VisaPalESTA — Visa Waiver Program
Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, like South Korea, making short tourist, business or transit trips. You need an approved ESTA before you board.
Last verified: 2026-09-25
Requirements
- Citizen of a VWP country with an e-passport
- Trip of 90 days or less for tourism, business or transit
- Approved ESTA before travel, from esta.cbp.dhs.gov or the official ESTA Mobile app
- By air or sea: a VWP signatory carrier and a return or onward ticket
- No trips to Cuba since Jan 12, 2021, or since Mar 1, 2011 to 8 listed countries (see CBP)
How long you can stay
Up to 90 days per entry. An ESTA approval is valid for multiple trips for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can't extend your stay or change to another status on VWP.
Timeline
There's no embassy or USCIS step. CBP recommends applying as soon as you start planning, or before you buy tickets.
Government fees
| Fee | Amount | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| ESTA application fee $10.27 processing fee is charged even if denied; the other $30 only if approved. Adjusted for inflation each year. Paid by card or PayPal. | $40.27 | Applicant |
Unofficial ESTA sites charge extra, and CBP says it isn't responsible for third-party fees.
Spouse & children
Each traveler, including babies, needs their own approved ESTA. No one can work on VWP.
Work
No U.S. employment. Business trips are limited to visitor activities such as meetings.
Path to a green card
VWP admission doesn't lead to a green card by itself, and you can't change to another nonimmigrant status. Family-based cases follow different rules — confirm with a licensed attorney.
Note for Korean applicants
South Korea has been a Visa Waiver Program country since Nov 17, 2008. You need an e-passport with a chip. The ESTA fee is $40.27 ($10.27 if denied).
Key documents
- E-passport (with chip)
- ESTA approval (printing is optional, but DHS recommends keeping a record)
- Return or onward ticket
- U.S. contact and address details for the application
Common pitfalls
- Paying a third-party site instead of the official one
- Using an old ESTA after getting a new passport — a new passport needs a new ESTA
- Thinking a trip to Canada or Mexico restarts your 90 days
- Planning to extend: VWP allows only up to 30 days' 'satisfactory departure' in an emergency
- Forgetting that on VWP you can't appeal a refusal at the border
- Missing that trips to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since 2011 bar VWP
Rules in flux
The ESTA fee rose from $21 to $40 on Sep 30, 2025, under Pub. L. 119-21. An inflation adjustment made it $40.27 on Jan 1, 2026. If you're denied, you pay $10.27. Separately, CBP proposed on Dec 10, 2025 to require 5 years of social media accounts. It also proposed app-only applications, a selfie, and more family and contact details. We found no notice finalizing these proposals as of Sep 25, 2026.
Official sources
- Official ESTA Application Website — CBP
- Electronic System for Travel Authorization — CBP
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) — CBP
- Visa Waiver Program — CBP
- Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act FAQ — CBP
- Visa Waiver Program (current program countries) — DHS
- 8 CFR Part 217 — Visa Waiver Program — eCFR
- Certain DHS Immigration Fees Required by HR-1: Fiscal Year 2026 Adjustments for Inflation (Nov 19, 2025) — Federal Register
- CBP Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 for Fiscal Year 2025 (Aug 28, 2025) — Federal Register
General information, not legal advice. Rules change often. Check the official source and talk to a licensed immigration attorney before you act.