Do I need to apply for an ESTA on behalf of my children?

Yes, accompanied and unaccompanied children (regardless of age) who are citizens or nationals of visa waiver countries must have their own ESTA authorization before traveling to the United States.

If you completed the ESTA application for a minor, you can check the second option under “Waiver” (Third parties only). You must understand the terms of the ESTA on behalf of your child or children and truthfully answer questions and statements as their guardian.

Children who are written in their parents’ passports are not eligible for ESTA. Children must have their own (non-expired) passport to be eligible for the ESTA.

The children’s passport (Kinderreisepass) is not eligible for the visa-free program (VWP) unless it is issued or renewed before or on October 26, 2006. In this case the document must meet the usual VWP requirements, i.e. it must be machine-readable and, if issued/renewed/renewed on or after October 26, 2005, have a digital photo of the bearer embedded in the biographical data page. All children’s identity cards (Kinderausweis) require a visa and are not eligible for the VWP program.