United States ESTA (Visa Waiver Program): Requirements, Fees, Documents & Application Guide

Tourist Visa

United States

Assistance Fee

S$ 65 .00

S$100 35% OFF

+ Government fee (paid to authorities)

ETA: US$40 · B1/B2 Visitor Visa: USD 185 · ESTA: USD 40.00

See official fee details

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United States ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) at a glance

Government visa fee: US$40
HolidaySG service fee: S$65.00
Processing time: Usually minutes; allow up to 72 hours
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days per visit
Visa required?: Visa Waiver Program nationals: Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Brunei, UK, Ireland, EU/Schengen states, Australia, NZ, Chile, Israel, Qatar; e-passport required.
Arrival card: None (electronic I-94)

Application support from a licensed Singapore travel agency (TA04014). Official government fees are paid to the authorities and are separate from our service fee.

Do you need a visa to United States?

Travellers from Canada (no ESTA/visa for tourism). can generally enter United States without a visa. Visa Waiver Program nationals: Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Brunei, UK, Ireland, EU/Schengen states, Australia, NZ, Chile, Israel, Qatar; e-passport required.

Who does NOT need a visa

Passport holders from Canada (no ESTA/visa for tourism). do not require a visa for United States for eligible short visits. Always confirm your passport type and length of stay against the official source before travelling.

Reviewed against official government sources (US Customs and Border Protection) · Last verified 16 Aug 2026 · HolidaySG — licensed Singapore travel agency (TA04014).

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Official United States visa options

Verified from government sources · 19 Aug 2026

Online application available — The US has no visa-on-arrival. Visa Waiver Program nationals (including Singapore) travel on an ESTA e-authorization for up to 90 days; Indian passport holders are NOT in the VWP and must obtain a B-1/B-2 visitor visa.

Visa on arrival: No Online application: Yes

ESTA (Visa Waiver Program)

Official fee: US$40

Validity: 2 years or until passport expiry, multiple entry
Max stay: Up to 90 days per visit
Processing time: Usually minutes; allow up to 72 hours
Where to apply: esta.cbp.dhs.gov (official) at least 72 h before travel

Who needs it: Visa Waiver Program nationals: Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Brunei, UK, Ireland, EU/Schengen states, Australia, NZ, Chile, Israel, Qatar; e-passport required.

Visa-free: Canada (no ESTA/visa for tourism).

Required documents

e-Passport from a VWP country
Contact & employment info
US address
Card payment

Arrival card: None (electronic I-94)

Prior travel to Iran/Iraq/Syria/etc. or dual nationality may make you ineligible for ESTA.

Source: US Customs and Border Protection · verified 16 Aug 2026. Government fees & rules change — we re-confirm at the time of your application.

B1/B2 Visitor Visa

Official fee: USD 185 (MRV application fee, non-refundable, per applicant)

Validity: Visa validity varies by nationality/reciprocity (commonly up to 10 years multiple-entry for Indian nationals); admission period set by CBP at entry (typically up to 6 months)
Max stay: 180 days
Time to verify: N/A (in-person consular process)
Time to approval: Varies widely by post; interview wait times plus a few days to weeks for issuance (subject to administrative processing)
Processing time: Varies widely by post; interview wait times plus a few days to weeks for issuance (subject to administrative processing)
Where to apply: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

Who needs it: Nationals of non-VWP countries, including Indian passport holders, travelling for tourism, visiting family, or business.

Required documents

Valid passport (valid 6 months beyond stay, unless exempt)
DS-160 confirmation page
MRV fee payment receipt
Interview appointment confirmation
Photo per specifications
Supporting documents (ties to home country, funds, travel purpose)

Arrival card: None (electronic I-94)

Extra charges: A USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee has been legislated but implementation is pending; possible visa issuance/reciprocity fee for some nationalities

Singapore residents interview at US Embassy Singapore.

Source: US Department of State · verified 19 Aug 2026. Government fees & rules change — we re-confirm at the time of your application.

ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)

Official fee: USD 40.00 (USD 40.27 as of the Jan 2026 CPI adjustment)

Validity: 2 years or until passport expires, whichever comes first (multiple entries)
Max stay: 90 days
Time to verify: Immediate to a few minutes
Time to approval: Usually within 72 hours (often minutes); CBP advises applying at least 72 hours before travel
Processing time: Usually within 72 hours (often minutes); CBP advises applying at least 72 hours before travel
Where to apply: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Who needs it: Citizens/nationals of the 40+ Visa Waiver Program countries (includes Singapore). NOT available to Indian passport holders. For tourism, business or transit up to 90 days.

