How much does the ESTA cost?

US$40.62 per application, as stated on esta.cbp.dhs.gov, checked on 10 November 2026. If the ESTA is denied, you pay only the US$10.62 processing part. CBP cannot refund what you paid to a third-party website.

Passport, visa and ID photos · United States

ESTA photo: the rules

What the official rules say about the photo for the ESTA (Visa Waiver Program travel authorization), selfie, with the source we checked. Rules read on esta.cbp.dhs.gov on 4 November 2026.

ESTA does ask for a photo of your face, a selfie, but CBP publishes no size or background rules for it. The ESTA app takes it live and checks it against your passport chip, and CBP plans to make the app the only way to apply. So there is nothing to check or make here: take the selfie in the app when it asks.

As published, checked on 4 November 2026. WinPhoto is not affiliated with any government.

Apply directly, and pay only the official fee

We never apply for you: you apply for the ESTA yourself, on the official site.

Open the official site: esta.cbp.dhs.gov

Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (CBP). The same agency also offers the ESTA Mobile app, from the App Store or Google Play.

Official fee: US$40.62 per application, as stated on esta.cbp.dhs.gov, checked 10 November 2026.

If the ESTA is denied, you pay only the US$10.62 processing part. (esta.cbp.dhs.gov)
CBP cannot refund what you paid to a third-party website. (esta.cbp.dhs.gov)

There are a number of third parties that have established websites that charge a fee for submitting your application on your behalf. If you have used one of these third party sites, we strongly suggest you use your application number to confirm with the official U.S. government site to ensure that your ESTA is in our system.

From esta.cbp.dhs.gov, checked 10 November 2026.

Sites that look official may charge extra for the same form: use only the official site above.

What you need

A valid passport from a Visa Waiver Program country
A selfie photo of the traveller
The traveller's valid email address
The traveller's home address and phone number
An emergency contact's phone number and email
A way to pay: MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover (JCB or Diners Club only) or PayPal

Tick as you go: the ticks stay on this page and are not saved.

The steps on the official site

Answer the disclaimers, then enter the applicant, personal and travel details.
Answer the eligibility questions and review the application.
Pay the fee: US$40.62 per application.
Keep your application number: with it you can check the ESTA's status on the official site.

Sources

Official source: esta.cbp.dhs.gov, checked on 10 November 2026.

Answer Disclaimers

Enter Applicant Information

Enter Personal Information

Enter Travel Information

Answer Eligibility Questions

Review Application

Valid passport(s) from a Visa Waiver Program country.

Traveler's selfie photo.

Traveler's valid email address.

Traveler's home address and phone number.

Traveler's emergency point of contact phone and email.

Fee for application is $40.62 USD.

Valid payment methods include MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover (JCB or Diners Club only), and PayPal.

Official source: esta.cbp.dhs.gov, checked on 10 November 2026.

All applicants requesting an electronic travel authorization are charged for the processing of the application. The Fee is currently US $10.62. If your application is approved and you receive authorization to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, an additional US $30.00 will be added to your payment method.

If your electronic travel authorization is denied, you are only charged for the processing of your application (US $10.62).

There are a number of third parties that have established websites that charge a fee for submitting your application on your behalf. If you have used one of these third party sites, we strongly suggest you use your application number to confirm with the official U.S. government site to ensure that your ESTA is in our system.

CBP cannot refund the money you paid to a third party website.

WinPhoto is not affiliated with any government and never applies for anyone. Fees and steps change: check the official site before you pay.

The rules at a glance

For the ESTA (Visa Waiver Program travel authorization), selfie, as the official rules state them.

All the official rules and sources

For: ESTA mobile app (live selfie with liveness check); ESTA website application (photo of the face uploaded, plus the passport page).

Official source: esta.cbp.dhs.gov, checked on 4 November 2026.

WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY?

Valid passport(s) from a Visa Waiver Program country.

Traveler's selfie photo.

Traveler's valid email address.

Official source: www.dhs.gov, checked on 4 November 2026.

With this Privacy Impact Assessment update, CBP will extend the “selfie” photograph submission requirement and verification process to the ESTA website.

Applicants will be prompted to submit a photograph of their face (“selfie”) in addition to a photograph of the passport biographic page.

The ESTA website will provide guidance on the type of photograph to upload (e.g., include head and shoulders).

Once the mobile application retrieves the photograph from the eChip, the mobile application prompts applicants to take a live photograph or “selfie” of the applicant

Official source: www.federalregister.gov, checked on 4 November 2026.

As noted previously, the ESTA Mobile application currently requires applicants to take a live photograph of their face, which is compared to the passport photo collected during the ESTA Mobile application process.

CBP will decommission the ESTA website Application process to establish the ESTA Mobile application as the sole platform to apply for a new ESTA.

However, poor quality image uploads to the ESTA website have resulted in applicants bypassing the facial comparison screening.

As published, checked on 4 November 2026. WinPhoto is not affiliated with any government. Rules change: check the official page before you apply.

Questions

Do I need to bring a photo for the ESTA (Visa Waiver Program travel authorization), selfie?: ESTA does ask for a photo of your face, a selfie, but CBP publishes no size or background rules for it. The ESTA app takes it live and checks it against your passport chip, and CBP plans to make the app the only way to apply. So there is nothing to check or make here: take the selfie in the app when it asks. These are the rules as we checked them on 4 November 2026: check the official page before you apply.
What is the official ESTA website?: The official site is Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (CBP), at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. The same agency also offers the ESTA Mobile app, from the App Store or Google Play. esta.cbp.dhs.gov warns: "There are a number of third parties that have established websites that charge a fee for submitting your application on your behalf. If you have used one of these third party sites, we strongly suggest you use your application number to confirm with the official U.S. government site to ensure that your ESTA is in our system."
How much does the ESTA cost?: US$40.62 per application, as stated on esta.cbp.dhs.gov, checked on 10 November 2026. If the ESTA is denied, you pay only the US$10.62 processing part. CBP cannot refund what you paid to a third-party website.