta | Spain |
| Brunei | Iceland | Monaco | Sweden |
| Chile | Ireland | Netherlands | Switzerland |
| Czech Republic | Italy | New Zealand | Taiwan |
| Denmark | Japan | Norway | The United Kingdom |
| Estonia | Republic of Korea | Portugal | |
| Finland | Latvia | San Marino |
According to the Federal Register and DHS, the price increase is due to increased operational expenses, and to support Brand USA; an organization designed to promote tourism in the USA.
This new fee marks the first ESTA price increase since 2015, and is said to remain in place until the year 2027.
