US Alien Registration

If you are travelling to the USA, the US authorities have introduced a requirement for passengers travelling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to register for Electronic Travel Authority. The ESTA is valid for two years, so you will only need to apply once even if transiting in the US on both your outbound and return journeys. For more, please consult the VWP information on the US Embassy London website.

There is a US$21 charge to apply for an ESTA . All payments must be made by credit card.

Please note, not all nationalities have the same eligibility for travel to the USA, and you may not be covered by the visa waiver programme. Regulations stipulate that any person who has travelled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria since March 2011, or have dual nationalities of these countries, may no longer qualify for the VWP. In addition, if you have travelled to Cuba since 12 Jan 2021 you will not be eligible for the visa waiver programme and should instead apply for a visa to travel to, or transit via, the USA.

If you do not hold a British passport, or are in doubt of your eligibility, please check the visa requirements with your local US embassy.

Passengers who have not applied for and received travel authorisation via ESTA prior to travel may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing or be denied admission at the U.S port of entry. However, neither possession of a visa, nor meeting the basic requirements for travelling visa-free on the VWP, guarantees admission to the United States. As with most countries, the final determination of admissibility is made by immigration officials at the port of entry.

Important reminder: If you are refused boarding or denied admission at the US port of entry you will still be subject to our cancellation charges in accordance with the terms of our contract with you.

Travelers need to apply for their ESTA at least 72 hours prior to departure and we recommend that you carry your ESTA approval with you when you travel.

All queries in relation to this requirement should be addressed via the US Embassy Consular department.

Please be aware that some other agencies have set up websites that ask for a more substantial amount of money to organise your Visa Waiver registration, these are unnecessary and sometimes fraudulent, so please be careful and use the suggested official US Embassy website.