US Travel Authorization Now Costlier as New Law Elevates Fees for Visitors, Visa Holders, and Detained Migrants

Visiting the US just got a lot more expensive: The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which just took effect, imposes steep fee hikes on virtually every segment of traveler. As part of the law, the minimum ESTA fee is increased for Visa Waiver Program visitors, a new $250 visa integrity fee is imposed for nonimmigrant visa categories, a higher fee will be implemented for the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) for Chinese nationals, and a $5,000 fine is reinstated for migrants who are apprehended between ports of entry. These changes represent a radical policy departure which targets improving border enforcement, updating U.S. immigration systems, and financing U.S. travel infrastructure, and is shifting the financial liability to both international visitors and migrants.

In a historic shift in the way the United States approaches immigration and international travel, American lawmakers have voted to approve a multifacted bill referred to colloquially as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” rolling the country’s arrival taxes into a single charge. These include increased fees for travelers applying for the Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new $250 “visa integrity fee” for nonimmigrant visa applicants, a change to the cost structure of the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), and a $5,000 penalty on those apprehended at the border crossing into the U.S. illegally. At the same time as the U.S. is eager to embrace foreign tourists and ensure international connectivity, it is also ramping up financial requirements for both legal entrants and illegals as it tries to crack down on visas and borders.

ESTA Fee Structure Sees Mandatory Increases Beginning 2025

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) has long served as a convenient pathway for travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to enter the U.S. to engage in tourism or attend business activities without the need to secure a traditional visa. However, under the newly passed legislation, this system is undergoing a notable transformation.

Starting in the fiscal year 2025, the law stipulates that the ESTA fee must include “not less than $13 per travel authorization.” This clause introduces a floor for ESTA-related charges and opens the door for annual adjustments linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), ensuring fees keep pace with inflation starting in 2026.

As of the most recent update by the U.S. General Services Administration, the total cost to obtain ESTA authorization currently stands at $21. This includes a $4 processing fee and a $17 authorization fee for approved applicants. With the new law in place, travelers should anticipate increased costs in the coming years, reflecting both the minimum threshold and inflation-based recalibrations.

This amendment serves a dual purpose: ensuring continuous funding for Brand USA—a program designed to promote American destinations to international tourists—and reinforcing financial sustainability for the administration of travel systems.

Visa Integrity Fee Introduced for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

Among the most impactful provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is the introduction of a $250 “visa integrity fee.” This new charge will apply to all nonimmigrant visa applicants in addition to the existing suite of fees already required by the U.S. immigration system.

The visa integrity fee is explicitly intended to fund administrative and enforcement efforts related to the U.S. visa program and border security operations. It supplements, rather than replaces, existing costs such as the DS-160 application fee, biometric data collection charges, and reciprocity fees.

Notably, the legislation does not allow for waivers or reductions of the visa integrity fee, regardless of the applicant’s financial circumstances or purpose of travel. Nor does the bill place any cap on future increases or specify which visa types the Secretary of Homeland Security may choose to apply the fee toward. Instead, the authority to amend or expand the application of the fee lies solely with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through regulatory channels.

While this measure is poised to generate significant revenue for visa administration and enforcement, critics argue it could pose barriers for lower-income applicants or students seeking temporary travel to the United States.

EVUS Fee Also Faces Changes for Chinese Nationals

In addition to ESTA, the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), which primarily affects Chinese passport holders with 10-year B1/B2, B1, or B2 visitor visas, will now carry a mandatory minimum fee of $30. Similar to the ESTA adjustments, the EVUS fee will also be tied to inflation, with annual increases permitted beginning in 2026.

Though EVUS registrations have historically required a lower cost, the legislative reforms ensure that users contribute more toward the upkeep and management of the digital update system. These updates are required every two years and are essential for maintaining valid U.S. entry eligibility.

New Border Enforcement Fee: $5,000 for Undocumented Entrants

Beyond fee changes for legal travelers, the bill introduces a robust deterrent targeting unauthorized migration. A new “inadmissible alien apprehension fee” of $5,000 will be levied against individuals who are apprehended attempting to enter the U.S. between official ports of entry.

