When does an ESTA expire? Two years after the date it was approved, or on the day your passport expires if that comes first (8 CFR 217.5(d)). To find your exact expiry date, use “Check ESTA Status” on esta.cbp.dhs.gov. ESTAs cannot be extended. To renew, submit a new application and pay the current $40.62 fee.
This page is about the expiry date and renewal: how to find the date, what ends an ESTA early, and when to reapply. For a general overview of how long an ESTA lasts and every validity rule, see our main guide to ESTA validity and expiry rules. If you want to know what happens to the fee when an ESTA is refused or expires, read ESTA refunds and the fee if refused.
How Long Is an ESTA Valid in 2026?
An approved ESTA remains valid for two years from the approval date, or until the linked passport expires—whichever event occurs first. Therefore, travelers with a 10-year passport approved today can enjoy the full two-year window for multiple US trips. The same two-year rule covers all 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, from the United Kingdom and Germany to France, Japan, and South Korea (US Department of State). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ties your ESTA to the exact passport you applied with. Renew that passport and you’ll need to reapply, even if the old authorization still has time on it.
As a result, you should always check both your passport expiration date and ESTA validity before booking US travel. Indeed, CBP recommends checking your ESTA status at esta.cbp.dhs.gov at least 72 hours before your flight. Consequently, this gives you sufficient time to reapply if your ESTA has expired without your knowledge.
What Happens When Your Passport Expires Before Your ESTA?
When your passport expires before your ESTA’s 2-year window ends, your ESTA ends on the passport expiration date, because the authorization is only valid until that date (8 CFR 217.5(d)). Therefore, you cannot transfer an ESTA to a new passport—you must submit a fresh ESTA application after renewing your travel document. The $40.62 application fee (since 16 October 2026, 91 FR 62534) applies again with every new passport. Indeed, this rule causes confusion among frequent travelers who assume that ESTA validity is independent of the passport.
Can You Use an ESTA Multiple Times During Its Validity?
Yes—an approved ESTA permits multiple US visits within its 2-year validity period, provided each individual stay does not exceed 90 days (USA.gov). Notably, CBP officers decide admission at the border on each visit. Frequent visitors should avoid back-to-back trips that hint at residency—90 days in, 1 week out, then 90 days again. A pattern like that can lead to closer questioning at the border and put future VWP travel at risk.
How to Check Your ESTA Expiration Date
Visit esta.cbp.dhs.gov, click “Check ESTA Status,” and enter your passport number, date of birth, and either your ESTA application number or your full passport details. The result shows your status and the date your authorization expires. Status checks are free and unlimited. You never have to reapply just to confirm you’re still cleared. Indeed, many travelers save their ESTA application number from the original approval email for quick future lookups. As a result, status verification typically takes less than two minutes.
Do You Need a New ESTA After 2 Years?
Yes—after the 2-year validity window expires, you must submit a new ESTA application along with the $40.62 fee before any future US travel under the VWP. Therefore, set a calendar reminder approximately 30 days before expiration to allow processing time. Nothing renews on its own. The system never auto-renews an authorization, so each fresh application uses the standard CBP form covering every eligibility question, including criminal history and travel to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011, or to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021 (US Department of State).
ESTA Validity Comparison Table
| Item | ESTA Standard Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Validity period | 2 years or until passport expires | 8 CFR 217.5(d) |
| Fee | $40.62 per application (since 16 October 2026); $10.62 if refused | Federal Register, 91 FR 62534 |
| Maximum stay per visit | 90 days | USA.gov |
| Number of visits | Multiple within validity window | USA.gov |
| Linked to | Specific passport (not transferable) | 8 CFR 217.5(e) |
| Renewal required | After expiration—not automatic | CBP |
What If Your ESTA Is Denied During Renewal?
If CBP denies your new ESTA application, you cannot travel under the Visa Waiver Program and must instead pursue a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. A denial here doesn’t automatically sink your visa chances—the State Department runs its own separate review. Common reasons for a refusal include incomplete answers to the eligibility questions, prior immigration violations, or undisclosed criminal history. A B1/B2 visa usually means an in-person interview, and waiting times vary by consulate. As a result, you should begin the visa application process well before planned travel if your ESTA is denied.
ESTA Validity for Children and Family Members
Every family member traveling under the VWP—including newborns and children—needs an individual ESTA application valid for 2 years. Specifically, each child requires their own passport plus a separate $40.62 ESTA fee. File several people together and they get linked records, yet each person keeps a separate validity window tied to their own passport. Parents, plan child passport renewals around ESTA approvals. That avoids nasty gaps right before a family vacation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when my ESTA expires?
Check your status at esta.cbp.dhs.gov using your passport number and date of birth. The system displays the exact expiration date. Your original approval email lists the same date.
Can I extend my ESTA beyond 2 years?
No—the 2-year validity is a fixed maximum under U.S. federal regulations (8 CFR 217.5(d)). Therefore, you must submit a fresh application along with the $40.62 fee after expiration. The ESTA system offers no extension procedure at all.
