Before the days of the USA ESTA, travelling to the U.S. involved a lot of paperwork. You had to fill out multiple forms, gather documents, book an interview, and speak with an immigration officer — and even then, getting a tourist visa wasn’t guaranteed. All these steps just to visit the U.S. often discouraged people from planning a trip there.
Thankfully, things changed when the U.S. introduced visa-free entry for Taiwanese passport holders. While it’s called “visa-free,” you still need to apply for travel authorization through ESTA before your trip. According to U.S. authorities, ESTA isn’t a visa — it’s more like a travel authorization document required for entry.
How to Apply for ESTA
The Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the only legitimate site to apply for an ESTA. Be cautious — many unofficial websites charge extra service fees and may mislead users. Always double-check that you’re on the official government website.
Visit the Official Website and Choose Your Language
Once you enter the site, you’ll see the main homepage.
- You can switch the language at any time — both English and Chinese are available.
- To start your application, click CREATE NEW APPLICATION. If you’ve already started but didn’t finish, choose CONTINUE EXISTING APPLICATION to resume or check your status.
- Individual Application: For one person.
Group of Application: For multiple applicants (like families or travel groups).
Next, you’ll see the following screen. Simply click CONFIRM & CONTINUE to proceed.
Step 1: Disclaimers
On the new application page, the first thing you’ll see is the disclaimer. After reading it, click Next to continue.
Step 2: Applicant Information
Next, simply fill out the required information in the fields below, step by step.
When you click Next, you will be asked to verify your email address.
Step 3: Personal Information
Next, simply fill in the information below in order.
Step 4: Travel Information
Please fill in the information truthfully. If you select No for the first question, you will be required to provide a U.S. address — you can use your hotel’s address.
Step 5: Eligibility Questions
Please fill out the following fields truthfully.
Step 6: Review Application
Before making the payment, please make sure all the information you provided is correct.
Step 7: Pay
After completing all the application details, it’s time to proceed with the payment!
Get your credit card or PayPal account ready and pay the $21 USD fee.
Payment successful
Once the payment is successful, you’ll see a message saying Authorization Pending.
Authorization Approved
About two hours after payment, you will receive an email confirming your ESTA approval. Please note:
- The ESTA authorization is valid for two years from the application date.
- You can enter the U.S. any time within those two years.
- Each visit allows you to stay in the U.S. for up to 90 days continuously.
For example, if your application date is May 16, 2025, your ESTA will expire on May 16, 2027. You must enter the U.S. between those dates, but you cannot stay for two full years — only up to 90 days per visit!
That’s the whole ESTA application process — pretty simple, right? But remember, not every country’s passport qualifies for ESTA. It’s best to check the official website first to see if your passport is eligible before applying!
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