For certain categories of people, traveling to the USA requires obtaining an ESTA authorization. Considering that the authorization is valid for multiple entries into American territory for a period of two years, it’s easy to forget if your ESTA is still valid for your next trip to the USA. Are there ways to retrieve your ESTA and ensure its validity? That’s what we’ll explore here.
Retrieve an ESTA with the Application Number
To retrieve an ESTA, it is not necessary to go to the nearest American embassy. Remember that, unlike a visa application where it is mandatory to go to the US embassy and meet with a consular officer, the ESTA application is done exclusively online, on the official US government website or via a private website.
The process to retrieve an ESTA is simple: you just need to go to the official website with your application number and passport number. The application number was sent to you following the registration of your application. There’s no need to try to retrieve your ESTA if you have a new passport: the ESTA is electronically linked to the passport, any change in the latter renders the ESTA null and void.
This process is even simpler if the order was placed on a private website: you just need to log into your customer account to retrieve your ESTA. In case of any issues, customer service is also available.
If your ESTA authorization has expired, you can make a new application by proceeding in the same way as with your first application. The ‘authorized’ status means that your ESTA is still valid and can be used for your next stay in the USA. Be sure to check the expiration date of your ESTA, but also the validity of your passport. Once the passport expiration date is reached, the ESTA is automatically cancelled.
We also remind you that not all types of stays are authorized. The Visa Waiver Program, from which ESTA originates, only concerns short stays (maximum 90 days on American soil). Moreover, the stay in question must be a transit, a tourist trip, or a business trip.
Retrieve an ESTA Authorization Without the Application Number
If you can’t find your ESTA application number, there is a way to do without it. Go to the government website and click on the link ‘I don’t know the application number’. You are then asked for the passport number, country of citizenship, date of issue and expiration date of your electronic or biometric passport, as well as your date of birth.
With this information, the electronic systems are able to retrieve your ESTA authorization and inform you of its status.