Can I renew my ESTA before it expires?
Yes. You can submit a new application at any time, for example before a trip that would fall after your current expiry date. Once approved, the new ESTA runs for two years from its own approval date.
What happens if I travel with an expired ESTA?
Airlines check your ESTA electronically at check-in, so passengers whose ESTA has expired are normally refused boarding for a US-bound flight. Check the expiry date before you travel and reapply if needed.
Does my ESTA remain valid if I change my name?
No. A name change requires a new ESTA application (8 CFR 217.5(e)). Apply with a name that doesn’t match your passport and you can be refused boarding even when the authorization is technically valid.
How early should I apply before travel?
CBP recommends applying at least 72 hours before flight departure—although most approvals arrive within minutes. Indeed, some applications require manual review, taking up to 72 hours for completion. Therefore, applying 1-2 weeks ahead of travel provides ample buffer.
Can multiple family members share one ESTA?
No—each traveler needs an individual ESTA application along with separate $40.62 fees. You can file everyone in one batch through the group application, but each authorization stays independent underneath.
What if my ESTA is approved but my flight is canceled?
Your ESTA remains valid for the full 2-year period even if your trip is canceled or rescheduled. Therefore, you can use the same authorization for any future US visit within validity.
Final Tips for Managing ESTA Validity
Set calendar reminders 30 days before your ESTA expires to avoid travel disruptions. Check status before you book anything—even if you’re sure of the original approval date. Passport changes void an existing ESTA even when validity time remains. Keep a screenshot or printout of your approval as a backup record. As a result, careful ESTA management ensures smooth US entry for all VWP-eligible travelers throughout the 2-year window. For more on costs and timing, see our guide to ESTA cost 2026 and the official CBP ESTA portal.
Last updated: 23 October 2026
How the ESTA validity period interacts with passport renewals
An approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is valid for two years from the date of issuance or until the underlying passport expires, whichever comes first, under 8 CFR §217.5(d). If you renew your passport during the two-year validity window — for example, because the existing book is filling up, or because you changed your legal name — you need a new ESTA, because a new passport is one of the events that requires a new travel authorization under 8 CFR §217.5(e). That means another application and the current $40.62 fee.
The same rule applies to citizenship changes. A traveler whose country of citizenship changes needs to file a fresh ESTA, even if the original one is still within its validity window; a change of citizenship is also listed in 8 CFR §217.5(e), alongside a change of name, a change of gender, and changed answers to the eligibility questions.
What to check before re-using an ESTA approval for a second or third trip
Before each trip, log into the ESTA portal at esta.cbp.dhs.gov and verify three fields: status (must read “Authorization Approved”), expiration date (must be after the planned departure date), and the passport number (must match the passport you will travel on). If the status reads “Pending” or “Travel Not Authorized,” do not assume the airline check-in counter will resolve it; a pending application can take up to 72 hours. If an authorization has been revoked or denied, you will need a B1/B2 visa from a U.S. consulate, as there is no appeal against an ESTA decision.
How the two-year clock interacts with the maximum 90-day stay per arrival
The two-year ESTA validity is the window during which you can present yourself at a U.S. port of entry; it is not the duration of a single trip. Each admission under the Visa Waiver Program is capped at 90 days (USA.gov), and an ESTA approval is not a guarantee of admission: a CBP officer decides at the port of entry (8 CFR §217.5(f)). Multiple short stays within the two-year window are permitted — for example, a one-week business trip in March, a two-week family visit in August, and a four-day conference in December — as long as the overall pattern does not suggest you are living in the U.S.
How to renew or replace an expiring ESTA
ESTA does not have a renewal in the traditional sense — when the two-year window closes, you submit a brand-new application. The new application costs $40.62 ($17 + $10.62 + $13), or $10.62 if it is refused (91 FR 62534), and most approvals come back within minutes, although you should allow up to 72 hours. Do not wait until the day of travel: an unexpectedly “Pending” status can leave you stranded at the airport with a same-day flight.
Frequently asked questions about ESTA validity and expiration
Can I travel on an ESTA that expires while I am inside the United States?
Yes. The ESTA only needs to be valid on the day you present yourself at the port of entry. Once admitted, the I-94 controls your authorized stay, and an ESTA expiring during your visit does not affect your admission or your return flight.
What happens if I change my name during the two-year window?
You’ll need to file a fresh ESTA on the passport that carries the new name. A name change is one of the events that requires a new travel authorization.
Do I need to pay the $40.62 fee again for an emergency replacement?
Yes. There is no waiver, no refund, and no transfer of the fee between applications. Plan to pay the fee for every new application.
How does CBP treat a traveler whose ESTA was approved on a now-lost passport?
Report the lost passport to your home country authorities, obtain a replacement, and apply for a brand-new ESTA on the replacement document. The old ESTA cannot be used with the new passport.