Do I need an ESTA for New York?

The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is an online form that you will need for your trip to New York. The ESTA is part of the stricter security requirements in the United States.

Anyone traveling to the United States who is covered by the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) needs an ESTA. VWP makes it possible for Dutch and Belgian citizens with a valid, electronic passport to stay in the United States without a visa for a period of up to ninety days.

Although you do not need a visa, you are required to apply for an ESTA travel authorization at least three days BEFORE departing for New York . It is advisable to do it even earlier.

How do I apply for an ESTA?

The ESTA is easy to apply for online. To view the website and the application form in Dutch, select ’Dutch’ as the language at the top right. The application costs $21 and must be paid by credit card or PayPal.

You will usually receive confirmation that you can travel to New York within one day, but it can also take a little longer. Make sure other members of your group also apply for an ESTA. Even babies traveling without a plane ticket need their own ESTA.

ESTA application procedure

During the application, you will receive an email confirming your email address with a code. If you have any problems during the application, you can contact ESTA directly via the telephone number found at the bottom of their page.

Once you are done, you will receive confirmation of your request. You will receive an email as soon as your status changes or you can go to ’Check ESTA Status’ on the website and log in to view the status of your application.

To avoid getting into trouble, I advise you to submit your application on time. ’Permission granted’ means that the ESTA has been approved and you are allowed to travel. ’Travel not permitted’ means you should contact the embassy or consulate and ’Application pending’ means you should check the status again later.

There are companies that can take care of the application for you and charge a higher amount for this. Please note that you are paying for a service that is not actually necessary. Anyone can apply for an ESTA themselves.

Apply for ESTA without a credit card

Applying for an ESTA must be done with a credit card and that can sometimes cause problems. If you do not have a credit card, you can use websites that do the application for you. You can then pay with iDeal/Bancontact. A service fee will be charged for this. Apply for an ESTA without a credit card.

What do I need to apply for an ESTA?

When you apply for an ESTA you will need:

A credit card or PayPal account to pay $21 for your ESTA application

A passport

A photo of your passport that you must upload

How long is an ESTA valid?

The ESTA is valid for 2 years from the date of application and you can log in via the site if you need your ESTA again for your next trip to the US. You do not need to re-enter the information unless your passport has changed. Then you must submit an application again and pay the costs again.

Mobile Passport Control app

Once your ESTA has been approved, you can download the Mobile Passport Control app and fill in the details. The MPC allows you to move into a different line at US Customs, which generally reduces the wait time and gets you through customs faster.

How long should my passport be valid?

Do you have a Dutch or Belgian passport and are you traveling with an ESTA travel authorization? To enter the United States, your passport must be valid up to and including the day of departure back to the Netherlands or Belgium.

However, to avoid problems in unexpected situations, such as a missed flight or illness, it is advisable to travel with a passport with a longer validity period. Every traveler, including children and babies, must also have their own passport. (This information was last updated on October 12, 2023.)

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Do I need a visa to go to New York?

With a valid ESTA, most Dutch citizens can visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa. Read more about applying for an ESTA here.