Validity of an ESTA

An ESTA is valid for two years from the date it is approved. During this period, you can travel to the United States as often as you like. However, each stay may last a maximum of 90 days. If your ESTA expires, it cannot be extended or adjusted, but you can easily apply for a new one.

When Does an ESTA Expire Sooner?

Your ESTA might be valid for less than two years in the following cases:

• You are using a different passport than the one used for your ESTA application.
• The application form was incomplete or contained errors.
• Your personal situation has changed, such as receiving a new passport or changing your name.
• You stay in the U.S. for longer than 90 consecutive days.
• You no longer meet the ESTA travel requirements.

How Long Can You Stay Per Trip?

Each trip to the United States allows a maximum stay of 90 days. This 90-day limit includes any time spent in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean immediately after visiting the U.S.

Example:

Suppose you stay in the U.S. for 60 days, then spend 20 days in Mexico. When you return to the U.S., you can only stay for 10 more days before reaching the 90-day limit.

Why Is an ESTA Linked to Your Passport?

An ESTA is tied to the passport used during the application. If your passport expires, your ESTA will also expire. Always apply for a new passport first before submitting a new ESTA application.

What If the Information Is Incorrect?

If your application contains errors or if your situation changes (e.g., a new name or nationality), your ESTA may become invalid. Always double-check your information when applying.

How to Avoid Issues with Your ESTA?

• Make sure your passport is valid.
• Ensure that all application information is correct and up-to-date.
• Submit a new application if your situation has changed.

Want to ensure everything is in order? Apply for your ESTA quickly and easily via our application page. For urgent needs, most applications are approved within an hour.

To travel to America with an ESTA, all conditions on this page must be met. Dutch and Belgian business travelers and tourists usually meet all ESTA conditions, but it is wise to carefully read this page.

Conditions regarding the destination
The following travel destinations do meet the conditions of an ESTA:

• Tourism (on vacation to America)
• Visiting friends or family
• Visiting customers or suppliers
• Undergoing medical treatment
• Attending business meetings, negotiations, and conferences

The following travel destinations do not meet the requirements of an ESTA:

• Entering employment with a US employer
• Undergoing training in the United States
• Investing in or establishing an American company
• Carrying out journalistic activities

Working in America with an ESTA is allowed, as long as the traveler does not enter an American organization’s employment. However, a traveler may be paid for the work in America if the paying employer is located outside the United States. The work is then seen as a “business trip” and thus meets ESTA conditions.

• For technical support, such as technicians, you must apply for a (B1) visa.
• Crew personnel must apply for a (D) visa.

Conditions regarding travel planning
The following ESTA conditions pertain to the planning of the trip to America:

• The traveler must have a passport that is valid for the entire stay in America.
• A maximum stay of 90 days starts from arrival in the United States; they stay in the US and Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean islands.
• A ticket for the onward or return journey must already have been booked at the arrival time in America.
• Travelers traveling with an ESTA cannot apply for a visa, extension, or residence permit upon arrival in America.
• Applying for an ESTA does not suffice if you are traveling on a private plane or own ship.
• Applying for an ESTA with an emergency passport is only possible if the emergency passport contains a digital chip.

Terms of the ESTA and Visa Waiver Program
Terms of the ESTA, part of the Visa Waiver Program

Conditions regarding the background of the traveler

To be eligible for an ESTA, the traveler must have the Netherlands, Belgium, or one of the other country’s nationality. In the following cases, the conditions for traveling with an ESTA are not met, and a visa is required to still travel to the United States of America.

• The traveler has been in or after 2011 in Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, North Korea, or Yemen, or has ever held the nationality of one of these countries
• The traveler has such a contagious disease or mental disorder that he/she poses a risk to the immediate environment
• The traveler has ever been arrested or convicted of a crime resulting in serious damage or injury *
• The traveler has ever broken any law regarding the possession, distribution, or use of drugs
• The traveler has not previously adhered to a condition of an ESTA or visa for America
  * A fine for a traffic violation is not covered unless it resulted in serious damage or injury.

Conditions regarding the statement of approval
Travelers who travel to the United States based on an ESTA must declare on the ESTA form that:

they agree that U.S. Customs & Border Protection will collect biometric data on arrival, including fingerprints
they do not pose a threat to public health, public order, and law enforcement in the USA
they do not participate or have taken part in sabotage, espionage, terrorism, and/or genocide
they are aware that the granting of an ESTA does not provide a guarantee of entry into the USA; if the immigration service on arrival in America believes that a traveler is a threat to security or public order, he can still be refused entry
Exceptions to the regular conditions
Travelers who hold a valid US or Canadian passport, visa, or US residence permit are excluded from the above ESTA requirements. For travelers who enter the United States not by ship or plane, but by land, an ESTA application is not mandatory but recommended to pass through passport control faster. They must also meet all the conditions on this page during their stay in the United States of America. Travelers who do not have a passport issued by a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program, but have a residence permit in one of the participating countries, do not meet the ESTA requirements and are only allowed to travel with a visa.

Travelers who do not meet the conditions
Do you not meet all the conditions for traveling with an ESTA? Then you may not use the ESTA form on this website. To still be able to travel to America, an American visa is required.

Transferring to America is only allowed if you have an ESTA, visa, or US passport. When you check in on your flight to America, your passport number will be used to check whether you meet this requirement.

ESTA: easier than a visa

An ESTA is easier to apply for than a visa. To apply for a visa, you must make an appointment at a US consulate. The costs of a visa are also higher. The application process for an ESTA, on the other hand, is simple and fast online. An ESTA is, therefore, the obvious choice for a switch in America.

An ESTA is valid for multiple transfers.

The validity period of an ESTA is 2 years unless the passport with which it was applied for loses its validity earlier. It is, therefore, possible to use an ESTA multiple times for a transfer in America. Only one arrival date needs to be entered in the application form. Nevertheless, it is not necessary or even impossible to communicate additional or changed arrival dates. Only after the ESTA or the passport to which the ESTA is associated has expired should a new application be submitted to travel to America again for a transfer or other purpose.

Transfer and ESTA in America Many travelers who fly from Europe to the American continent make a transfer in America. (USA)

An ESTA for transfer is also valid for another travel purpose.

The application form asks if you are only traveling to America for a transfer. If you answer in the affirmative, you do not need to enter a city in America. Nevertheless, after approval, you will receive the same travel authorization as if you had indicated that you would stay in America. Therefore, even with an ESTA specifically applied for a wire transfer, you are allowed to stay in the United States of America for 90 consecutive days for a vacation or business trip. However, every trip must meet the conditions for using an ESTA.

Can I leave the airport during my transfer?

Based on the above, it can be concluded that it is also permitted to leave the airport prematurely during the transfer in America. The ESTA is valid for a maximum stay of 90 days. However, keep in mind that your airline and the airport you are transferring to may also have restrictions. If you want to be sure that it is possible to leave the airport in the meantime, it is wise to check this with the airline.

An ESTA is also required for a transit flight through America.

Sometimes confusion arises between a transfer and a transit flight. A transfer means: you get off the plane in America and continue your journey on another plane. A transit flight means: you land in America, wait on or off the plane and then fly in the same plane to your final destination. An ESTA, visa, or US passport is required for both a transfer and a transit flight.