Is your passport lost, stolen, or expired, and you’ve recently obtained a new one? You need to apply for a new ESTA travel authorization before traveling to the United States.
Read on for more details about when you need to reapply for ESTA if you have been issued a new passport.
Can an ESTA be transferred from my old passport to the new passport?
The ESTA is linked directly to your passport number. If you obtain a new passport, your existing ESTA cannot be transferred.
You must apply for a new ESTA with the details of your new passport. This requirement applies regardless of whether your previous passport was lost, stolen, or expired.
Always ensure that the passport number on your ESTA matches the number on the passport you plan to travel with. This will help you avoid issues at the U.S. border.
How long before the passport expires can I renew an ESTA?
An ESTA is valid until the expiration date of the associated passport or up to 2 years, whichever comes first. If your passport is nearing expiration, we recommend that you renew your passport first before applying for a new ESTA.
You cannot renew an ESTA per se instead, you must submit a completely new application once your passport has been renewed or if it expires within the validity of your existing ESTA.
We recommend applying for your new ESTA at least 3 days before your departure for the United States. This allows for sufficient processing time.
Note: Should an ESTA expire while you are in the United States, it will not affect your departure in any way.
Under what other circumstances do I need to apply for a new ESTA?
Reapplying for ESTA is also obligatory if the following changes have occurred since you obtained your original travel authorization:
- You have changed your name
- You have changed your gender (you may choose whichever gender option you feel comfortable with. The travel authorization will not be denied solely based on the selected gender)
- Your country of citizenship has changed
- The answer to any of the additional application questions has changed, e.g. you were convicted of a crime, you suffer from a contagious disease, etc.
If you require a new travel authorization, we recommend you apply for ESTA as soon as you start planning your next visit to the US.