Before we start: YourVisa.world is a private, attorney-supervised preparation service — not the U.S. government. You can apply directly at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. This article is educational and not legal advice. Fees change — verify the current amount on CBP's site before you pay.
The short answer
As of September 30, 2025, the U.S. government fee for an ESTA is $40 per person — up from $21. If you're reading an older guide that says $14 or $21, it's out of date. The increase came from federal legislation (Public Law 119-21), and there was no grace period: applications filed on or after that date pay $40.
That $40 goes to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), not to any travel agency or preparation service. It's the same whether you apply yourself or use someone to help you.
What the $40 actually covers
CBP breaks the fee into parts:
- $17 — the pre-existing travel-authorization fee
- $13 — a new travel-authorization charge added in 2025
- $10 — a new component added under the 2025 law
You may see a slightly higher total (around $40.27) at checkout because of a small operational/processing add-on. Either way, the government's share is roughly $40, and you should confirm the exact number on the official site the day you apply.
Is the ESTA fee refundable?
Generally, no. If your ESTA is approved, the full fee is charged and is not refundable. If your application is denied ("Travel Not Authorized"), you are typically charged only a small processing portion, not the full amount. Because the rules can shift, don't count on a refund — apply carefully the first time.
"Why did that other website charge me $90?"
Here's where people get burned. Many third-party ESTA websites bundle a service fee on top of the $40 government fee — sometimes without making the split clear — and travelers end up paying $70, $90, or more without realizing most of it wasn't the government's charge.
There's nothing wrong with paying for legitimate help. There is something wrong with a site that hides the math. Our rule is simple: you always see the $40 government fee and our service fee separately, before you pay. If a site won't show you that breakdown, that's a red flag — we wrote a whole guide on it: how to avoid ESTA scams.
What does an attorney-reviewed service add for the fee?
If your trip is simple and your history is clean, applying yourself on the official site for $40 is perfectly reasonable — and we'll tell you that.
Where a service like ours earns its fee is when there's something to get wrong: a past arrest, a prior visa refusal, an old overstay, or an eligibility question you're genuinely unsure how to answer truthfully. On an ESTA, a wrong answer isn't just a delay — a misrepresentation to the U.S. government can create a permanent problem under immigration law. Having a licensed attorney's team check your answers before they're filed is cheap insurance against a very expensive mistake.
Costs for families and groups
The $40 fee is per person — including children and infants. Every traveler needs their own ESTA tied to their own passport. Groups can be submitted together (CBP allows a group application), but the government still charges $40 for each individual in the group.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an ESTA in 2026? The U.S. government fee is $40 per person, effective September 30, 2025.
Why does it cost more than it used to? A 2025 federal law (Public Law 119-21) raised the fee from $21 to $40.
Is the $40 refundable if I'm denied? Usually you're only charged a small processing amount if denied, not the full $40. If approved, the full fee applies and isn't refundable.
Do children pay the ESTA fee? Yes — the $40 fee applies to every traveler, regardless of age.
Is it cheaper to apply myself? The government fee is the same $40 either way. You only pay more if you choose a preparation or review service on top of it — which is worth it mainly when your case has complications.
The bottom line
- The ESTA government fee is $40 per person as of Sept 30, 2025.
- It's the same amount whether you apply yourself or use a service — anything extra is a service fee, which should always be shown separately.
- If your history is complicated, attorney review is worth far more than it costs.
Start your attorney-reviewed ESTA application → — with the fee split shown up front, no surprises. If your situation is complicated, schedule a consultation first.
Reviewed by Ahmad Yakzan, immigration attorney. Admitted to the Florida Bar since 2011, Ahmad focuses on removal defense and the immigration consequences of criminal issues (crimmigration). He is admitted before multiple U.S. federal courts, was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2017–2020), and speaks Arabic and English.
This article is for educational purposes and is not legal advice. YourVisa.world is operated by Your Visa World PLLC and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. The official ESTA site is esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Verify current fees with CBP before applying.