With summer’s busy travel season fast approaching, the U.S. Consulate General in Curacao and U.S. Customs and Border Protection would like to remind eligible travelers of the ESTA requirement. All Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers are required to obtain a travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the U.S. under the VWP. ESTA is accessible online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov for citizens of VWP countries, including Aruba, Curacao, and St. Maarten.
The VWP allows visitors from participating countries to travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. There is a $14 fee to obtain the travel authorization. Travel authorizations are generally valid for two (2) years OR until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Be sure to check the expiration date of your ESTA travel authorization before finalizing your travel plans. We recommend that ESTA applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel. For additional information also available in English, Dutch, and Spanish, please visit http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/
Travelers should print out the ESTA application response in order to maintain a record of their ESTA application number. The U.S. Consulate General in Curacao also strongly recommends that travelers carry a copy of the approved ESTA with them when traveling to the U.S.