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The US has increased the fee for its Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the fee for an ESTA US visa waiver has risen from $14 to $21, taking effect on May 26. The new fee will reportedly be in place until September 2027 and includes a $4 operational fee.
The ESTA allows citizens of 40 countries on the US visa waiver list to travel to America for business or pleasure for up to 90 days, visa-free. It’s understood that those with an already approved ESTA will not have to re-apply and pay the increased fee as the document is valid for up to two years.
UK travelers to the US, as well as all other countries on the US visa waiver list, will be subject to the increased fee. An ESTA is mandatory for Britons using British passports and traveling under the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
ESTA applications decline
According to data published by the CBP, ESTA applications dropped to just 1.2 million in 2021 having hit 6.3 million in 2020 and a record 15.1 million, pre-pandemic high in 2019.
Meanwhile, a scheme similar to the US ESTA visa waiver system will soon be launched for EU countries. Travelers from the UK heading to EU countries will be subject to a fee for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System).
The ETIAS, an electronic travel permit system, will be introduced to enhance the security and enforce the borders of the Schengen zone. The ETIAS system is expected to launch at the end of 2022.
The new EU visa waiver will reportedly be valid for three years and will allow for unlimited entry into EU countries. It’s understood that the fee for an ETIAS will be €7.
ESTA fee increase is small
Justifying the ESTA US visa waiver fee increase, a CBP statement said: “The increase in fee is small when you factor in the entire price of a holiday and travel costs.”
A CBP spokesperson said: “Up to $100m of fee revenue goes to the Travel Promotion Fund. As the $7 fee increase is relatively small compared to costs involved to travel to the US, CBP anticipates that the fee increase will not adversely affect travel to the US.”
However, some travel industry experts have warned that while the cost may be small for an individual, a family of four will be expected to pay $84, plus additional fees for private COVID tests.
The US has maintained some of the strictest travel requirements for COVID and continues to request that all travelers to the US provide a negative COVID test no more than a day before they travel – regardless of an individual’s vaccination status.
Romania targets US visa waiver inclusion
The increase in US ESTA visa waiver fees comes amid news that Romania is targeting inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program.
Following a recent meeting between Romanian Interior Minister, Lucian Bode, and US Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, Romania has pledged to reduce its US visa rejection rate from 10% to 3% within ‘two to three years’. This would make Romania eligible for inclusion on the US visa waiver list.
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