News report · Checked 21 October 2026.
The total ESTA authorisation fee increased from USD 40.27 to USD 40.62 on 16 October 2026. The amount is set out in the DHS FY2027 adjustments for inflation, while an alert on the Official ESTA portal says unpaid applications remaining after the system update are subject to the revised fee.
The increase is USD 0.35. It is an annual inflation adjustment to the relevant fees, not evidence that ESTA has become a conventional visa or that every traveller now qualifies to use it.
Confirm the correct travel route first
CBP: Electronic System for Travel Authorization describes ESTA as the automated system that checks eligibility to travel under the Visa Waiver Program. Approval to travel is distinct from the decision about admission made at the border. Paying a fee therefore does not guarantee entry.
Before opening an application, confirm whether the Visa Waiver Program is the appropriate route for the passport, purpose and circumstances of the trip. Travellers who require a visa should not assume that buying an ESTA can substitute for that visa.
Use the official portal and preserve the record
For a new application, begin at the government portal and check the amount shown before completing payment. Save the application reference, confirmation and payment receipt. If a third-party service is being used, distinguish any separate service charge from the government fee and understand what the service is actually providing.
The system-update rule also matters for someone who started an application earlier but had not paid. A draft created before 16 October does not secure the old price where the portal applies the updated amount to unpaid applications.
Keep authorisation and itinerary checks separate
Review the passport details entered in the application against the travel document that will be used. A convenient workflow is to check the authorisation record before finalising the remaining departure arrangements, then retain access to the confirmation while travelling.
This week’s fee change is small, but it illustrates why screenshots of older prices quickly become unreliable. Use the live government information for the current charge and the governing travel requirements. The fee notice changes the stated cost; it should not be treated as a promise of approval, an extension of an existing permission or a replacement for checking the conditions of travel.
Official sources
- DHS FY2027 adjustments for inflation
- Official ESTA portal
- CBP: Electronic System for Travel Authorization
- ESTA and EVUS fees change October 16
Sources reviewed on 21 Oct 2026. Requirements can change and depend on your nationality and circumstances. This article is general information, not a personal eligibility assessment.
