An ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is a document that is required in certain cases if you wish to travel to the USA.
You don’t necessarily need an American visa to travel to the USA and live the American dream.
All you need to do is apply online.
The documents you’ll need to fill in the ESTA form are your valid passport and a credit card.
Don’t try to apply with an out-of-date passport, or you won’t be able to board the plane or ship for your trip to the USA.
In this article, we’ll tell you more about the ESTA itself, how to apply for authorization and the type of passport you need to apply.

What is the purpose of an ESTA certificate?

What is ESTA?

The ESTA only targets travelers who meet all the conditions required to qualify for the document.
To be more precise, the document can only be requested by a national of one of the member countries of the Visa Waiver Program.
Here is the list of countries concerned:

The stay on American soil must be justified by a tourist, business or transit trip.
You must respect the 90-day time limit for entry into the USA.
To obtain ESTA authorization, you’ll need to show proof of identity, which we’ll explain in the next paragraph.
But first, it’s important to understand the purpose of an ESTA document.

What is ESTA authorization for?

ESTA was introduced by the US government for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it facilitates verification of the conformity of the foreign citizen’s passport and all personal information.
This makes it possible to reinforce border security measures.
It helps to prevent the risk of attack and to limit the problems of clandestinity.
It also makes it easier for anyone to travel to the United States, whether for business, transit or vacation purposes.
The ESTA is a travel authorization, meaning that it authorizes you to travel to the United States, but it is the customs officers who will grant you access to American soil.

What type of passport do I need to apply for ESTA?

It’s important to have a valid passport. If your passport has expired, you’ll need to apply for a new one at your local town hall before you can apply for ESTA authorization.
To obtain a new passport, don’t forget to buy a tax stamp in advance.
To travel to the USA, you must present a biometric or electronic passport to be accepted by the American authorities.
The passport number is linked to the ESTA authorization.
The authorization is normally valid for the full two-year validity period, but if you lose your passport, you’ll need to apply for a new one before renewing your ESTA application.

Get an ESTA form online

The only way to obtain ESTA authorization is on the Internet.
There are many websites offering ESTA authorization.
You’ll need to fill in the relevant online form.
You’ll also need to pay an application fee and the tax required by the American government.
Once you have completed the online form, you can correct any errors.
You can apply for an ESTA on the official U.S. government website, or you can choose to apply on a specialized website if you need assistance.
Once this last step has been validated, you will be able to use this travel authorization for 2 years without having to renew it.
It will be valid as long as your passport is valid.
If you are unable to apply for an ESTA, but wish to travel to the United States of America on a USA visa, you will need to apply at the US embassy, and bring your passport with you.