ESTA Application for Citizens of The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom (England and Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Wales) was the first country to be accepted into the United States of America Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Since July 1988, citizens of the UK have been allowed to travel to the United States with no visa in certain circumstances. The UK was one of the top three countries for overall U.S. visits. Making it easier for citizens to visit the U.S. has enormous benefits for both countries in terms of travel, especially tourism and short-term business trips.
The online application process for U.S. travel authorization was made easier in 2009. This platform is the Electronic System of Travel Authorization (or ESTA). The ESTA allows citizens of the United Kingdom to visit the U.S.A for up to 90 days for business, tourism (including for medical purposes), and non-credit study programs. An ESTA travel document is valid for two years and can be used multiple times to visit the United States.
A tourist visa is required to travel to the U.S. if you are traveling for any reason other than those listed above, or for more than 90 days. When applying for a U.S. visa, you must visit a U.S. Embassy. ESTA is not a visa. It can be used online. It can only be applied online.
U.S. immigration statistics for visitors from the UK
- The total amount of visitors from the United Kingdom: 5 076 167
- Approved ESTA applications: 4 558 681
- Students and exchange visitors: 57 108
- Temporary workers and family-related applications: 173 069
- Diplomats and other official representatives: 39 239
- Other types of visitor categories: 18 664
Information on how to travel to the United States of America (from the United Kingdom)
Airports in the UK for visiting the United States
Belfast International Airport is located northwest of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Find out more here. The Airport Express 300 service is available to take you to the airport from Belfast. The driver can sell tickets for the service at just PS8 per way. Ulsterbus 109A also runs a route to Belfast International Airport. It also connects with Antrim railway station, which is located 10km away from the airport. Airporter is another direct service that connects to Belfast International Airport.
Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest airport. More details here. There are many bus options to get from Edinburgh to the Airport. You can take the express bus Airlink 100 or Citylink 909 to the airport. Or you can use the local bus routes Skylink 200 or 300 to get around the city. You can also use the N22 to fly late at night. No. 600 is the fastest and most affordable option of transport. You can also travel to Edinburgh by tram using the Edinburgh Trams. These systems take you to the airport from the city center and suburbs. For more information on the various transport options to the airport, please visit this page.
Glasgow Airport is located 14km west of the city center. More details here. Take the No. 500. McGill’s Bus also offers a service to the airport (No. 757).
Manchester Airport is one the busiest in the UK, offering regular flights to the United States every day to various destinations. More details here.
Manchester Airport is a hub of activity for flying, so getting it is simple and easy with many options. There are direct trains that run to Manchester. Get your tickets here. Many bus routes take you to the airport, including No. 43, 103, and 199.
Three international airports in London offer the best option to fly to the United States. This article will concentrate on Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted Airports. Gatwick is located 30 minutes from London Central, Heathrow 15 minutes, and Stansted 47 minutes.
From Heathrow Airport, travelers can take the DLR or tube to central London. You can find more information about the line or DLR here. Mainline trains are the mainline trains that serve Gatwick, Heathrow, and Stansted. More details here. National Express coaches offer additional local services to destinations in the UK from these three main airports. For more information, visit their website.
Information about flights from the UK to the US
If you want to book a flight between the UK and the U.S, these options are available.
- Virgin Atlantic offers a direct flight from Belfast to Orlando. Fly to Newark, Chicago, and Washington to Edinburgh with United Airlines. Fly Delta Airlines to New York, Boston, or American Airlines to Philadelphia.
- Fly to Orlando with Virgin Atlantic from Glasgow. Newark with United Airlines and New York with Delta Airlines.
- Virgin Airlines offers flights from Manchester to Atlanta, Boston, Orlando, New York, and Los Angeles. Singapore Airlines flies to Houston. Thomas Cook Airlines fly direct to Las Vegas and New York. United Airlines fly from Newark to Newark. There are many other possible destinations from Manchester to the U.S.
- Fly to Atlanta, Austin, and Boston from London. Many airlines offer non-stop direct flights to the U.S., including American Airlines and British Airways, Delta Airlines (Norwegian Airlines), United Airlines, Virgin Airlines, United Airlines, United Airlines, and Norwegian Airlines. These options are available from London's airports.
When can citizens of the UK apply for ESTA?
Applying for an ESTA is a good idea once you confirm your travel to the United States of America. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security encourages travelers who are citizens of the UK to get their ESTA 72 hours before they board their plane. Last-minute applications are best avoided as there is the possibility of being denied. If this happens, you can apply for a tourist visa. You might need to cancel your flight or change travel dates if the application process takes longer.
Travelers from the UK with an approved ESTA from the UK can verify its status and update it. These pages contain additional information: Update ESTA, Verify ESTA.
A sample of an approved ESTA was sent via email as a PDF to applicants with a UK passport.
Below is an example of a travel authorization if the ESTA application is approved:
Quick facts
- Online applications for ESTA are possible for citizens of the UK
- Visitors from the United Kingdom can use the ESTA for two years
- UK citizens are allowed to stay up to 90 days in the U.S. with an approved ESTA
- The overstay rate in the United Kingdom is just 0.30%
