In 60 seconds: The US, Canada and Australia all use a small online permit instead of a visa for short visits — but the names, prices and rules are completely different. Here's each one, side by side, so you don't pay a copycat site or show up at the airport without the right one.
- US ESTA: $40.62, valid 2 years, stays up to 90 days — for citizens of 42 Visa Waiver Program countries.
- Canada eTA: CAD 7, valid up to 5 years, stays up to 6 months per visit — air travel only, US citizens exempt.
- Australia ETA: AUD 20 via the official app, valid 12 months, stays up to 3 months per visit.
- None of these is a visa, none guarantees entry, and a new passport means a brand-new permit.
- Apply only on the official government site or app — copycat sites charge far more for the same form.
Passport control at an airport. Every traveler, including infants, needs their own permit. Photo: Jarcje / Wikimedia Commons.
Honestly, the naming is half the confusion. America calls its permit ESTA. Canada calls its permit eTA. Australia calls its permit ETA. They sound interchangeable. They aren't — and mixing them up is exactly how travelers end up denied boarding or overpaying a lookalike website by a hundred dollars. Here's the whole picture, in one place.
What happened
Nothing changed this week — that's the point. These three permits are the everyday paperwork of travel between the US, Canada and Australia, and they come up every month in search results because travelers keep hitting the same questions: how much, how long does it last, and do I even need one? The US fee did move recently, though: ESTA rose from $21 to $40 in September 2025, then to $40.27, and to $40.62 from Oct. 16, 2026, under the inflation-linked fee schedule. If a guide still quotes $21, it's out of date.
Latest verified facts
| Permit | Fee (official) | Validity | Stay per visit | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US ESTA | $40.62 | 2 years or until passport expires | Up to 90 days | Citizens of 42 Visa Waiver Program countries; air and sea arrivals |
| Canada eTA | CAD 7 | Up to 5 years or until passport expires | Up to 6 months | Visa-exempt travelers flying to Canada; US citizens exempt |
| Australia ETA | AUD 20 | 12 months | Up to 3 months | Passport holders of eligible countries, via the official Australian ETA app |
How each one works in practice: the US ESTA is applied for at esta.cbp.dhs.gov, usually approved within minutes, and US Customs and Border Protection recommends applying at least 72 hours before you fly. It covers tourism, short business trips and transit only — no work, no study. Canada's eTA is applied for through canada.ca, costs CAD 7, is usually approved within minutes, and is linked electronically to your passport — the airline checks it before you board, and without it you won't get on the flight. It applies to air travel; arriving by land has different rules. Australia's ETA is applied for through the official Australian ETA app for an AUD 20 service charge, is valid for 12 months with multiple entries, and covers tourism and short business visits.
Why it matters
Because the mistakes are expensive and entirely avoidable. The most common one is the copycat site: search for any of these permits and the top results are often private companies that fill in the same form for a much higher fee. The only official ESTA address is esta.cbp.dhs.gov; Canada says to apply only on its official site; Australia's ETA runs through its official app. If a site charges $90 or $130 for a $7 or $40 permit, you're paying a middleman for nothing.
The second mistake is assuming approval equals entry. It doesn't. An ESTA, eTA or ETA is a pre-screening — the border officer at arrival makes the final call. And the third mistake is the passport trap: every one of these permits is electronically tied to one passport. Renew the passport and the permit dies with it, even if it had years left. Apply for the new permit after the new passport, not before.
Impact on the USA and the world
For Americans, the practical version of this guide runs in reverse: US citizens don't need a Canada eTA at all, and they do need an Australia ETA before flying there. For visitors to the US, the ESTA fee rise to $40.62 is a small but real cost increase on every family trip — a family of four now pays over $160 in ESTA fees alone, which is worth knowing before you budget, not at the checkout.
And for the three countries, these permits are the quiet machinery of modern borders: cheap, fast, and almost invisible when they work — and a ruined trip when they don't. The systems are designed so that most travelers never think about them twice. This guide exists for the moment they do.
What happens next
Our take: save this page before your next trip, and check the fee on the official site the week you apply — ESTA's fee is inflation-linked and has already moved twice in a year, so a guide quoting last year's number will eventually be wrong again. The smart routine is boring and it works: confirm you need the permit, apply on the official site or app at least 72 hours before departure, check that the approval email matches your current passport number, and keep that passport — not a new one — for the trip.
If you're planning the wider trip, read these next: How to Get a US Passport Fast in 2026: Costs, Timelines and the 14-Day Rule, How to Get a REAL ID in 2026: Documents, Cost and Airport Rules, and Australia Student Visa 2026: Subclass 500 Fees, Funds and Steps.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ESTA a visa? No. It's an electronic travel authorization for citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries. If you need a visa, you still need a visa — an ESTA won't substitute for one.
Does every traveler need their own permit? Yes. Every traveler, including infants, needs an individual ESTA, eTA or ETA — there is no family application or family rate.
Can I work on an ESTA, eTA or ETA? No. All three cover tourism, short business visits and transit only. Work or study needs the proper visa or permit.
What if my application is denied? You can't travel on that permit. For the US, the usual path is a B-1/B-2 visitor visa application at an embassy or consulate; for Canada, a standard visitor visa; for Australia, the appropriate visa stream. A denial of a permit does not automatically mean a visa will be denied.
Do I need a new permit if I get a new passport? Yes — every time. Each permit is linked to one passport number, and a new passport invalidates the old permit.
Sources: US Customs and Border Protection ESTA portal (esta.cbp.dhs.gov); Government of Canada, "How do I apply for an eTA for travel to Canada?" (IRCC); Australian Department of Home Affairs ETA guidance; Federal Register ESTA fee schedule as reported Oct. 2026. Fees verified Oct. 27, 2026 — re-check on the official site before applying, as fees change.