The ESTA is an electronic travel authorisation that can be obtained directly online using a simple application.
Once approved, it is digitally linked to the traveler’s passport, leaving many to wonder whether or not it is necessary to print out an ESTA.
While the electronic system removes the need for paper documents, many travelers ask if they need to carry a printout of the ESTA for inspection by border authorities during their visit to the United States.
On this page, travelers can discover the answers to these important questions and other ESTA requirements for easy entry to the U.S.
Do I need to print out my ESTA Travel Authorization?
The US Visa Waiver Program and the ESTA serve visa-exempt travelers, meaning that those with an ESTA do not need a visa for the United States for short stays.
However it is necessary to have an approved ESTA, whether it is printed out or not.
Submitting your ESTA application online means you have entered your personal data such as full name and passport number.
The approved ESTA is electronically linked to the passport, meaning that it exists in a digital format
Therefore, your ESTA application is 100% online and all the necessary authorities, such as the U.S. embassy and U.S. border control, have access to your authorization.
As a consequence, you are not required to print out the ESTA confirmation.
An ESTA print out is not obligatory, as your info is electronically linked to the US Immigration system.
You can enter the United States simply by presenting the ESTA-Linked passport for inspection to border authorities.
Border control officers will scan this document and it will display the ESTA number assigned to the traveler once the authorization is approved.
Do I need to print and bring my ESTA to the airport?
As stated above, upon arrival at the airport you will be asked for your passport to show that you have an approved ESTA.
Airlines will not normally ask to see a printed ESTA document prior to boarding.
However, there are some cases where it may be beneficial to have a printout.
When You Should Print Out And Carry a Copy of the US ESTA
Although it is not obligatory to print a US ESTA document, there are still several reasons why you should consider carrying a printout of the authorization when traveling to the United States.
Some cases in which a printed copy of the ESTA could be useful include:
- Rare instances in which border authorities or airline crew may ask to see a physical copy of the ESTA
- Rare cases of a failure in the electronic system, so that you can easily show your reference number
- To provide proof of your legal entry to the States to a third party, such as a hotel.
- For your own personal use, to easily reference the information you provided on the ESTA application form.
It is also advisable to print the page that contains the answers to the varying questions on the ESTA application form.
It is important to keep a copy of this information if you plan to travel to, stopover in, or transit through the USA in the future.
If you wish to use your ESTA at a later date, it is important to make sure that this information is still current.
This way, you can avoid any problems that might arise at US border control.
How to Print out an approved ESTA
If you do choose to print out the approved ESTA, it is incredibly easy to do.
After submitting the application, the authorization is approved within 72 hours and a confirmation email is sent to the traveler.
You can simply access the email, and print a copy of the ESTA confirmation.
There is no required size or format for the printout, however you may wish to print the ESTA on a full page of A4 paper so that the information can be read clearly.
What Should I Do If I Lose the Printout of the ESTA?
If you lose the printed copy of the ESTA, it can easily be replaced. You can simply access the email confirmation once again and print a new copy of the ESTA.
There is no limit on the number of times you can print out the confirmation email.
As the ESTA is valid for 2 years from the date of approval, you can use the authorization to travel to the United States several times during its validity period.
It allows visits of up to 90 days with each entry to the US.
You might need a printout in case you wish to easily check your ESTA status during this time period to ensure that it is still valid and that you are not overstaying your visit.