The application takes a few minutes if you have everything to hand, and several days if you do not. Here is what to have ready before you start.
A valid biometric passport
Your passport must be biometric, valid, and issued by a country in the Visa Waiver Program. You will need a photo of the full double page carrying your photograph and your details.
Check the expiry date before you begin. A passport that expires during your trip is a problem we cannot solve for you.
A recent photo of yourself
Separate from the passport, you need a recent photograph of your face against a plain light background. It has to be different from the photo printed inside your passport.
An email address you actually read
The email address you give us becomes the address every message goes to, and half of your login to your tracking area. Use one you check, not a shared or work address you may lose access to.
Your travel details
Your approximate arrival date
Where you will be staying in the United States: hotel, rental, or the address of the person you are visiting
A contact in the United States, which can be the hotel itself
An emergency contact who is not travelling with you
If your plans are not fixed yet, approximate details are accepted. The authorization is not tied to a specific flight or hotel booking.
Your own answers to the eligibility questions
The application includes a set of questions about your health, criminal history, previous visa refusals and travel to certain countries. Only you can answer them, and we never answer them on your behalf.
A payment card
Payment is taken by card at the end of the form. Your total covers our service and the government fee, and the exact amount is shown before you confirm.
For a family or a group
Every traveller needs their own passport, their own photo and their own answers, including children. You can enter them all in one session and pay once.