HOLIDAYS to America are set to get even more expensive, as the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) fee rise date is announced.
From September 30, Brits heading off to the US will need to pay more for their ESTA.
According to Travel Weekly, the US Congress has approved a fee hike from $21 (£15.61) to $40 (£29.30) for travellers applying to the Visa Waiver Program.
The ESTA is mandatory for travellers heading to America under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) and each ESTA lasts two years or until a passport expires, whichever comes first.
The new fee equates to a $10 (£7.43) processing fee and a $30 (£22.30) authorisation fee.
If a Brit’s application is denied, they will only need to pay the $10 (£7.43) processing fee.
The ESTA fee was originally introduced in May 2022 and has risen from a fee of $14 (£10.25).
The hike comes as part of President Donald Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’.
Also under the bill, visitors could face a ‘Visa Integrity Fee’.
The new fee will apply to anyone who needs a ‘non-immigrant visa’, such as people who are travelling for business, study and temporary work for more than three months.
The fee is set to cost around $250 (£185.80) and it is due to be introduced before the end of 2025.
This cost will also be required on top of all the existing visa application fees, but will only need to be paid once.
If an application is denied, then the applicant will not be charged a fee.
Travellers can also get the fee back if they abide by the conditions of their visa, such as not working illegally.
The I-94 form, which records arrival and departure dates in the US, will also rise from $6 (£4.46) to $24 (£17.84).
However, for most Brits, they will not need to apply for a visa thanks to the VWP – which covers tourism and short business trips to America.
According to the GOV.UK website, travellers can apply for an ESTA via the Official ESTA Application Website or by using the ESTA mobile app.
Brits who have been arrested, have a criminal record or have previously been refused admission into or been deported from the US or overstayed an ESTA visa waiver, will not be able to apply.
Once applied for, an ESTA application can take up to 72 hours to be approved.
These are the latest travel rules for Brits heading to America after a number of European tourists have been stopped at the border recently.
Plus, Brits will face a new £17 visa-waiver charge to travel to Europe next year.
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