If you’re planning a trip to the USA, there’s some bad news in store with the country set to once again increase the cost of its mandatory Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application for inbound tourists from over 40 countries, including Singapore, Australia and the UK.
The latest hike will see the fee for an ESTA increase from US$21 (S$27) to US$40 (S$51) per person, for applications made from 30th September 2025 onwards.
“The fee for travelers intending to travel to the United States with an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) has increased from $21 to $40.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
“CBP systems updates required to collect the new fee amount are scheduled to be effective on September 30, 2025.”
This is the second price increase for ESTA in three years, with the fee increased on 26th May 2022 from US$14 (S$18) to the current US$21 (S$27) level, though that represented the hike in 12 years.
When ESTA was first established in 2008, application was free of charge, but now a family of four will be hit with a US$160 expense – equivalent to S$204 – just to apply for the two-year entry approval.
(Photo: Jonathan Riley)
The good news is there are still almost two weeks to act and secure your ESTA at the current rate, providing a big saving if you have travel to the USA planned over the next two years.
What is an ESTA and who needs one?
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an online system used by the U.S. government to pre-screen travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries before they enter the United States.
It allows citizens of 41 eligible countries, such as Singapore, the UK, Japan, and Spain, to visit the USA for tourism, business, or transit for up to 90 days without a visa.
Everyone, including children and infants, must have an approved ESTA before checking in for a flight, cruise, or other transport to the U.S. under the VWP.
There are a few groups who do not need to have an ESTA:
- U.S. citizens using their U.S. passport to travel to the USA
- Canadian citizens using their Canadian passport to travel to the USA
- Permanent Residents of the USA
- Those holding a valid U.S. visa, provided they are travelling to the USA on that visa for the purpose for which it was issued
An approved ESTA does not guarantee entry to the United States. It only authorises travellers from VWP countries to board a plane, ship, or other transportation to the USA without a visa. Final entry decisions are made by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the port of entry.
An ESTA continues to be valid for multiple entries (up to 90 days per trip) to the USA over a two-year period, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
If you already have an approved ESTA you don’t have to re-apply yet, but you will face the increased US$40 fee once you need a new one, assuming you apply from 30th September 2025 onwards.
The ESTA only needs to be valid when you enter the USA – not for your whole trip duration. If your ESTA expires while in the USA, it will not affect your departure.
Pro Tip: If you will be travelling to the USA over the next two years, apply for your ESTA on 29th September 2025 to benefit from the current US$21 fee.An ESTA issued on 29th September 2025 will be valid for entry into the USA until 29th September 2027, giving you the longest possible multi-trip entry window at the lower fee.
What’s the ESTA money for?
Currently, US$4 of the fee payable for an ESTA is set aside for the running of the system, with the remaining US$17 earmarked to “promote tourism to the US”.
From 30th September 2025, the US$4 administrative portion is hiked to US$10, the tourism promotion fee remains unchanged, while a new US$13 charge is added for the Treasury General Fund fee, thanks to the government’s new “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (HR-1).
| U.S. ESTA Fee | ||
| Fee breakdown | Until 29th September 2025 |
From 30th September 2025 |
| CBP administrative processing | US$4 | US$10 |
| Travel Promotion fee | US$17 | US$17 |
| U.S. Treasury’s General Fund | — | US$13 |
| Total | US$21 | US$40 ( 90%) |
(Photo: Umer Sayyam)
How to apply (official site)
It’s important when applying for an ESTA is to only do so via the official US Customs and Border Protection website.
There is also an official mobile app available for Apple and Android devices.
The internet, and internet searches for ESTA, are littered with official-looking websites that actually charge a premium (sometimes up to 10x the actual cost) for this simple application you can easily do yourself.
While ESTA approvals used to be instant, this changed in 2018 and it is recommended to apply at least 72 hours (three days) before departure to allow for processing.
You will need to apply for (and pay for) a new ESTA if you have a new passport since your last trip, even if it’s within two years (a current approved ESTA linked to an old passport cannot be used).
Advance travel approval costs are rising
In recent years, costly advance entry approvals for visa-exempt travellers have become increasingly common, with several popular countries now adding extra fees before a trip even begins.
For Singapore citizens, these include:
- Australia
An ETA costs AU$20 (~S$17) per person
Validity: 1 year - Canada
The ETA costs CAD7 (~S$7)
Validity: 5 years - New Zealand
The NZeTA costs NZ117 (~S$89) per person, hiked from NZ$52 (~S$40) in October 2024
Validity: 2 years - South Korea
The K-ETA costs 10,000 KRW (~S$9), currently waived for Singaporeans until 31st December 2025
Validity: 2 years - United Kingdom
The ETA costs GBP16 (~S$28), hiked from GBP10 (~S$17) in April 2025
Validity: 2 years - USA
The ESTA currently costs US$21 (~S$27), increasing to US$40 (~S$51) from 30th September 2025
Validity: 2 years
Europe will follow suit
Another complication for Singapore citizens will arise in the last few months of 2026, when the European Union finally rolls out its much-delayed European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a similar advance travel authorisation for those who can arrive visa-free.
You’ll be able to apply for this one via an official website or mobile app in due course, but the originally-proposed fee of EUR7 (~S$11) has already been nearly tripled before the scheme has even started – it will now cost EUR20 (~S$30) per person.
ETIAS will allow unlimited entries to 26 Schengen Area countries (like France, Italy and Germany) over a 3-year period, or will expire on the same date as your passport if that comes up sooner.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
That means from next year, many of our readers will need to keep multiple visa waiver approvals linked to their passport at all times for hassle-free travel – covering popular destinations like Europe (ETIAS), the UK (ETA), and the USA (ESTA). Heck, some of our readers even visit all three of those places in a single trip!
Summary
The U.S. government’s decision to nearly double ESTA fees represents a significant cost increase for travellers, with the price jumping from US$21 to US$40 per person from 30th September 2025. For families in particular, this will add up to substantial extra expense before even stepping foot in America.
Time is running out to secure the current lower rate. If you’re planning any travel to the USA over the next two years, apply for your ESTA by 29th September 2025 to lock in the US$21 fee and gain valid multi-entry authorisation until late September 2027.
Remember to use only the official CBP website or mobile app to avoid paying inflated fees to third-party sites. With advance travel authorisations becoming more common and more expensive worldwide, getting your ESTA at the current rate could save you money – but only if you act in the next few days.
(Cover Photo: Kai Pilger)