Singapore passport holders now pay US$40.62 for a US travel authorisation, after the ESTA fee rose on 16 October. The US Department of Homeland Security notice, published on 1 October, sets the new fee for the 2027 US fiscal year, up from US$40.27.
The HR-1 law that took the ESTA fee to US$40 from 30 September 2025 requires a fresh inflation adjustment every US fiscal year. The last one, on 1 January 2026, set the fee at US$40.27. A refused application now costs US$10.62, up from US$10.27.
What the US$40.62 pays for
The fee has three parts, and only one of them moved. US$17 is the travel authorisation charge and US$13 is a second fixed charge set by the law. The third part, the cost-recovery fee for running the ESTA system, rose by US$0.35 to US$10.62.
It is also the only part charged when CBP refuses an application.
Who needs an ESTA
Singapore is in the US Visa Waiver Program, so Singaporeans visiting for tourism or business for up to 90 days can travel on an ESTA rather than a visa. The rule covers arrivals by air, sea and land, so a cruise into a US port or a drive across the Canadian border needs one too.
The Visa Waiver Program requires an e-Passport, the chip-enabled passport that carries the e-Passport symbol on its cover.
An ESTA is generally valid for two years, or until the passport expires if that comes first, and covers multiple trips in that time. Travellers already holding a valid ESTA do not pay the new fee until they need a fresh authorisation, for example after renewing their passport.
When to apply
US Customs and Border Protection takes applications at any time before travel and recommends applying as soon as a trip is being planned, ideally before buying air tickets. Applications go through the official ESTA website or the ESTA Mobile app, and the fee is charged per person, children included.
An approved ESTA does not guarantee entry. CBP officers decide admissibility at the US port of arrival.
