Travel to the US has already slowed this year, largely due to the political situation in the country. Now there is another factor that risks dampening interest even further. As of September 30, the ESTA fee will increase from $21 to $40 – a doubling that will hit families particularly hard.

According to booking statistics from the travel agency Ticket, trips to the US have decreased by approximately 22 percent so far this year compared to the same period last year. New York is still by far the most booked destination in the US for Swedes, but bookings there have also fallen – by almost 17 percent.

ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a mandatory travel authorization for anyone traveling under the Visa Waiver Program. Today, the application costs $21, equivalent to approximately SEK 199, but on September 30, the fee will increase to $40, approximately SEK 378. For a family of four, this means that the cost will rise from just under SEK 800 to just over SEK 1,500 – an increase of approximately SEK 700.

– We are already seeing a clear decline in bookings to the USA, partly due to the political situation, and this increase risks becoming another factor that negatively affects travel. For those who already know they are going there, it may be worth applying for an ESTA before September 30. The permit is valid for 24 months and can be used for multiple trips during the period, says Tiyoneh Jah, PR & Communications Manager at the travel agency Ticket.

The reason for the increase is that parts of the fee are used to finance American tourism promotion activities.

The calculations are based on an exchange rate of 1 USD = 9.46 SEK (September 26, 2025)

Source: Travel agency Ticket booking statistics, trips to the USA booked between January 1–September 22, 2025, compared to the same period the previous year.

According to the press release.