The Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, is an online application system for Visa Waiver Program travelers only. After January 12, 2009 all travelers that qualify under the Visa Waiver Program must be approved to travel to the United States via air or sea. The ESTA requirement is only to obtain a "permit to travel" to the United States and seek admission to enter. A Travel Authorization is not a visa. Individuals that do not have a machine readable passport from a Visa Waiver country must continue to apply for a B-1 Business Visa or B-2 Tourist Visa.

Visa Waiver travelers can apply for a Travel Authorization immediately through the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) website. After January 12, 2009, a Visa Waiver traveler without an approved Travel Authorization may be denied boarding or entry if attempting to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.

Form I-94W (the green form) will still be required to be completed by most airlines after ESTA becomes mandatory on January 12, 2009. While the ESTA application must be completed online before traveling, Form I-94W and the Customs Form are normally provided by the airline while you are flying to the United States If not, the forms are generally available at the U.S. port of entry. The personal data and travel information on your ESTA (travel authorization) should match the information on Form I-94W and Customs Form 6059B. Over time, Form I-94W will not be required any longer, but this is only after each individual carrier has implemented its own ESTA system which must first be tested and certified by CBP's Office of Information Technology.

The following countries joined the visa waiver program on November 17, 2009:

• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Hungary
• Republic of Korea
• The Slovak Republic

Who Should Apply for a Travel Authorization? Any traveler with a machine readable passport from one of existing 27 Visa Waiver countries or an e-passport from one of the 7 new Visa Waiver Program countries must apply for a Travel Authorization after January 12, 2009. The 27 existing Visa Waiver countries include Australia, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Citizens of all visa waiver countries can currently travel visa free to the United States with a machine readable/e-passport, but after January 12, 2009 it will become mandatory to be approved to travel to the United States via air or sea.

Travel Authorization Validity The Travel Authorization is valid for 2 years unless the passport expires earlier. If so, the expiration date on the Travel Authorization and the expiration date on the passport will coincide. A valid Travel Authorization can be used for several entries to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, but it must be updated with the new itinerary details every time before leaving the foreign destination. The passport should also be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry to the United States. You must apply for a new Travel Authorization if you obtain a new passport or renew your passport due to a name change. The passport details for your current passport must match the Travel Authorization personal details.