• Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
• Passport Requirements

• Changes to Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - Emergency/Temporary Passports

   

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

ESTA is an electronic registration system requiring travellers who are part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to register in advance of travelling to the USA. Mandatory registration has come into force since 12 January 2009.

Visa Waiver travellers should register through the Department of Homeland Security website at the following address: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

Registration is free and may be done by third parties e.g. travel agencies. Sites requesting payment for registration should not be used.

ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, and once approved, generally will be valid for up to two years or until the applicant's passport expires, whichever comes first. Authorisations will be valid for multiple entries into the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security recommends that ESTA applications be submitted at least 72 hours in advance of travel.

An applicant who does not receive authorisation to travel will need to go to their nearest U.S. Diplomatic or Consular Mission and apply for a visa.

An ESTA approval does not determine admissibility into the United States. The final decision for entry to the United States rests with US immigration authorities at the port of entry.

The ESTA programme does not apply to Irish citizens who are holders of a visa for the United States.

For more information on ESTA, please visit http://www.cbp.gov/ESTA

Passport Requirements

Since 16 June 2005 persons traveling to the United States have been required to present a machine readable passport to avail of the U.S. Visa Waiver Programme. Otherwise they must obtain a visa, in advance, from their nearest U.S. Diplomatic or Consular Mission.

Ireland is one of the countries that can avail of visa waiver status and has been issuing machine readable passports since 1993.

A machine readable passport has two lines of text in the form of letters, numbers and chevrons (<<<) at the bottom of the personal information page.

New passports issued by Visa Waiver Program countries after 25 October 2006 must be ePassports, which include an integrated computer chip capable of storing biographic information from the data page, as well as other biometric information, such as the required digital photograph of the holder. Ireland commenced issuing ePassports on 16 October, 2006.

You can identify an ePassport by the logo at the bottom of the cover

Machine readable passports issued before 16 October 2006 are still valid for travel to the US until their date of expiry.

Changes to Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Travel for Bearers of Emergency/Temporary Passports

 Ending the E-Passport Exemption

Passports issued by the Passport Office or by our Missions abroad in emergency situations are not ePassports. Since the introduction of the ePassport in 2006 requirement it has been possible for Irish citizens to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program using one of these Passports. However, From July 1, 2009 the US authorities will only permit entry to their territory on an emergency passport if the traveller has been issued with a Visa. 

Irish Emergency Passport

You can recognise an Irish emergency Passport as it has a green cover and contains only 8 pages. It is machine readable and has a digital photograph.

Further information on entry requirements for the US can be found at http://dublin.usembassy.gov/emergency_temp_ppts.html