Entering the United States as a couple: ESTA, passport and border questions

Summary: Most couples from visa-waiver countries only need an approved ESTA and a valid passport to fly to the United States, but approval is not a guarantee of entry, and border officers have wide powers to ask questions and check devices. This guide, written on 10 November 2026, collects what we could verify in the UK government's travel advice and flags what we could not confirm on the US official pages. Rules change, so confirm the details on the official sites before you book.

What ESTA is

ESTA is the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, an automated system that determines eligibility to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. According to the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), you can apply through the official ESTA website or the ESTA mobile app, and travellers under the Visa Waiver Program need an approved ESTA before entering by land, sea or air. If you are not eligible, you must apply for a visa instead. Travelling on an ESTA when you are not eligible can lead to detention and deportation.

Who may not be able to apply? The FCDO lists, among others, people who have been arrested (even without a conviction), have a criminal record, have been refused admission or deported, or have previously overstayed under an ESTA. It also says you cannot normally apply if you were in certain countries, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen, on or after March 2011, or in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021. If any of this applies to you or your partner, consult the official guidance and consider a visa application.

Fee, validity and timing: what to verify

Secondary sources say that an approved ESTA is valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, that it allows multiple entries with each stay limited to 90 days, and that applicants should apply at least 72 hours before departure. The sources we found disagree about the current fee, with figures around 40 US dollars and older pages still listing 21 dollars. The official US Customs and Border Protection pages returned an access error to our tool on 10 November 2026, so we could not confirm these figures from the source. Check the amount and the validity on esta.cbp.dhs.gov and avoid third-party sites that charge extra. If you renew your passport, you will need a new ESTA.

Passport and photo

The FCDO says your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay, and that some countries you transit may require at least six months' validity. It also notes that if your ESTA lacks the required selfie photograph, you may need a new one, and that you should check your ESTA account before you travel. Apply with the same passport you will use to travel and double-check every character of your name and passport number, because a mistake can cause trouble at check-in.

At the border

A valid ESTA or visa does not guarantee entry. The FCDO explains that US authorities enforce entry rules strictly, and that entry may be refused if they believe you will stay longer than permitted or if you provide inaccurate or incomplete information. Officials may also ask to inspect electronic devices, emails, text messages and social media activity, and refusing can lead to delay or denied entry. Practical advice for a couple:

• Answer honestly and briefly. Have your hotel booking, return ticket and an idea of your plans ready.
• Know the contact details of your hotel and where you will stay.
• Keep documents together and accessible, not buried in a suitcase.
• Think in advance about what you keep on your phone, and know that you may be asked about it. Do not delete or alter data in a way that looks like concealment.
• Stay calm and polite. If you feel you cannot answer, ask politely what your options are.

Customs

The FCDO says there are strict rules on goods taken into or out of the United States and that you must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. The full lists of prohibited and restricted items are on the CBP website, which we could not open. For prescription medication, the FCDO notes in its health advice that some drugs cannot be taken into the United States and that prescriptions from the UK are not valid there; the Food and Drug Administration publishes guidance on bringing medicines in. Carry medicines in original packaging with a doctor's letter if needed.

Local laws and your status

The FCDO reminds visitors that they are subject to both state and federal law, that illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties, and that failing to follow the law can put visa status and future travel at risk. The legal age for alcohol is 21 across the country.

Children, consent letters and names

If you travel with children, the FCDO notes that those aged 17 and under need a valid visa or ESTA, evidence of the purpose of the visit and a consent letter if travelling without both parents. Travellers whose passport sex differs from their sex recorded at birth should contact the US Embassy or a consulate before they travel.

Frequently asked questions

Does ESTA guarantee entry? No. A valid ESTA or visa does not guarantee entry.

Can I use ESTA to enter by land? According to the FCDO, you need an approved ESTA before entering by land, sea or air if you travel under the Visa Waiver Program.

Can officers check my phone? The FCDO says they may ask, and refusal can lead to delay or denied entry.

How long is the ESTA valid? Secondary sources say two years or until the passport expires; confirm on the official site.

How much is the fee? It has changed; check the official ESTA website.

Sources (consulted on 10 November 2026)

• GOV.UK, FCDO travel advice for the USA: entry requirements, health and safety pages.
• Secondary explainers on ESTA validity and fee (davidsonmorris.com and others, returned by web search).
• US Customs and Border Protection and the State Department Visa Waiver Program pages (referenced; they returned an access error to our tool, so we did not read them).