Do I need to apply for ESTA if…?

Am I a Canadian citizen?
No, Canadian citizens travelling on a Canadian passport do not need an ESTA.

Am I a Canadian immigrant?
If you are a Canadian immigrant and a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country, and you are entering the United States by land, you do not need the ESTA. If you do not have an ESTA, you will have to fill out a paper I-94W form and go through the manual entry process at a land border crossing. If you have an approved ESTA when you enter the United States through a land border crossing, you will not need to fill out a paper I-94W form and the entry process will be expedited. If you are arriving in the United States by air or sea, you must always apply for an ESTA. If you are not a citizen of a VWP country, you are required to have a visa and therefore the ESTA does not apply to you.

Am I a lawful permanent resident of the United States and a citizen of a VWP country?
No.

Am I a national of a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program and coming to the United States from Canada or Mexico?
If you are a national of a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and you are entering the United States by land from Mexico or Canada, an ESTA is not required. If you do not have an ESTA, you will need to fill out a paper I-94W form and go through the manual entry process at a land border crossing. If you have an approved ESTA when you enter the U.S. through a land border crossing, you will not need to fill out a paper I-94W form and the entry process will be expedited. However, if you are issued a card, you must return your green I-94W card when you leave the United States. If you are arriving by air or sea, you must apply for an ESTA.

I am a citizen of a VWP country and am traveling to the U.S. by air to transit through the U.S.?
Yes. You must apply for an ESTA even if you are transiting to the United States. In the address field on the application, write “Transit.”

Do I have dual citizenship as a VWP country and as a non-VWP country?
If you are flying under the terms of the VWP on your VWP passport, you must apply for an ESTA. If you are flying on a passport of a non-VWP country, you will need a visa and therefore the ESTA does not apply to you.

I am a citizen of a VWP country and I am going to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)?
An ESTA is required for international travel to Guam/CNMI under the VWP. Citizens who are eligible for the VWP Guam/CNMI can travel to Guam/CNMI under the program without an ESTA. However, under VWP Guam/CNMI, the maximum length of stay is 45 days and the stay is limited to these islands – travel cannot be made to the United States.
Travel from the United States to Guam/CNMI is considered a domestic flight, so an ESTA is not required. Travelers are pre-screened for travel from Guam/SNMI to the United States. If this trip is under VWP, they are required to obtain an ESTA.

I am a citizen of a country with a VWP and I am traveling to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands for short-term business or tourist purposes under the VWP?
Yes, an ESTA is required to travel to these countries.

Am I traveling with a minor (child under 18) who is a citizen of a PRP country?
If the minor is traveling to the U.S. under the VWP as a tourist for 90 days or less, he/she must obtain a separate ESTA permit.

Am I a U.S. citizen with dual citizenship in the VWP country?
US citizens are not required to have ESTA and must use their US passport to travel to the US.

If I have a valid visa?
Persons with a valid visa may travel to the United States on that visa for the purpose for which it was issued. Persons traveling on valid visas are not required to apply for ESTA.