From 12^th January 2009, US-bound customers from visa waiver countries are required to obtain pre-travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to traveling to the United States under the VWP. In most cases, ESTA will provide an almost immediate determination of eligibility for travel under the VWP. On the other hand, it can take up to 72 hours to receive a final response. Hence, it is recommended that ESTA applications be submitted as soon as a VWP traveler begins to plan a trip to visit the United States.

Once approved, ESTA applications will be valid for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Authorizations are valid for multiple entries into the US.

Accompanied and unaccompanied children, regardless of age, will also be required to obtain an independent ESTA authorization.

Travellers from countries under the Visa Waiver Program who fail to obtain ESTA authorization after the system comes into effect, may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a US port of entry.

Citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

Applications for ESTA can be made via webite https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

All US-bound travellers from countries under the Visa Waiver Program will still be required to complete the I-94 and I-94W forms for presentation at a US port of entry.