ESTA for children and babies: a parent's step-by-step guide

Children and babies need their own approved ESTA when travelling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, even if a baby is flying on a parent's lap. A parent or legal guardian can complete the application for a minor, using the child's own passport and personal details. Start during your trip planning, rather than leaving the application until departure is close. (CBP: children and ESTA, CBP: when to apply)

I'm Compi, your little travel companion. I like a family checklist that includes the smallest traveller, not just the person carrying the passports. Here is how to check whether this is the right application for your child, get the details right and know when this part of your preparation is actually finished.

First, check that your family is using the Visa Waiver Program#

ESTA is a travel authorization for eligible journeys under the Visa Waiver Program, often shortened to VWP. It is not the right route for every international visitor. Check the eligibility information for each child's citizenship and passport, along with the purpose and length of your visit. Living in an eligible country does not by itself make a passport eligible. (Official ESTA application)

If your child will travel on a valid US visa for the purpose for which it was issued, ESTA is not also required. If you are unsure which route applies, settle that question before paying for an application. A sibling's or parent's eligibility should never stand in for checking the child concerned. (CBP: what ESTA does)

Your baby needs a passport of their own#

Every child travelling under the VWP needs their own passport, including an infant. Being named in a parent's passport is not enough. The passport must meet VWP requirements, including being an electronic passport with a biometric chip. Check the actual document rather than assuming all passports issued to children qualify. (CBP: children's passports, official passport requirements)

Passport validity also needs a separate check. CBP's general rule requires validity for six months beyond the intended departure from the US, but agreements with many countries waive those extra six months. The passport must then cover the intended stay. Check the rule for your child's nationality; do not borrow another family's expiry-date advice. (CBP: passport validity)

The current ESTA fee for children#

The official ESTA site lists USD 40.62 per approved application, effective 16 October 2026, with the facts in this guide checked on 22 October 2026. Each child needs a separate authorization, so include each child's application in your planning. Check the current amount on the official payment screen before you pay. (ESTA application, official fee-change FAQs)

There is no useful single price to quote in pounds, euros or another currency: conversion and any payment-provider charges can change what appears on your statement. A group application can help you organize the paperwork, but it does not turn several travellers into one authorization.

How to apply for a child's ESTA#

1. Prepare one child's details at a time#

Have the child's passport, an accessible email address, home address, emergency contact details and an accepted payment method ready. Other details may be needed depending on the circumstances. The current application page also lists a traveller photo; follow the live form's instructions for your child rather than assuming a baby's requirements from an adult's application. (Official ESTA preparation list)

If a passport needs replacing, do that first. ESTA is linked to the passport used for the application; a new passport requires a new application. Applying with a document you already know will be replaced creates another job later. (CBP: when to reapply)

2. Open the official website directly#

Go to esta.cbp.dhs.gov yourself. You can start an individual application or organize several applications as a group. Either way, each family member still needs their own approval. A baby is not covered by adding a line to an adult's application. (CBP: individual and group applications)

3. Fill in the application for the child, not for yourself#

Use the child's name, date of birth, passport information and citizenship. Follow the instructions for entering or capturing passport details, then compare anything filled in automatically with the original document. You are the person completing the form; your child is the traveller this application concerns.

Answer the questions truthfully on the child's behalf. CBP allows a parent or guardian to apply for a minor and points to the Third Parties Only section when completing the relevant declaration. Read that wording carefully and follow the minor-specific instructions. It is a meaningful declaration, not just another box to get past. (CBP: applying for a minor)

4. Review the details before submitting and paying#

Compare the application with the passport, especially the passport details, citizenship and date of birth. Errors in those fields require a new application rather than a simple amendment after completion. If another adult is available, ask them to check those details independently. (CBP: correcting information)

Complete the email-verification and payment steps as directed. Keep the application number somewhere you can find it again and make its connection to the right child unmistakable. With several applications open, a payment receipt and a reference number are easy to file under the wrong person. (CBP: application process)

5. Check the decision for every family member#

Payment is not your final check. Open the official status lookup and check the result for each application:

CBP says a decision is usually available within 72 hours. That is not a guaranteed maximum. Apply when you begin planning; the German Foreign Office also records the US authorities' recommendation to allow at least 72 hours before departure. An earlier start leaves you more room if something needs attention. (CBP: decisions and status, German Foreign Office)

Validity: the approval period is not the length of your holiday#

ESTA is generally valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, unless revoked. Nationality-specific exceptions apply, so use the expiry date displayed on your approval. For example, CBP lists a shorter period for Brunei passport holders. An authorization can cover multiple trips, but a VWP stay is limited to 90 days. (CBP: validity and exceptions)

Check again before a later trip. A new passport requires a new ESTA; changes to a name, citizenship or answers to the eligibility questions may also require a new application. Last year's saved approval is a starting point for checking, not a reason to skip it. (CBP: changes requiring a new application)

A family checklist before departure#

• Each child has their own eligible electronic passport.
• Passport validity has been checked against the rules for that nationality.
• Names, birthdays, citizenship and passport details match the application.
• Each application is completed and its number can be found again.
• Every traveller using ESTA has an approved status, including the baby.
• No passport replacement or other relevant change has happened since approval.
• Current official entry guidance has been checked again before travelling.

The common traps are mostly small assumptions: a baby must be included somewhere, payment must mean approval, a new passport must inherit the old authorization. Making each check separately helps prevent all three.

An approved ESTA does not guarantee admission to the United States. CBP makes the final decision at the border. Keep that distinction in mind when reading any service that promises a guaranteed result. (CBP: approval and admission)

Paperwork sorted? Make room for the pleasant planning#

Below is a nine-day Florida family road trip to make your own: Miami, a Homestead base for nature outings, then three nights in Key Largo. There is a deliberately quiet day, and the return to Miami comes before the flight-home day.

Add it to your Compi with your own start date, then ask ChatGPT to adapt it to your family. The places, daily outline, suggested areas to stay and packing list come with it. Driving times are rough estimates and you choose your own accommodation; check current park notices before setting off. I have left room for pauses, so a good day does not depend on ticking off every stop.