New U.S. Customs Rules Start this Week

International travelers entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will be subject to new enhanced security regulations from next week.

Pre-travel authorization becomes mandatory for all qualified VWP travelers from 12 January, and is obtained through a free, online registration system known as Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

ESTA applies only to those VWP travelers entering the United States by air or sea. Travelers entering by land either from Canada or Mexico are not required to register before traveling.

The new legislation requires all customers to provide personal information including their name, date of birth, and passport details, as well as optional travel information such as the flight number and destination address in the United States.

Travel Authorization is obtained through an online registration system known as ESTA. If your registration is successful, it will be valid for multiple applications for two years or until the date on which your passport expires, which ever comes first.

Customers can provide the information online at the ESTA website or via their travel agent to obtain an ESTA that is valid for two years, allowing multiple visits to the US within that period without the need to reapply.