ESTA INFORMATION

How to check your ESTA status

Once you have submitted your ESTA application, you can check its status at any time on the official ESTA website — even if you no longer have your application number. A decision is usually made within 72 hours.

Checking your status, step by step

Status checks are done only on the official website of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). No other official body can tell you your ESTA status.

Go to the official website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
In the menu, choose "Check ESTA Status" and then "Check Individual Status"
Enter your passport number, date of birth and application number
The current status of your application is shown on screen

Important:The details must match your application exactly. A single wrong character — such as transposed digits in your date of birth or passport number — produces the message "No Application Found", even though your application is in the system.

Checking your status without the application number

Lost your application number or the confirmation email? That is not a problem: the official website has a separate option for this. In the search form, click "I Do NOT know the Application Number" and enter the following details instead:

Citizenship
Passport issue date
Passport expiry date
Passport number
Date of birth

The system finds your application using these details and then shows you its status and application number. So there is no need to submit (and pay for) a new application just because you have lost the number.

The three official application statuses

The ESTA system has exactly three statuses. This is what they mean, according to CBP:

Authorization Approved

Your travel authorisation under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) has been granted. ESTA is linked electronically to your passport, so there is nothing to print. Bear in mind that an approved ESTA allows you to travel to the United States but does not guarantee entry. The final decision is made by the border officer when you arrive.

Authorization Pending

Your application is still being reviewed. CBP states clearly that this status is not a negative decision— it simply means the review is still under way. A decision is usually made within 72 hours. Just check your status again later on the official website.

Travel Not Authorized

You cannot travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. According to CBP, however, this is not a general ban on entering the United States: you can still apply for a visa at a US embassy or consulate and travel on that instead.

How long does a decision take?

In the past, many ESTA applications were approved almost instantly. CBP has ended these instant approvals: travellers now receive a decision usually within 72 hours of applying.

Ideally, apply as soon as you start planning your trip — and no later than 72 hours before departure (CBP's official recommendation)
Do not count on a last-minute approval at the airport
If you are waiting for a decision, check again on the official website
Do not submit a second application while you wait — it will not speed things up

What to do if your status is "Travel Not Authorized"

CBP does not give reasons for refusing an ESTA application
ESTA decisions are not subject to judicial review — you cannot appeal a refusal
A refusal does not mean you can never enter the United States — only visa-free travel under the VWP is ruled out
The official route: apply for the appropriate visa (for example a B-2 for tourism) at a US embassy or consulate

Fee and validity at a glance

Item	Rule
Fee	US$40.62 per application (from 16 October 2026). Made up of a US$17 travel promotion fee, a US$10.62 processing fee and US$13 for the Treasury General Fund. If the application is refused, only US$10.62 is charged
Validity	2 years from approval or until your passport expires — whichever comes first
Entries	Multiple entries while valid; each stay up to 90 days
Children	Every child needs their own ESTA, whatever their age
Transit	You also need an ESTA if you are only transiting (changing planes) in the United States

You need a new application (and must pay the fee again) if you are issued a new passport, if your name or citizenship changes, or if your answers to the eligibility questions on the application have changed. For details, see How long ESTA is valid.

Once your ESTA is approved, our guide to US border control explains how the CBP interview works on arrival, and Transiting through the USA covers what applies when you are only changing planes.

For practical tips for your stay – from the 90-day rule and driving to doctors and emergency numbers – see the USA travel guide.

Tip:Keep a note of your ESTA application number. It is the quickest way to check your status — and you also need it to update certain contact details on your application.

How long ESTA is valid →Apply for ESTA

Sources and currency of information

This website is an independent information site and is not the official website of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Status checks themselves can only be made on the official website esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

Last reviewed: 17 October 2026

When ESTA is not an option: the B1/B2 visa

If you are not eligible for ESTA or your application was refused, see the cost (US$185), the DS-160 form and the interview. English speakers from countries outside the Visa Waiver Program, such as India, the Philippines or Nigeria, also need a visa.

Guide: the US B1/B2 visa →