Changes
Changing ESTA: correcting or updating details – what is possible?
Last checked: · Sources: CBP, DHS, Federal Register
An authorisation has been granted – and then something changes: the passport expires, your name changes, your accommodation is different. Whether this calls for an update or a new application depends on what changes.
These changes require a new ESTA application
CBP names four cases in which a new authorisation via ESTA is required – with the fee charged again:
- You have received a new passport (including a new passport number after loss or expiry).
- You have changed your name, for example through marriage.
- Your citizenship has changed.
- The circumstances behind one of your yes/no answers have changed (for example regarding health, arrests or previous visa procedures).
If you have two passports, you need an ESTA for exactly the passport you travel with. The authorisation cannot be “transferred” to another passport.
Before submitting: mistakes are easy to fix
Before you submit, the CBP website takes you through a review page on which you can check and correct all details. Use it thoroughly: compare your passport number, date of birth, date of issue and expiry date character by character with the passport’s data page. If you apply through us, you can change your details in the application assistant until payment, and we check them for completeness and obvious errors.
After submitting: limited updates
The system documents published by DHS state that applicants can retrieve their details with the ESTA application number, date of birth and passport number and then make only limited updates – for example to the travel information. Core personal data such as name, date of birth or passport number are not included.
If you have made a typo in such a core value, a new application is therefore generally required, and the fee is charged again. Which fields the CBP interface currently allows you to edit can be seen after retrieving your application on esta.cbp.dhs.gov; what is shown there always prevails.
Are only your travel plans changing?
The accommodation address in the application states where you are likely to stay; if you do not yet know your final address, you can enter the place of your first stay. Minor changes to your plans (a different hotel, a different flight) are no reason for a new application. However, check whether this changes an answer to an eligibility question – in that case, a new application is required as described above.
You can read more about the duration under ESTA validity, and about changing passports under ESTA and passport. You can start a new application here; the costs are listed under prices.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a new ESTA after getting married?
- Yes, if your name in your passport has changed. CBP explicitly names a change of name as a reason for a new authorisation; the fee is then charged again.
- Can I correct my passport number after submitting?
- According to the published system documents, only limited updates are possible after submission. If passport or personal details are wrong, a new application is generally required. The ESTA website on CBP’s domain shows what is currently possible.
- Do I have to report a change of hotel?
- Different accommodation does not invalidate the authorisation. There is an option to update travel information; a new ESTA is not required for this.
- What happens if my passport is renewed while my ESTA is still valid?
- According to CBP, you need a new ESTA with the new passport, even if the old one is still valid. The authorisation belongs to the passport with which it was applied for.
You will find more answers in the ESTA FAQ.
Sources and date
Checked on 4 October 2026. The information is based on the following government sources. Rules and fees can change; the current publication by CBP is decisive. This article is general information and not legal or immigration advice.
Next steps
Prepare your application, compare prices or keep reading – the decision is always made by CBP.