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US ESTA applications for UAE residents

If you hold a passport from a Visa Waiver Program country you may not need a visa at all. We prepare and submit your ESTA for AED 999 + VAT, government fee included.

ESTA is not a visa. It is an electronic travel authorisation under the US Visa Waiver Program, for stays of 90 days or less for tourism or business. If you are not eligible, you need a B1/B2 visa and we handle that too.

Do you qualify?

Eligibility follows your passport, not your residence. The UAE is not in the Visa Waiver Program, but many UAE residents hold a passport that is. If yours is on this list, ESTA is almost always the faster and cheaper route.

AndorraAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBruneiChileCroatiaCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandIrelandIsraelItalyJapanLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaMonacoNetherlandsNew ZealandNorwayPolandPortugalQatarSan MarinoSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSouth KoreaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTaiwanUnited Kingdom

Source: the US Department of State list of designated Visa Waiver Program countries. Membership changes from time to time, and we confirm your eligibility before any work begins.

You also need

  • An e-passport, the kind with an electronic chip symbol on the cover
  • A trip of 90 days or less for tourism or business
  • No travel to North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011
  • No travel to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021
  • No dual nationality with Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria
If any of those apply to you, ESTA is not available and a B1/B2 visa is the route. Our eligibility check tells you which one you need in under a minute.
ESTA application, done for youAED 999+ VAT per travellerUS government ESTA fee of about USD 40 includedGet a Free Consultation

What is included

One price per traveller, with the US government fee already inside it.

Eligibility checked against the current Visa Waiver Program rules before we start

Your full ESTA application prepared and submitted for you

The US government ESTA fee of about USD 40 paid on your behalf

Passport and e-passport check, so the application is not rejected on a technicality

Your result tracked and sent to you as soon as CBP responds

Step by step WhatsApp support from start to finish

ESTA or a B1/B2 visa?

The honest comparison, so you do not pay for something you do not need.

ESTAB1/B2 visa
Who it is forPassport holders from the 42 Visa Waiver Program countriesEveryone else, including most UAE, Indian, Pakistani and Filipino passport holders
Embassy interviewNot requiredRequired, in Abu Dhabi or Dubai
Length of stayUp to 90 days per visitSet by the officer at the port of entry, commonly up to 6 months
ValidityUsually 2 years, or until your passport expiresSet by the consular officer, often up to 10 years
Our priceAED 999 + VAT, government fee includedFrom AED 3,500 + VAT, USD 185 government fee included
Typical waitCBP states most decisions arrive within 72 hoursStandard interview slots in the UAE are commonly 1.5 to 2 years out, our packages book from 7 days

Check which one you need See B1/B2 packages

ESTA questions

Is ESTA a visa?

No. ESTA is an electronic travel authorisation under the Visa Waiver Program. It lets eligible passport holders travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa. If you are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program you need a B1/B2 visa instead.

Who is eligible?

Eligibility follows your passport, not where you live. You need a passport from one of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, it must be an e-passport with an electronic chip, and your trip must be 90 days or less for tourism or business. Many UAE residents hold a qualifying passport even though the UAE itself is not in the programme.

What can make me ineligible even with the right passport?

Travel to North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011, travel to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021, or dual nationality with Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria. In those cases you apply for a B1/B2 visa instead, and we can handle that for you.

How much does it cost?

AED 999 + VAT per traveller, and that includes the US government ESTA fee of about USD 40, which we pay on your behalf. There is nothing further to pay to the US government.

How long does an ESTA last?

An approved ESTA is generally valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Within that period you can make multiple trips of up to 90 days each.

How quickly do I get a decision?

US Customs and Border Protection states that most applicants receive a response within 72 hours. We track your application and send you the result as soon as it arrives. Apply well before you book, because a decision is never guaranteed.

Does an approved ESTA guarantee entry to the United States?

No. An approved ESTA allows you to board and travel to a US port of entry. The decision to admit you is made by a CBP officer on arrival. No agency can promise entry.

What if my ESTA is refused?

A refused ESTA does not stop you travelling, it means you need to apply for a B1/B2 visa instead. We will tell you honestly if that is the likely route and can move you onto one of our appointment packages.

Apply for your ESTA

Send your name and number. We confirm your eligibility first, then prepare and submit the application.

Get a free consultation

Tell us your name and number. The team replies on WhatsApp or by phone, usually the same working day.

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