Required documents

Valid e-passport from a VWP country
Payment card (credit/debit/PayPal)
Contact and travel details
Employment info

Source: Official government source · verified 19 Aug 2026. Government fees & rules change — we re-confirm at the time of your application.

HolidaySG assistance fee: S$65 ~~S$100~~ per applicant — official government fees above are separate. Apply now

Visa Waiver Program nationals: Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Brunei, UK, Ireland, EU/Schengen states, Australia, NZ, Chile, Israel, Qatar; e-passport required.

United States visa requirements by nationality

Top 29 passports

Passport	Requirement	Max stay	Need help?
🇸🇬Singapore	Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)	—	No visa needed
🇲🇾Malaysia	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇮🇳India	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇮🇩Indonesia	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇵🇭Philippines	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇨🇳China	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇻🇳Vietnam	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇹🇭Thailand	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇯🇵Japan	Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)	—	No visa needed
🇰🇷South Korea	Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)	—	No visa needed
🇦🇺Australia	Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)	—	No visa needed
🇬🇧United Kingdom	Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)	—	No visa needed
🇨🇦Canada	Visa-free (up to 180 days)	180 days	No visa needed
🇩🇪Germany	Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)	—	No visa needed
🇫🇷France	Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)	—	No visa needed
🇦🇪UAE	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇵🇰Pakistan	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇧🇩Bangladesh	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇱🇰Sri Lanka	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇭🇰Hong Kong	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇹🇼Taiwan	Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)	—	No visa needed
🇳🇿New Zealand	Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)	—	No visa needed
🇸🇦Saudi Arabia	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇧🇷Brazil	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇷🇺Russia	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇿🇦South Africa	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇳🇬Nigeria	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇪🇬Egypt	Visa required	—	Apply with HolidaySG · S$65
🇲🇲Myanmar	Entry not permitted	—	No visa needed

General travel information from the Passport Index dataset; rules can depend on passport type, residence and purpose. Not your nationality? Use the checker or confirm with the official source above.

United States visa — frequently asked questions

Singaporeans need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before travelling to United States — apply online in advance.

Yes — Indians need a visa for United States, obtained before travel through the embassy/consulate or an approved channel. HolidaySG assists for a flat S$65.

Yes — Malaysians need a visa for United States, obtained before travel through the embassy/consulate or an approved channel. HolidaySG assists for a flat S$65.

Yes — Filipinos need a visa for United States, obtained before travel through the embassy/consulate or an approved channel. HolidaySG assists for a flat S$65.

Yes — Chinese nationals need a visa for United States, obtained before travel through the embassy/consulate or an approved channel. HolidaySG assists for a flat S$65.

The official government fee for the ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) is US$40. HolidaySG's assistance fee is a separate flat S$65 per applicant (usually S$100).

ESTA (Visa Waiver Program): Usually minutes; allow up to 72 hours. Apply well before your travel date; we track your application until the outcome.

Typically: e-Passport from a VWP country; Contact & employment info; US address; Card payment. Exact requirements depend on your nationality — we send a personalised checklist.

No full visa is needed. Singapore is a Visa Waiver Program country, so travellers apply online for an ESTA and can stay up to 90 days for tourism, business or transit.

Yes. India is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so Indian citizens cannot use ESTA and must obtain a B-1/B-2 visitor visa via a consular interview.

The official CBP fee is USD 40 (about USD 40.27 after the January 2026 inflation adjustment), charged only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

The MRV application fee is USD 185 per applicant, non-refundable whether or not the visa is approved.

An ESTA is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows multiple visits of up to 90 days each.

No. The United States does not offer visa on arrival; you must have either an approved ESTA or the correct visa before boarding.

CBP recommends applying at least 72 hours before departure, though most approvals come within minutes to a couple of days.

No. These are for short business/tourism visits only; employment or a course of study requires a different visa category.

Before you travel to United States

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Why travellers choose HolidaySG

Singapore-licensed travel agency (TA04014) · Document review before submission · Application status support · Government fees shown separately.

Why apply with HolidaySG?

Singapore-licensed agency

Travel Agent Licence TA04014 · Singapore-registered company.
Document check before submission

We review your documents and send a personalised checklist.
Singapore-based support

Application status tracking and support until outcome.
Transparent pricing

Government fee shown separately from our S$65 assistance fee.
Secure online payment

Pay safely through HitPay — no hidden charges.

Important: HolidaySG provides application assistance and document support. Visa approval is determined solely by the relevant authorities. We cannot guarantee approval or a specific visa validity period.