What happens to your American ESTA when you renew your Passport?

When travelling to the United States of America, people from the 40 Visa Waiver countries apply to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization and get an American ESTA. This allows you to travel to and from the USA for visits less than 90 days over a period of two years.

An ESTA costs US$21, which is a nominal amount and in line with what other countries charge. Passport details are an integral part of the application so does the ESTA transfer across to a new Passport or not?

So What Happens To Your American ESTA?

Since most Passports last for 10 years at a time, the two year ESTA should comfortably fit within the duration. You generally need to renew your Passport earlier than the actual expiry date as some countries like you to have six months validity on it to enter.

Unfortunately, the American ESTA does not transfer across to your new Passport. This is not too surprising, since so much of the detail is linked between the two documents. On the flipside though, it’s only US$21, so you’re not exactly losing out very much by missing the time.

Overall Thoughts

The world of travel authorisations and Visas is sometimes a bit of a minefield. I know how lucky I am to be eligible for an ESTA, as having to get actual Visas is a longer, more time consuming and more expensive process, as many of you are no doubt well aware.

While I would prefer to have no ESTA at all (as was once the case – and is the case for travelling to many countries), it is something we have to live with.

What do you think of having to get an American ESTA? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.

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