The ESTA cost refund policy in 2026 is straightforward: once your application is approved, the $40.62 fee is not refunded, even if you cancel your trip. If your application is denied, you pay only the $10.62 cost-recovery portion of the fee, according to the Federal Register notice of 1 October 2026.
What Is the ESTA Cost Refund Policy in 2026?
Since 16 October 2026 the official ESTA fee is $40.62 per applicant, made up of $17, $10.62 and $13. If CBP denies your application, the fee is $10.62, because the cost-recovery portion applies whether or not the application is approved. An approved ESTA fee is not refunded.
The fee was $40.27 from 1 January to 15 October 2026 (Federal Register, 19 November 2025) and $40 from 30 September 2025 (Federal Register, 28 August 2025). Travellers who cancel after approval get nothing back. The upside: that approved ESTA generally stays valid for 2 years (or until your passport expires), so you can use it for a future US trip. See the full fee breakdown in our guide to ESTA Fee 2026 — $40 Cost Explained.
An approved ESTA also can’t be handed to another traveller — each one is tied to a specific passport number. Renew your passport after approval and you’ll need a fresh application; the old fee won’t come back. So time your passport renewal and ESTA together to dodge needless costs.
When Can You Get an ESTA Cost Refund?
There is no refund of an approved ESTA. The only scenario in which you pay less than the full fee is a denial: denied applicants pay $10.62 instead of $40.62. Trip cancellations, missed flights and changed travel plans do not lead to any refund.
The reduced amount for denied applications exists because the $10.62 cost-recovery fee covers the cost of providing and administering the ESTA system and is charged for every application, as set out in the October 2026 notice.
Submit an application in error — say, for the wrong traveller — and you’ll pay the full fee again for the correct one, with nothing refunded for the mistake. That’s why checking every passport detail before payment matters. ESTA Rejection — Common Reasons & What To Do outlines common submission errors that lead to wasted fees.
ESTA Fee Structure 2026 — What You Pay and Why
The $40.62 ESTA fee consists of three statutory components: $17, a $10.62 cost-recovery fee and $13. Only the $10.62 cost-recovery fee applies to denied applications.
| Fee Component | Amount (from 16 Oct 2026) | Charged if approved? | Charged if denied? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel authorisation fee | $17 | Yes | No |
| Cost-recovery fee | $10.62 | Yes | Yes |
| Additional HR-1 fee | $13 | Yes | No |
| Total ESTA fee | $40.62 | $40.62 | $10.62 |
The fee rose from $14 to $21 in May 2022, to $40 on 30 September 2025 under HR-1, and has since been adjusted for inflation each fiscal year: $40.27 from 1 January 2026 and $40.62 from 16 October 2026 (91 FR 62534). For a comparison with visa costs, see ESTA vs B1/B2 Visa for USA Travel 2026.
Commercial intermediaries charge their own service fees on top of the government fee. The official CBP ESTA portal at esta.cbp.dhs.gov charges exactly $40.62. Therefore, always verify you are on the .gov domain before entering payment details.
How to Request an ESTA Refund After Denial
There is no separate refund request after a denial: a denied application costs $10.62 rather than the full $40.62. If you believe you were charged incorrectly, contact the CBP Information Center on 1-877-227-5511.
Step one: verify the denial status on the CBP ESTA portal using your application number. Step two: check your bank or card statement to confirm the amount charged. Step three: if the amount does not match the published fee, keep your application number and payment details ready before contacting CBP.
Credit card disputes (chargebacks) should only be raised as a last resort. If your ESTA was denied, the next step is usually a visitor visa application rather than a fee dispute. See Visa Waiver Program Countries 2026 for eligibility guidance.
ESTA Refund vs Trip Cancellation Insurance
CBP does not refund an approved ESTA if you cancel your trip. Some trip cancellation insurance policies may reimburse non-refundable pre-departure costs, which can include document fees, if travel is cancelled for a covered reason. Check your policy wording before relying on it.
Insurers usually treat document fees as incidental rather than primary trip costs, so cover varies from policy to policy. Ask your insurer directly whether ESTA fees are included.
The cost of ESTA for Families & Children is one non-refundable item that families often overlook when budgeting for a US trip. A family of four pays $162.48 in ESTA fees (4 × $40.62). Some premium credit cards also bundle trip cancellation benefits that may cover these fees.
ESTA Refunds for Families and Groups
Each family member’s ESTA is assessed and charged individually. If one member’s application is denied, that person pays $10.62 and the others pay $40.62 each. For a family of four with one denial, the total is $132.48 (3 × $40.62 + $10.62); none of it is refundable.
Families should apply early enough to pursue a visa if an application is refused, since visitor visa appointment waiting times vary by embassy and can be long. Check current waiting times on the State Department visa wait times page. ESTA Transit USA — Layover Rules provides guidance on family travel options.
ESTA Cost Refund for Duplicate Applications
If you submit a second ESTA application for the same passport, the fee for it is not refunded. Before paying, check whether you already hold a valid ESTA so you do not pay twice.
You can check the status of an existing ESTA on the official portal with your passport details before starting a new application. Travellers using third-party sites are more likely to miss an existing authorisation. ESTA Validity 2 Years 2026 — Renewal Guide details how to check your existing ESTA status before applying.
Submitting an application with a typo in the passport number creates an authorisation that is not valid for your passport. You then submit a new, correct application and pay the full $40.62 again. Careful data entry is your best protection against wasted fees.
Third-Party ESTA Sites and Refund Policies
Third-party ESTA application services are private companies, not government entities. Their refund policies are governed by their own terms of service, not by CBP rules. If you paid a third-party service and your ESTA is denied, the government fee for a denial is $10.62; whether the company refunds its own service charge depends entirely on its terms.
The only official application channels are the CBP ESTA website at esta.cbp.dhs.gov and the official ESTA Mobile app. ESTA Refusal Appeal 2026 — Recovery Guide outlines how to identify and avoid unofficial ESTA sites.
Frequently Asked Questions — ESTA Cost Refund 2026
Is the ESTA fee refundable if I cancel my trip?
No. Your $40.62 is not refunded if your application is approved and you then cancel the trip. The approved ESTA generally remains valid for 2 years and can be used for a future visit to the USA.
How much of the ESTA fee is refunded if denied?
Nothing is refunded as such: a denied application costs $10.62 instead of $40.62, according to the Federal Register notice of 1 October 2026.
Do I need to request an ESTA refund?
No. There is no refund procedure; a denied application is charged at the lower $10.62 amount.
What if I was charged the wrong amount?
Contact the CBP Information Center on 1-877-227-5511, with your application number and payment details to hand.
Can I get a refund if I used a third-party ESTA site?
The government fee follows the same rules regardless of who submitted the application. Additional service fees charged by third-party companies are governed by that company’s own refund policy.
Is the ESTA fee the same worldwide in 2026?
Yes. The ESTA fee is $40.62 USD per person since 16 October 2026, regardless of the applicant’s country or where they apply from.
What happens to my ESTA if I change my passport?
If you get a new passport, you need a new ESTA, because the authorisation is tied to the old passport number. You must submit a new application and pay the $40.62 fee again. There is no refund for the old ESTA.
Can travel insurance cover ESTA fees?
Some comprehensive travel insurance policies include “travel document fees” as a covered expense. Review your policy wording carefully, as ESTA fee coverage varies by insurer and policy type.
Last updated: October 2026
Disclaimer: usestavisa.com is an independent assistance service, not a government agency.