US Travel Authorization Fee to Double on September 30

The United States has announced that beginning on September 30, 2025, the fees for travel authorization for citizens from visa-exempt countries will increase.

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As of September 29, 2025, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will charge $21 per application. After that date, the fee will rise to $40 per visitor. It’s important to note that this is distinct from the ‘visa integrity fee,’ which amounts to $250 for visitors from non-visa-exempt countries.

For instance, a visitor from the UK will pay $40 for their travel application approval. However, someone coming from a non-exempt country, like China, will need to pay for their tourist visa application (approximately $25) plus an additional $250 integrity fee. (Reportedly, the integrity fee will be refunded to visitors who do not violate any regulations during their stay.)

Recently, the EU also increased its ETIAS fee from about $8 to $23, tripling the cost and drawing criticism for its steepness. This price increase is attributed to the additional costs of implementing the EU’s new fully digitized and biometric border systems.

So, what is driving the increase in the US travel authorization fee, especially given the fluctuations in domestic tourism?

What led to the US doubling its travel authorization fee for visitors?

The increase in the US’s ESTA fee is a result of new provisions outlined in the recently enacted ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act,’ which mandates additional fees for ESTA. The new $40 fee will be allocated as follows: $17 for travel promotion, $10 for operational ESTA costs (previously $4), and $13 for the Treasury General Fund fee.

The modest rise in operational ESTA fees reflects similar price increases in both the EU and the UK. Over time, systems tend to grow and incur higher operational costs. The Treasury General Fund fee is a new charge that accounts for the majority of the price increase.