Travellers Without ESTA Will NOT Be Allowed To Travel

As many of you will be aware, the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) came into effect on 12 January 2009. From 20 January 2010, it will be mandatory for all passengers travelling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), 72 hours prior to departure. Passengers will not be accepted for travel to the US if they do not have a valid ESTA. This also applies to passengers in transit to a third country.

Travellers should log onto the ESTA website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and complete the online application form. The US Department of Homeland Security recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel.

If details on an approved ESTA are not exactly the same as the details in the traveller's passport, the two data sets cannot be reconciled and U.S. authorities will deem that the passenger does not have a valid ESTA. They will need to reapply.

For further information, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions regarding ESTA available on their website: http://www.cbp.gov/ESTA.