Cost of ESTA to nearly double for travellers to the US, including Hungarians

From 30 September, the cost of the mandatory Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) for travellers to the United States will rise significantly. The permit, required for citizens of visa-exempt countries, including Hungary, will become a greater financial burden for those planning short-term tourist or business trips.

ESTA fee to nearly double

The ESTA, which currently costs $21, will increase to $40 from 30 September, Euronews reports. Citizens of 41 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Programme, including the United Kingdom and EU member states—therefore Hungarian nationals as well—are eligible to apply for the permit.

Photo: depositphotos.com

The authorisation remains valid for two years and allows stays of up to 90 days without a visa, for either tourism or business purposes. The new fee structure is as follows:

• Processing fee: $10
• Authorisation fee: $30, which includes:
  • $17 for tourism promotion
  • $13 paid to the state treasury

If an application is rejected, the traveller only pays the $10 processing fee.

Why the hike now?

The price increase was approved by the US Congress in July this year, according to Startlap. The decision comes at a sensitive time, as travel to the US has declined in recent months.

Data from the US National Travel and Tourism Office show that in the first half of 2025, more than 3 million fewer international tourists entered the country compared with the same period the previous year—a fall of 1.6 per cent. In July alone, foreign visitor numbers dropped by 3.1 per cent, totalling 19.2 million, marking the fifth consecutive month of decline. Tourism therefore remains below pre-pandemic levels, which reached a record 79.4 million visitors.

Aerial photo of New York from a plane. Photo: depositphotos.com

Experts warn that the price rise may worsen the situation further, as overall travel expenses continue to climb steadily.

Additional costs on the horizon

Beyond the ESTA price increase, further fee rises are expected. From 1 October, a new “visa integrity fee” of $250 will be introduced for nationals of non-visa-exempt countries such as Argentina, Brazil, China and India.

This change raises the total cost of acquiring a US tourist visa to $442, placing the United States among the world’s most expensive countries in terms of visa fees.

Bad news for Hungarian travellers

For Hungarian tourists, the increase in the ESTA fee alone represents a significant extra cost, especially for families travelling together. Although the authorisation remains valid for two years, the nearly doubled fee could discourage many from planning trips to the US. With rising travel costs across the board, it is likely that the number of visits to the United States will continue to decline in the coming months.

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