US CBP Updates ESTA Requirements, Expands to Land Borders and Adds Mobile App

From 2 May 2022, the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation is now mandatory for Visa Waiver Program citizens entering the United States via land borders from Canada or Mexico, replacing the former paper Form I-94W. Additionally, the United States Customs and Border Protection has introduced an official ESTA mobile application, available in 24 languages for smartphones and tablets, to facilitate submissions. This updated application process for eligible travellers from the 42 designated countries includes enhanced data collection, requiring details such as aliases, employment information, emergency contacts and a selfie for identity verification. A fee remains payable for all applications, although the precise amount is not specified.