ESTA INFORMATION
Your embassy in the USA
If you lose your passport, are hurt or arrested, or face another emergency while in the United States, your own country’s embassy or consulate can help. Below are the official contact details for the embassies of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and Singaporein Washington DC, as published on their governments’ websites.
What an embassy can and cannot do
Your embassy or consulate can help with things such as replacing a lost or stolen passport and supporting you in a serious emergency. It does not issue or process ESTA applications: ESTA is a US Government system, and you apply for it only on the official CBP website, esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Embassy contact details
Australia
Australian Embassy, Washington DC
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036
- • Telephone: +1 202 797 3000
- • Email (consular): [email protected]
- • After hours: 24/7 Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra, +61 2 6261 3305
Consulates-General: Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
Ireland
Embassy of Ireland, Washington DC
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW (The Mills Building), Washington DC 20006
- • Telephone: +1 202 462 3939
- • Emergencies: call the main number; outside office hours, leave a message on the Duty Officer voicemail
- • Visits are by appointment only
Consulates: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco.
New Zealand
New Zealand Embassy, Washington DC
37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington DC 20008
- • Email: [email protected]
- • Urgent consular enquiries: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, +64 4 439 8000
- • The embassy states that its phone lines are currently down; use email or the Ministry number
Consulates-General: Honolulu, Los Angeles and New York, plus honorary consuls in several cities.
Singapore
Embassy of the Republic of Singapore, Washington DC
3501 International Place NW, Washington DC 20008
- • Telephone: +1 202 537 3100
- • Emergency contact: +1 202 537 3100, extension 140
- • Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.30 pm
Before travelling, Singaporeans can register their trip with MFA eRegister.
Details checked against the official websites on 17 October 2026 (Australian details from the embassy’s “Need help?” page). Contact details and opening hours can change, so check the official page before you call or visit.
Official travel advice from home
- Australia:the embassy refers travellers to Smartraveller, the Australian Government’s travel advice service (smartraveller.gov.au).
- Ireland: the Department of Foreign Affairs publishes consular and passport information at ireland.ie/en/usa.
- New Zealand: official travel advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade at safetravel.govt.nz.
- Singapore: register your trip with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at eregister.mfa.gov.sg.
Visiting family and friends in the USA
If you are visiting family or friends who live in the United States, remember to apply for ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program before you travel. The key points:
- Apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before departure
- The fee is US$40.62 (from 16 October 2026)
- You can stay in the USA for up to 90 days per entry
- ESTA is valid for 2 years — multiple entries
- You may not work in the USA on ESTA
- You do not need an invitation from your family in the USA
If you already have a US visa or a green card
Travellers who hold a valid US visa, or who are lawful permanent residents of the United States (green card holders), do not need ESTA. ESTA is only for people travelling under the Visa Waiver Program for tourism or business for up to 90 days. If you want to work, study or stay longer than 90 days, you need the appropriate visa.
English speakers from countries outside the Visa Waiver Program (for example India, the Philippines or Nigeria) cannot use ESTA and need a visa; see US B1/B2 visitor visa and check travel.state.gov.