How to Use the Travel Authorization Cost & Validity Calculator
US citizens are used to hearing about ESTA, but that program only applies to foreign travelers entering the United States — Americans themselves are on the other side of the same kind of system when visiting other countries. Canada requires an eTA, the United Kingdom requires an ETA, and the European Union is rolling out ETIAS for short visa-free stays. Each has its own fee and validity period, and this calculator lets you pick your destination and traveler count to see the total cost and how long it lasts.
These travel authorizations are charged per applicant, not per trip, so a family of four visiting the same country pays the fee four times over. The good news is that once approved, most of these authorizations remain valid for multiple entries over several years, so frequent visitors to the same country typically don't need to reapply every trip.
One important catch: if your passport expires before the authorization's stated validity period, the authorization expires along with it, so renewing your passport usually means applying again. ETIAS in particular is a newer program with rules and start dates that can shift, so it's worth checking the official EU site for the latest requirements before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in the opposite direction from ESTA. ESTA is what non-US travelers use to enter the United States, but US citizens themselves need Canada's eTA, the UK's ETA, or the EU's upcoming ETIAS when flying into those destinations, since these countries pre-screen travelers who don't need a visa.
Yes. eTA, ETA, and ETIAS are all issued individually per applicant, so a family or group trip means the fee is charged once for each traveler, including children unless specifically exempted.