You’re planning to travel to the USA again, but don’t know if you need to apply for a ESTA renewal ? There are several reasons why you should renew your ESTA before a trip to the USA. Review the different scenarios in this article.
Requirements for ESTA access
Let’s take a quick look at the purpose of this authorization and how to apply for ESTA.
The ESTA is a travel authorization for nationals of countries that are members of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) set up by the US government.
Eligible travelers are exempt from having to apply for a tourist visa before entering the USA. Instead, they obtain a travel authorization linked to their passport, called ESTA.
To be an ESTA holder, you must meet several criteria:
- be a citizen of one of the countries covered by the VWP (Visa Waiver Program);
- have a valid biometric or electronic passport (a recent French or European passport is normally equipped with the required electronic systems);
- travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days, or simply transit the U.S. on the way to your final destination;
- travel to the United States by air or sea;
- not already be in possession of an American tourist visa.
Obtaining and ESTA renewal applications are made exclusively by filling in an online form. There is absolutely no need to go to the U.S. embassy or contact your country’s consular authorities before applying.
ESTA renewal at the end of the validity period
Once your online application has been approved, the electronic travel authorization does not have an infinite lifespan. At some point, the ESTA renewal is required if you plan to travel to the USA again, whether for business or pleasure. The American authorities have set the validity of the ESTA at 2 years. After this period, the authorization automatically becomes null and void.
Renewing your ESTA when obtaining a new passport
We’ve just seen that the lifetime of an ESTA to visit the United States is two years, but other events may require you to renew your ESTA. It’s important to understand that the ESTA is an authorization linked electronically to your passport number. This number is unique and changes when you obtain a new passport.
An ESTA is automatically cancelled when the passport expires.
Whether you renew your passport now or later, you need to renew your ESTA to travel to the USA.
If you change your passport, be sure to renew your ESTA in time. Also bear in mind that an emergency passport is not compatible with an ESTA application.
Renewing an ESTA for gender reassignment
The online ESTA form does not currently allow applicants to select X as their gender. Applicants are therefore asked to select one of the two possible genders, male or female. Applicants are advised to enter the gender in which they feel most comfortable. However, if a person changes gender during the validity period, renewing your ESTA is mandatory.
ESTA renewal after a name change
A valid passport (biometric or electronic) is a prerequisite for ESTA. These passports are equipped with an electronic chip containing the owner’s identification information, such as fingerprints, facial recognition and retinal identification. Your ESTA authorization is linked to your passport, and therefore to your identity. If you change your surname, first name or family name for any reason whatsoever, you must apply for an ESTA authorization. ESTA renewal.
New ESTA application if one of your answers is no longer applicable
The ESTA is obtained by filling in an online form on the government website or on a private website. In both cases, the last part of the form is a closed questionnaire concerning the potential risk posed by the applicant to the homeland security of the United States of America. This includes questions about the applicant’s criminal and medical history, and whether he or she intends to work in the USA or commit crimes there, once on American soil.
If a person’s motivations for traveling to the USA have changed since the first application, resulting in a change in the answers provided, a ESTA renewal is required. Of course, in the event of malicious intent, the request for authorization will be rejected immediately for security reasons.
