When to renew an ESTA?

Are you planning to go to the United States soon, and have already applied for ESTA in the past? A legitimate question may come to your mind: should I renew my ESTA authorization before my stay in the USA? In this article, we will explain the precise conditions under which it is necessary to renew a temporary residence permit.

Why renew an ESTA authorization?

The ESTA was set up to reinforce the internal security of the United States of America for travel authorized by the Visa Waiver Program. Although its conditions of use are more flexible than those of the American visa, the American authorities nevertheless ensure that each traveler wishing to travel to the USA without a visa respects the required conditions. In order not to abuse the US Visa Waiver Program, US Customs and Border Protection has defined specific rules that govern the validity of this travel document. Although it seems obvious, it is important to specify that if you wish to visit the United States with an ESTA whose expiry date has passed, you will simply be denied access to American soil. To ensure that your trip to the USA is eligible for ESTA, you must first make sure that your stay meets the following conditions:

• temporary stay of up to 90 days;
• tourist stay, business trip or transit.

Cases requiring ESTA renewal

The U.S. government requires foreign nationals to renew their U.S. residency permits in three major cases.

Renew an ESTA after it expires

ESTA documents are valid for two years. As soon as the end of use deadline is reached, an ESTA renewal must be carried out, if you wish to go to the USA. In addition, to enjoy your ESTA, you must have a valid passport. If your electronic or biometric passport expires, the ESTA is no longer valid.

Renew an ESTA in case of a new passport

ESTA authorization is a 100% electronic travel document. It is associated with the traveler’s passport via the electronic chip. Thus, if the passport expires, the authorization expires at the same time. The same applies to any change made to the passport: modification of its data, theft, loss. If this is the case, the first step is to apply for a passport renewal at your town hall. Remember to anticipate this process, because this formality takes an average of 3 weeks to a month. Once you have your new passport, you can renew your ESTA.

Renew an ESTA in the event of a change in personal situation

This is more of a new ESTA application than a renewal. If one of the elements added to the ESTA form during the first request, other than the place of accommodation or the e-mail address, changes, a new authorization request is required. This is also true for the closed questions that complete the online form.

How to renew an ESTA USA?

The procedure for renewing an ESTA is extremely quick and straightforward. All you need to do is apply for a new ESTA online by filling in the ESTA form. The form is available on the official U.S. government website.
To complete the form, you’ll first need to state your marital status, and copy the most important information from your valid passport, such as passport number, country of issue and date of issue. Once this information has been communicated, you will have to detail the conditions of your stay on American soil (reason, place of residence, person to contact). Finally, the last step of the form consists of a short questionnaire. This part mainly concerns your criminal record, your state of health and your previous trips. If your first online application was successfully approved and your situation has not changed in the meantime, obtaining your new ESTA should be a hassle-free process. Be careful all the same, when completing the form, not to make any mistakes. Indeed, the slightest typo could cost you a refusal of ESTA. You will then need to renew your ESTA and pay the ESTA application fee again.
If you no longer meet the ESTA eligibility criteria, your application will be refused. It will then be advisable to contact the consular services of the United States Embassy in order to apply for a visa.