Recovering lost ESTA authorization documents
ESTA is a mandatory travel authorization created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ESTA authorization is intended for nationals of the 41 countries covered by the
It is sometimes necessary to retrieve your ESTA authorization document. This can be useful for a new temporary stay in the U.S., or in the case of modifications. Certain changes can be made to your ESTA application. We’ll explain how to find this document quickly by taking the right steps. If you’ve mislaid your file number, there is an alternative way to retrieve your authorization document. Here’s how.
Why retrieve your authorization request?
An ESTA authorization is a document allowing travel to the United States for several stays of up to 90 days. It is valid for two years. During this period, you can update certain information, such as your e-mail address, telephone number, travel company name, flight number or ship name, destination address in the U.S., and so on. To make these changes, you need to retrieve your previously validated document. Take this opportunity to check the expiry date of your ESTA document. Rest assured, if you’ve lost your document, there’s a solution. You can log on to the site you used to register for ESTA.
As a reminder, ESTA applications can be made via the official U.S. government website, but also via a private site. The private site allows you to check the veracity of your information, to limit the risk of your application being rejected. When you obtained your ESTA, you had to fill in an ESTA form and apply online. In fact, you don’t need to go to the American embassy (unlike when applying for a visa) to travel to the USA with ESTA.
How do I retrieve your application?
If you wish to retrieve your travel authorization application, you have two options. The first is to use the file number. The second is to retrieve your application without using the file number. All you need is your biometric or electronic passport. This famous number is obtained after you have registered your application. When you apply on a specialized website, you’ll usually receive an e-mail with a PDF copy of your travel authorization and your ESTA number.
You may be asked for this number, which will be used to consult or update your file. To retrieve your application, first enter your valid passport number and your date of birth. You can then retrieve your authorization by entering your passport number, your country of citizenship, the date of issue of your ePassport (or biometric passport) and your date of birth.
Note: we recommend that you print out the ESTA number provided by the US authorities, so that you can easily access your authorization. You can also print out the ESTA, which we also recommend. This will give you a quick overview of the document’s expiry date. What’s more, it will make your job easier and prevent you from unpleasant surprises. Even if the electronic systems of customs officers can easily find it at the border, having a printed ESTA can save you a lot of time.
