The US Congress is currently discussing a series of measures, among which a possible increase in the price of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ESTA) for the United States.
On 19 May 2025, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published the results of a study which analysed the potential economic impact of increasing the price of the ESTA. The American administration wants to cover the costs of immigration and national security by raising the price.
The ESTA is mandatory for most travellers to the US
By 2025, 42 countries worldwide will be part of the ESTA-program. Travellers holding a passport from a country taking part in the programme will not need to apply for a visa to travel to the US, but for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ESTA). This applies to business travel, holiday travel as well as transfers. Currently, the consular fee for an ESTA is USD 21. After a potential increase, the consular fee could rise to USD 40.
Several steps needed for implementation
The price implementation can only come into effect if a series of steps are taken. The proposal must first be approved by the Congress, then it must gain a majority in the Senate. Then the president must sign the bill into law. Only then will the new law go into effect.
Reasons for the price increase
With this bill, the US government wants to make more revenue by making travellers pay for the security- and migration-related costs. In the report, the CBO calculated that a price increase to USD 40 could increase the revenue for government in 3.8 billion. According to the CBO, this could reduce the budget deficit by USD 3.1 billion between 2025 and 2034. The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) is responsible for estimating the economic impact of bills under discussion. The CBO does not introduce bills, but a report from the CBO is an important step in the legislative process.
The image of the US is changing
Although for most travellers nothing has legally changed, since President Trump took office, international travellers' interest in the US has taken a big hit, according to ANWB research. British tourists and other international travellers are increasingly opting for other holiday destinations. According to a recent study, the percentage of Dutch people who are less interested in travelling to the US went from 43 per cent in March to 62 per cent in May. Over 2,000 participants in the survey even stated they were ‘much less inclined’ to travel to the US.
Potential negative impact on US economy
Oxford Economics has predicted a sharp contraction of USD 8.5 billion in spending by international tourists in the country in 2025. This would be a decrease of 5% from the previous year. The World Travel & Tourism Council even assumes a ‘devastating’ loss of USD 12.5 billion in spending by international tourists in the US. The decline in visitors from Canada is particularly striking. In the past, this was by far the largest group of international tourists in America, but Canadians are also increasingly choosing to deliberately boycott the US.
Is this the right time to increase the price?
This proposal for a price increase comes at an inopportune time, since the American tourism industry is facing major challenges. Adding a financial threshold could result in fewer international travellers visiting the US.
Apply for an ESTA now and pay the old fee
For now, the old ESTA fee still applies. On this website, you can use an application form with clear explanations. Please inform yourself about the ESTA requirements before applying. The ESTA has a validity of up to 2 years from the moment it is approved. Don't forget that you don't need to enter an exact date of arrival on your application. An estimate is sufficient. If you plan to travel to America in the next two years, you can already apply for the ESTA now.