ESTA TRAVEL PERMIT ONLINE APPLICATION

ESTA Visa Application

Apply for an ESTA travel authorization

ESTA is not a visa. This is an important distinction. A valid travel authorization (ESTA) does not meet the legal requirements of visa. Travelers that possess a valid visa for the United States may travel to the U.S. with that visa for the purpose for which it was issued. Travelers traveling on valid visa do not need to apply for an additional ESTA. In the same way that a valid visa does not guarantee admission to the United States, an approved ESTA is not a guarantee of admission either.

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ESTA travel visa application in three easy steps:

Step 1

Start Online ESTA Application

Step 2

Make Online Payment

Step 3

Receive ESTA By Email

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ESTA Visa for New Zealand Citizens

ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is not a visa. This is an important distinction. In case you wish for permanent residency in the USA, then you will have to apply for a regular US Visa. A valid travel authorization (ESTA) does not meet the legal requirements of a visa. Travelers that possess a valid visa for the United States may travel to the U.S. . with that visa for the purpose for which it was issued. Hence, US visa holders do not need to apply for ESTA NZ no matter the purpose and duration of the visit. In the same way that a valid visa does not guarantee admission to the United States, an approved ESTA is not a guarantee of admission either.

Citizens of visa-exempt countries
Short-term travelers (up to 90 days)
Travelers with a valid biometric passport

If a person satisfies the above-mentioned criteria then they can apply for ESTA and travel to the United States for up to 90 days. However, there are a few more requirements discussed below that have to be met when filling out the application for an ESTA visa waiver.

US ESTA for New Zealand Travelers

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) first appeared in the summer of 2008. The system is intended to prescreen travelers from those countries where the United States has a visa-exemption travel agreement. In less than a year, ESTA became a mandatory requirement for all travelers from 41 visa-exempt countries to the United States including for New Zealand nationals. Since then, ESTA is a required "travel permit;" it is not an actual U.S. visa. The ESTA requirement applies to travelers entering the United States by air or sea under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA Applicants must also have a valid machine-readable passport. Eligible travelers without an approved ESTA Travel Authorization or a valid U.S. Visitor Visa will be denied boarding on all U.S.-bound flights. The U.S. government recommends applying for ESTA as early as possible. The latest deadline for ESTA application is at least 72 hours prior to departure.

Do you qualify to travel to the United States without Visa?

Citizens of all the Visa Waiver Countries may travel to the United States without a visa. There are certain restrictions in the Visa Waiver Program, but there is still the main advantage, that no visa is required. If you are a New Zealand citizen holding a New Zealand Passport, you can apply for ESTA (Travel Authorization) online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization - also called “ESTA”. This program enables visits to the United States for up to 90 days for tourism, business, transit, or medical reasons without the need to apply for a USA visa. The following countries are currently part of the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

Who does not qualify for an ESTA visa?

There are certain groups of people who are barred from applying for an ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program, according to ESTA regulations. These visitors to the United States must apply for a visa to enter the country. The following individuals are not eligible to apply for an ESTA:

ESTA application USA

Visa Waiver Program nationals who have gone to Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, or Libya since March 2011. Only delegates, officials, and military personnel are exempt;
Nationals of VWP countries who also hold dual citizenship in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and Syria;
People who have previously been denied entry into the United States (at the port of entry) or who have been deported from the United States;
People who have committed certain offenses, have been arrested, or have previously been convicted of a crime (criminal records can be reviewed individually);
People who have previously violated US entry requirements (for example, those who have overstayed the allowed time for stay with an ESTA or visa);
People infected with a contagious disease;

ESTA Visa NZ Validity for Travelers

After approval, ESTA NZ has a validity of two years unless the passport of the applicant expires beforehand. A valid ESTA allows visitors to stay in the United States for 90 days. You do not need to reapply for a visa waiver every time you enter and exit the country, as long as you have a valid ESTA Visa and meet the requirements for travel under the Visa Waiver Program. However, if you change your name or obtain a new passport, you must submit a new ESTA application. There are a few cases when your ESTA becomes invalid:

When you change your name
When your passport expires (one used for ESTA application)
When you get a new passport number
When 2 years pass after ESTA approval

When Will I need a New ESTA Visa Application?

There can be a set of circumstances that may trigger a need for a new ESTA. However, such cases are reviewed individually. If you are unsure whether you need to reapply for ESTA NZ or not, please contact the officials or embassy for assistance. Please keep in mind that an approved ESTA Visa NZ does not mean that you will be allowed to enter the United States. ESTA has no power to grant absolute permission for entering the United States at the port of entry and the officers of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have sole authority to decide whether or not you can enter the country. The port of entry officer at the airport decides whether you can enter and how long you can stay. If your stay with an ESTA visa is close to its expiry date, in normal cases you would not be allowed to extend your stay while already in the United States. Trips into and out of other countries, including Mexico or Canada will also not result in a 90-day extension.

New Zealand as a Part of the Visa Waiver Program

New Zealand is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). It enables citizens of New Zealand to travel to the United States (USA) without applying for a visa. On January 12, 2009, ESTA became a requirement of the Visa Waiver Program, which means ESTA is an application system for all travelers from Visa Waiver Countries, including New Zealand. Moreover The Visa Waiver Program has simplified travel to the United States for millions of visitors by only requiring a machine-readable passport. Now, due to heightened security regulations, the same visitors must apply for a Travel Authorization (ESTA) in advance. As always, a machine-readable or e-passport from a Visa Waiver country is still required to gain admittance into the United States. Which means that, the entire ESTA application process is conducted online and operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).