Travellers that have ever been to Iran or Iraq are not always able to apply for an ESTA. This also holds for travellers that have ever been to Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Libya or Somalia. This concerns trips that were made after 1 March 2011. People that possess a passport issued by Iran, Iraq, or one of the other countries mentioned above generally do not qualify for an ESTA to travel to the USA.
Iran
Visit to Iran or Iraq after 1 March 2011
Were you in Iraq or Iran before 2011, but you have never held an Iranian or Iraqi passport? Then you can submit an ESTA application as normal. You no longer qualify for an ESTA if you were in Iran or Iraq after 1 March of 2011. The same holds if you have been to Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Libya or Somalia since this time.
I (used to) possess an Iranian or Iraqi passport
Do you hold a passport that was issued by Iran or Iraq? Then you do not qualify for an ESTA to travel to the USA. This also applies to passports that were issued by Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Libya or Somalia. Even if you also possess a passport from a country that is part of the Visa Waiver Program (such as the UK), it is not possible to apply for an ESTA. This exclusion even applies if you ever (at any point) possessed a passport issued by Iran, Iraq or one of the other countries mentioned above. Even if this was before 2011.
How to still travel to the USA
If due to your travel history you do not qualify for an ESTA, this does not automatically mean that you cannot travel to the USA period. It simply means that you need to follow a different route to get the correct travel authorisation. In that case, you can go to the US embassy, where you can apply for a non-immigrant visa. Usually, an extensive background check regarding your travels to Iran or Iraq is required.
Please note: this news article about the ESTA for the USA is more than one year old. It might contain outdated information and advice, and no rights can therefore be derived from this article. Are you going on a trip soon and do you wish to do know what rules currently apply? Read all about the up-to-date information about the ESTA for the USA.