Which is better — visa or ESTA?

Should you apply for an ESTA or a visa for your next trip to the USA? To find out, you need to know the requirements, costs, advantages, and disadvantages of each. Let us help you make your decision.

ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States without a visa. The electronic travel authorization is only available to citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP for short) and is used for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

An ESTA application is submitted online and is usually approved within 72 hours. It is usually valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Most visitors to the USA can use an ESTA for multiple entries.

However, for some countries, such as Hungary and Brunei, there are restrictions on these rights: ESTA authorization for Hungarian nationals is valid for a maximum of one year and must be reapplied for each entry. The validity of an ESTA for travelers from Brunei has also been reduced from two years to one year.

A US visa is an authorization that allows non-US citizens to enter the US temporarily or permanently. It is placed in the applicant's passport in the form of a sticker or stamp and is issued by US embassies and consulates worldwide.

There are two types of US visas: non-immigrant visas for people who wish to travel to the USA temporarily (e.g., tourists, business people, students) and immigrant visas to live in the USA permanently (e.g., the Green Card for family reunification, the Green Card as part of a job, or the Green Card for winners of the Green Card Lottery).

To obtain a US visa, in addition to the application form, you must submit supporting documents and attend an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate in your home country. The process varies depending on the type of visa and your circumstances, and can take several weeks.

You can enter the United States visa-free with ESTA if you are a citizen of a VWP country and hold a valid biometric passport (e-passport). Countries currently participating in the Visa Waiver Program include:

¹ The validity period of an ESTA authorization for travelers from Brunei has been reduced from two years to one year, effective July 6th, 2023.

² The validity period of an ESTA authorization for Hungarian travelers has been shortened from two years to one year, effective August 1st, 2023. In addition, Hungarians are now only allowed to enter the US once per ESTA and also require a Hungarian birth certificate for the ESTA process.

To obtain an ESTA authorization, your stay in the USA must either be for tourism, business purposes, or a transit stay. Please note that the maximum stay must not exceed 90 days.

Further requirements that you must fulfill for an ESTA application:

• You must not have been refused an ESTA in the past.
• You must not have a criminal record.
• You must be free of serious infectious diseases.
• You must not be looking for work in the USA.
• You must not intend to immigrate to the USA.
• You must not have traveled to certain countries classified as “risky” in the past (e.g., Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, North Korea, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and Cuba).
• You must not hold dual citizenship in any of the above countries.

The requirements for applying for a US visa are not as stringent as the ESTA, but the effort and cost are significantly higher. For example, depending on the visa category, you may be required to submit various documents to prove your financial means, your intention to return to your home country, and the purpose of your stay in the United States.

A personal interview at the US embassy or consulate is also required. During the interview, you will be asked additional questions about the purpose of your trip and your circumstances, and you will be required to “defend” your written application and all supporting documents.

The application process for ESTA authorization is quick, easy, and inexpensive. Fill out the application form at www.esta-application.com, follow the payment request for the service rate you have chosen (between € 49.90 and € 69.90), and wait for your authorization to be sent to you by email.

You will often receive your ESTA authorization within minutes of submitting your application. However, the US authorities reserve the right to a processing time of up to 72 hours.

The US visa process takes much longer and involves several steps, including filling out an extensive application form, paying the much higher application fee (between $ 185 and $ 315), and arranging an interview at the US embassy or consulate.

Because of the long processing time of several weeks, you must apply for a US visa much earlier than you would for an ESTA.

Activities permitted with an ESTA include tourism, visiting friends or relatives, attending (unpaid) functions, medical treatment, attending business meetings, negotiations, conferences, and short training courses, and transit through the US en route to another country.

Please note: You are not allowed to work in the USA if you are traveling with ESTA. You are also not allowed to attend training courses unless they are for academic or vocational purposes.

A visa allows you to do a wider range of activities in the USA, depending on the visa category. Here are some examples:

• Student Visa (F-1, M-1): Study at accredited US educational institutions, participate in exchange programs
• Work visa (H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc.): Employment with a US company in specialized occupations, international corporate relocations, work for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement
• Exchange Visa (J-1): Participation in approved exchange programs that promote education, culture, and science
• Tourist visa (B-2): Vacation travel, tourism, visiting friends or relatives, attending social events, musical performances, or sporting events, attending short study courses that do not award credit toward a degree
• Business visa (B-1): Participation in business meetings, negotiations, or conferences, short training courses or seminars, conclusion of contracts, or consultations with business partners
• Green Card (US immigrant visa): Unrestricted residence and work permit for the USA

The specific conditions and restrictions of each visa may vary, so it is important to check the exact details of each visa category. The only US visa without time restrictions and special requirements is the Green Card.

ESTA is suitable for you if you are a citizen of one of the countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program and meet the following conditions:

• Your intended stay in the US is 90 days or less.
• Your purpose of travel includes tourism, business travel, medical treatment, or transit.
• You have a valid biometric passport.
• You have never been refused an ESTA authorization.
• There are no reasons (such as a criminal record or visits to certain countries) that would preclude ESTA authorization from the outset.

ESTA is a quick, easy, and inexpensive option. The permit is applied for online and issued within 72 hours.

You should apply for a US visa if:

• You are not a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country.
• The purpose of your trip does not qualify for ESTA (e.g., work or study).
• Your planned stay is longer than 90 days.
• There are reasons for your exclusion from ESTA (e.g., dual citizenship or travel to countries classified as risky).

The visa application process is more time-consuming and costly than the ESTA application because it requires a personal interview, the submission of numerous documents, and longer processing times. However, if you have one of the ESTA disqualifications listed above, an ESTA rejection is unavoidable and the visa is your only option to enter the United States.