UK passport to the USA
UK citizens need an ESTA to visit the USA without a visa, even just to change planes. It costs $40.62 on the official site. Everyone needs their own, including children. You also need one if you arrive by land or sea.
The rules
- What you need
- ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)
- Costs
- $40.62
- When to apply
- As soon as you start planning, and at least 72 hours before you fly
- How long it lasts
- 2 years, or until your passport expires if that's sooner
- Other options
- If you can't get an ESTA, you can apply for a visitor visa at the US Embassy instead.
- How long you can stay
- Up to 90 days per visit. You need a return or onward ticket. You can't extend a stay on an ESTA.
- Your passport
- A British citizen e-passport (with the chip symbol) that's valid for your whole stay. Emergency passports can't be used. If you get a new passport, you need a new ESTA.
- Arrival card
- None needed
Quick answers
Do UK citizens need a visa for the USA?
Not a visa, but you need an ESTA before you travel. UK citizens need an ESTA to visit the USA without a visa, even just to change planes. It costs $40.62 on the official site. Everyone needs their own, including children. You also need one if you arrive by land or sea.
How much does the ESTA cost?
$40.62 on the official site. Apply as soon as you start planning, and at least 72 hours before you fly. Other websites charge more for the same form.
How long can UK citizens stay in the USA?
Up to 90 days per visit. You need a return or onward ticket. You can't extend a stay on an ESTA.
How long does my passport need to be valid for the USA?
A British citizen e-passport (with the chip symbol) that's valid for your whole stay. Emergency passports can't be used. If you get a new passport, you need a new ESTA.
Things that could change this
- Since 12 January 2021, have you been to Cuba? Or since 1 March 2011, have you been to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen? Count stops in transit too.If yes: You need a US visa instead of an ESTAYou can't use an ESTA if you've been to any of these countries in those dates, even in transit. The only exceptions are trips as a member of your country's armed forces or as a full-time government employee on official duty. Apply for a visitor visa at a US embassy instead. Appointments are limited, so apply early.
- Are you also a national of Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan or Syria?If yes: You need a US visa instead of an ESTADual nationals of these countries can't use an ESTA. This applies even if you haven't been there, and the military and government exceptions don't apply. The US decides who counts as a national under its own rules. Apply for a visitor visa at a US embassy instead.
- Have you ever been arrested or convicted for a crime that caused serious damage to property, or serious harm to a person or a government authority? Or broken any law on having, using or supplying illegal drugs?If yes: You may need a US visa instead of an ESTAThe ESTA form asks these questions. If the answer is yes, you may not be able to use an ESTA, even if an arrest didn't lead to a conviction. Apply for a visitor visa at a US embassy instead. Never answer no to get through: travelling on an ESTA when you're not eligible can lead to detention and removal.
- Is a child under 18 travelling with only one parent, or without their parents?If yes: Carry a consent letter for your childIf a child is travelling alone, with only one parent or with someone else, carry a letter of consent from the parent or parents not travelling. It should be in English and preferably notarised. It can say: "I acknowledge that my child is travelling outside the country with [name of adult] with my permission."
Good to know
Face scans when you arrive and leave. Since 26 December 2025, US border officers can take a photo of your face each time you enter or leave the USA, at airports, seaports and land borders. This applies to everyone who isn't a US citizen, including most Canadians.
Use the official ESTA site. Other websites charge extra to submit your ESTA. Apply only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov or in the official ESTA Mobile app, where it costs $40.62. CBP can't refund money you paid to another site.
Selfie and social media on the ESTA form. The ESTA form asks for a photo of your passport page and a selfie. It also asks about your social media over the last five years. If you don't use social media, you can say so and still apply. If an older ESTA has no selfie, you may need a new one.
US travel ban and dual nationals. Since 1 January 2026, the US has limited entry for nationals of some countries. It doesn't apply if you travel on a passport from a country that isn't listed, such as your UK, Irish, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport. The separate ESTA rules for dual nationals still apply.
Checked 26 October 2026 against US Customs and Border Protection, US Embassy and Consulates in the United Kingdom and GOV.UK.
See the 4 official sources
- ESTA frequently asked questions (US Customs and Border Protection)
- CBP's Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) (US Embassy and Consulates in the United Kingdom)
- Countries that extend passport validity for an additional six months (Six-Month Club update, 18 December 2025) (US Customs and Border Protection)
- USA entry requirements (GOV.UK (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office))
Related guides
- ESTA, ETA, eTA and ETIAS explainedFour travel permits with similar names, and who needs which.
- Passport validity rulesWhen a passport that hasn't expired still isn't good enough.
- Children travelling without both parentsConsent letters and what border officers may ask for.
- Travelling on two passportsWhich one to show, and when it changes your limits.