This financial penalty aims to dissuade unlawful border crossings while generating additional revenue to support enforcement operations and detention costs. Though primarily symbolic in nature—given that individuals caught at the border may lack the resources to pay such a fine—the fee underlines the administration’s commitment to strengthening border controls and immigration law compliance.

Purpose and Financial Impact of the Fee Adjustments

Collectively, the fee increases are designed to achieve several policy goals:

1. Fund Brand USA and Travel Infrastructure: The ESTA hike ensures the continued viability of promotional efforts to attract global tourists, supporting the broader U.S. economy.
2. Support Administrative Costs: The visa integrity fee will offset administrative expenses associated with processing millions of nonimmigrant visas annually.
3. Enhance Border Security Enforcement: Both the new visa fees and border penalties aim to provide sustained funding for DHS to manage the rising volume of cross-border activity and ensure the system’s integrity.
4. Discourage Irregular Entry: The $5,000 apprehension fee sets a high cost for unlawful crossings, reinforcing the legal process of entry and underscoring the consequences of unauthorized actions.
5. Modernize System Maintenance: The updates to ESTA and EVUS help future-proof these systems against inflation and technical demands.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Countries Required to Use ESTA

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is designated for nationals of countries participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing them to visit the United States for up to 90 days without a traditional visa. Eligible jurisdictions span across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East, and currently include:

Countries such as Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Denmark are among those currently granted visa-free entry to the United States through the ESTA program. Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, and Italy;
Included in the list of participating nations are Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, and New Zealand—each granted streamlined entry privileges under the Visa Waiver Program. Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, and South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (considered eligible under ESTA though not diplomatically recognized as an independent state by the U.S.), and the United Kingdom.

These countries have bilateral agreements with the United States enabling their citizens to travel for business or leisure without a visa, provided they obtain ESTA authorization in advance.

Travelers from these countries who wish to visit the United States for 90 days or less without a visa must obtain ESTA approval prior to boarding their flights.

Application and Implementation Timeline

Here is a breakdown of when travelers can expect these new charges to come into effect:

• Fiscal Year 2025 (Starting October 1, 2024):
  • ESTA fee floor of $13 takes effect
  • EVUS $30 minimum fee implemented
  • Visa Integrity Fee of $250 begins to apply for nonimmigrant visa applicants
  • Inadmissible alien apprehension fee of $5,000 becomes enforceable
• Beginning 2026:
  • Yearly cost increases for both ESTA and EVUS programs will be introduced, with adjustments tied directly to inflation metrics starting from the designated implementation year.

The Department of Homeland Security, along with the Department of State, will publish regulatory guidance in the coming months detailing procedural implementation and public compliance requirements.

Implications for Travelers and U.S. Tourism

While these fee hikes introduce added financial considerations for global travelers, the U.S. government sees them as essential steps in ensuring sustainable operations of visa and travel systems. By linking fees to inflation, funding promotional efforts through Brand USA, and introducing more robust enforcement penalties, the new law seeks to modernize how America manages its borders and international relationships.

Travelers planning U.S. visits in the near future should factor in these additional costs when budgeting their trips, especially as cumulative fees—such as the visa integrity charge combined with standard processing and biometric fees—may now run into several hundred dollars for many visa categories.

Despite the fee increases, U.S. tourism agencies remain committed to fostering a welcoming environment for global visitors. The reforms, though stricter in financial terms, aim to provide a more efficient and secure experience for compliant travelers.

The enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signals a transformative shift in the United States’ approach to immigration control and border policy enforcement. From raising the ESTA and EVUS fees to instituting a controversial visa integrity surcharge and imposing significant penalties for undocumented border crossings, the law represents a comprehensive overhaul designed to balance national security priorities with the country’s aspirations for global tourism leadership.

The United States has taken a broad decision on immigration reform, sharply increasing surcharge fees for entry and thus making it more expensive for tourists, migrant workers and illegal migrants to get travel permission. To boost enforcement and help pay for administrative costs, the new law raises ESTA and EVUS fees, tacks on a $250 visa integrity fee, and hikes the penalty for those who enter without legal status to $5,000.

Travelers from around the world—whether visiting for leisure, business, or academic purposes—must now navigate a revised financial landscape when planning trips to the United States. As the DHS and other federal agencies begin implementing the new rules, the global travel community will be watching closely to assess how these changes reshape access to one of the world’s most visited destinations.

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