🇦🇺Australia

🇺🇸United StatesAU-US

Australia to United States visa requirements

Q: How long does an ESTA last?

Two years from approval, or until your passport expires (whichever comes first). Multiple visits up to 90 days each are allowed during the validity period.

Q: Can I work or study in the US on ESTA?

No. ESTA covers tourism, business meetings, conferences, and short courses (under 18 hours/week). Paid work needs an H, L, O, or E visa; longer study needs F or M visa.

Q: Has the ESTA fee changed?

Yes. Current official guidance lists the ESTA total cost as USD 40.27. Visa-Waiver travelers remain outside the B-visa process and should use only the official ESTA site.

Q: Can I apply for Global Entry?

Yes. Australian citizens can apply through CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs process, subject to Australian background checks and U.S. approval. Global Entry does not replace ESTA or visa requirements.

Q: What about the E-3 visa for work?

Australia has a unique E-3 work visa for specialty occupations, separate from ESTA. The current State Department fee page lists the E / Australian Professional Specialty category at USD 315. Apply through the relevant U.S. consular process.

Australian passports use ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program — USD 40.27 total cost, 90-day stays. Australian ordinary passport holders travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). They need an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before boarding any flight or cruise to the US. ESTA permits stays of up to 90 days for tourism, business, or transit, with multiple entries during its 2-year validity. USAGov lists the current total ESTA cost as USD 40.27, and the official application is filed online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Some decisions arrive quickly, but official guidance says to allow up to 72 hours. Travelers must hold a biometric e-Passport — all Australian passports issued since October 2005 are biometric.

VISA REQUIREDTOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-19

For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.

Policy alertWatch this route for rule changesSave this passport and destination for email summaries and optional browser notifications.Subscribe →Australia (PR)Living in Australia as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-19

Visa type

ESTA under Visa Waiver Program

Maximum stay

Up to 90 days per visit

per entry

Entries

Multiple

from issue date

Visa fee

USD 40.27

consular fee only

Processing time

Usually minutes (allow 72 hours)

standard track

Validity

2 years or until passport expires

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Check passport eligibility

You must hold an Australian biometric e-Passport — all standard Australian passports issued since October 2005 qualify.

· ePassport

/02

Apply on the official CBP site

Go to esta.cbp.dhs.gov — never use third-party sites. Complete personal, travel, and eligibility questions (criminal history, communicable disease, prior visa refusals).

· esta.cbp.dhs.gov only

/03

Pay the fee

Pay the official ESTA total cost of USD 40.27 by an accepted online payment method. Avoid third-party sites that add service charges.

· USD 40.27 total

/04

Wait for the decision

Most ESTAs approved within minutes. Some need up to 72 hours. Apply at least 72 hours before flying.

· 72-hour buffer

/05

Travel and clear immigration

ESTA is electronically linked to your passport — no printout needed. Present passport and Customs Declaration at the US airport. Officer decides final entry and stay.

· officer discretion at POE

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

13 items

Personalized checklist

Australia -> United States · ESTA under Visa Waiver Program

0 / 13 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredAustralian biometric e-Passport

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

Valid for the duration of stay

RequiredApproved ESTA

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

Linked to passport, valid 2 years

RequiredReturn or onward ticket

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Required for VWP travelers

RequiredAccommodation evidence

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Hotel booking, host's address, or Airbnb confirmation

ConditionalFunds evidence

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

Bank statements or credit cards if asked

RecommendedTravel insurance

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Strongly recommended — US healthcare costs are very high

RequiredESTA disqualifier check

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Travel to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, North Korea or Yemen on/after 1 March 2011, or Cuba on/after 12 January 2021, disqualifies ESTA

RequiredCustoms declaration

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

Filed via Mobile Passport Control app, CBP One, or paper on arrival

ConditionalGlobal Entry card (if applicable)

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Australia is processing Global Entry applications for eligible citizens

OptionalTSA PreCheck (optional)

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Available with Global Entry; speeds up airport security

RequiredOfficial application form or online application

Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed

Use the current form from the official or designated application channel.

RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary

Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it

Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.

RecommendedTravel medical insurance

Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates

Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.

Official sourcesOfficial ESTA Application — U.S. CBP (no visible page date)USAGov — Visa Waiver Program and ESTA application (last updated 10 April 2026)U.S. State Department — Visa Waiver Program (no visible page date)

Application link included: Official ESTA Application — U.S. CBP (no visible page date)

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

ESTA applicationUSD 40.27Current official total cost shown by USAGov and the ESTA application flow

B-1/B-2 visitor visaUSD 185Alternative if ESTA refused or longer stay needed

Visa Integrity FeeFree for ESTAUSD 250+ for B-visa holders; VWP exempt

Global Entry membershipUSD 1205-year trusted-traveler programme

Mobile Passport ControlFreeSpeeds up customs declaration on arrival

Total estimateUSD 40.27 — USD 250+incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

ESTA decision

Minutes to 72 hours

Most automatic; apply at least 72 hours before flying.

B-1/B-2 visa interview

Weeks to months

Wait times vary at US embassies in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne. Many travelers prefer ESTA for short trips.

Global Entry approval

Several months

Trusted-traveler programme; Australian citizens can apply through CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs process.

ESTA renewal

Same as new

Re-apply when ESTA or passport approaches expiry.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

ESTA ineligibility

Travel to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, North Korea or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011, or Cuba on or after 12 January 2021, makes you ESTA-ineligible. Apply for a B visa instead.

Medium

/02

Past US visa refusal

Any prior US visa refusal disqualifies ESTA. Apply for a B visa and explain the refusal at interview.

Medium

/03

Criminal record

Convictions involving 'moral turpitude' (theft, fraud, drugs, assault) usually bar ESTA. May need a B visa with waiver of inadmissibility.

Low

/04

Wrong purpose at port of entry

VWP covers tourism, business meetings, and short courses — not paid work, paid internships, or settlement.

Medium

/05

Dual nationality with restricted country

Dual Australian/Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, North Korea citizens cannot use ESTA, even on the AU passport.

Low

/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01

CBP inspection

A visa lets you request admission. CBP decides the actual period of stay and records it in your I-94.

/02

Customs

Declare food, agricultural items, and cash over USD 10,000. Missing declarations can cause fines or seizure.

/03

Connectivity

Airport SIMs are expensive; eSIMs or prepaid plans bought online often work better for short trips.

/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024

2026-06-19

Reviewed by Claude Code

Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.

2026-06-19 · major

Australia to United States route re-verified

Confirmed Australia remains a Visa Waiver Program country, updated ESTA total cost to USD 40.27, corrected Global Entry wording for the current Australian rollout, and corrected the E-3 fee to USD 315.

2025-09-30 · major

ESTA fee increase reflected in total cost

Earlier CBP fee-increase references described the statutory ESTA fee moving from USD 21 to USD 40; current USAGov and ESTA application guidance shows the traveler-facing total cost as USD 40.27.

/09 — The questions