Brits, Brace Yourselves: Travelling to the US Just Got a Lot More Expensive
If you’ve been planning a trip to the US, now’s the time to act — because the cost of an ESTA, the essential travel authorisation for visa-free visits, is about to nearly double!
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Currently, an ESTA costs £16 ($21). From September 30, that jumps to £30 ($40) thanks to a new Treasury General Fund fee. That’s an 86% increase in one go.
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What’s an ESTA? It’s the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, allowing visitors from visa waiver countries to stay in the US for up to 90 days without a full visa. Once approved, it’s valid for two years, making it perfect for short trips, city breaks, or business visits.
Here’s the breakdown of the new cost:
- Travel promotion fee: $17 (£12.50) – unchanged
- Processing fee: $6 (£4.40) – slightly higher
- New Treasury General Fund fee: $13 (£9.60)
If you’ve been holding off, now’s the moment to apply. Applications submitted before September 29 will still be charged the old £16 rate. After that, your ESTA will cost nearly double — before you’ve even boarded the plane.
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