Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries should prepare for a significant cost increase. Starting September 30, 2025, the U.S. will raise the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee from $21 to $40, effectively stretching budgets and adding complexity to short-term travel planning.
Under the revised fee breakdown, the $40 total will be split into three components: a $17 travel promotion fee, unchanged from the previous structure; a heightened $10 operational administrative fee; and a new $13 contribution to the U.S. Treasury General Fund – a provision enshrined in recent federal budget legislation designed to boost revenue streams and fund border management priorities.
Implications for Travelers and Tourism
For anyone planning a trip to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (which includes many European, Australasian, and other countries), the fee hike comes with immediate financial implications. Families or groups applying for ESTA after the September cutoff date will see their total cost per person almost double – an increase from $21 to $40. For a family of four, that translates to an extra $76 in permit fees alone.
This increase is expected to create new headaches for travel planners and infrequent visitors alike. Longer-term tourists, business travelers, or those coordinating corporate mobility will need to adjust budgets and timing. For example, applying before the September 30 deadline allows staying locked in at the lower rate, with the authorization remaining valid for two years, or until passport renewal.
The higher cost also stands as one of several entry-related fee hikes facing travelers this year. Additional burdens, like increased I-94 form charges and newly introduced visa integrity surcharges, make it clear that short-term trips to the U.S. now require more forward-planning. While the U.S. Travel Association has welcomed improved funding in areas like infrastructure and border security, they’ve warned of the broader deterrent effect on tourism – especially when similar programs like the EU’s ETIAS are also rolling out with fees of their own.
On TravelCapybara, we reported on the U.S. visa bond requirement introduced in 2025, a policy that adds another layer of expense and scrutiny for certain applicants outside the Visa Waiver Program. In addition, we shared insights on new U.S. visa rules involving interviews, fees, and bonds, which demonstrate how entry to the U.S. is steadily becoming more complex and costly. Viewed together with the ESTA fee increase, these changes highlight a consistent trend: travelers must budget not only for flights and hotels but also for administrative costs that are rapidly escalating.
Recommendations and What’s Next
Travel professionals suggest acting fast: travelers planning upcoming U.S. trips, especially families or frequent visitors, should submit their ESTA applications before the new fee takes effect. The authorization remains valid for two years, meaning early applicants could potentially avoid repeat future costs during that period.
Long-term, this development underscores the shifting terrain of short-stay travel regulation – where administrative hurdles and rising fees are becoming part of the cost of globalization. While the U.S. adjusts, savvy travelers and agents are already contemplating offsets – such as grouping applications before the fee hike, leveraging loyalty tiers, or exploring alternatives like visa runs where feasible.
From September onward, this fee, embedded in broader immigration funding changes, will serve as a reminder: the true cost of travel isn’t just in the price of flights and hotels—but increasingly, in what it takes to simply be allowed to board the plane.
