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Planning your next Florida, (or anywhere in the USA), trip from the UK? Then there’s an important change to the cost of your trip you need to know, and budget for. Your trip to Florida from the UK is going to get a bit more expensive, $19 more per person to be exact. And it’s not a price increase that you can avoid, as it’s the ESTA price that’s increasing.
ESTA Fee Doubling: What It Means For Your UK Disney Holiday
The official fee for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is set to increase pretty significantly. From the 30th September 2025 an ESTA will cost $40 (£29.52*). The current cost is $21 (£15.50). That’s quite an eye-watering price jump when you consider that every person travelling needs a valid ESTA.
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Cost Increase For A UK Family of Four
The cost increase on the average Florida holiday for a family of four will be $76, that’s an extra £14.02 per person. That means you’ll need to budget an extra £56.08 per family of four. (Remember an ESTA is per person and there is a flat fee no matter your age).
If you have a trip booked this year or for early next year, there is a way around the price hike…
Beat the ESTA price increase and get your 2026 trip ESTA for $21
Even if your Disney or Universal trip to Florida isn’t until 2026, you can still apply for your ESTA now and pay the current lower fee. This is because the ESTA is valid for two years. Its a decent saving that could go towards an extra Dole Whip of Loungefly bag!
UK travellers can buy their ESTA now at the current price of $21 and once approved, it will be valid for the next two years or until your passport expires, whichever is soonest. If you’re heading out to Florida in 2025 or even 2026, our tip is to buy your ESTA now. It also gives you piece of mind that this admin is out of the way.
Hot tip: Don’t leave it to the eleventh hour to take advantage of the lower price. While ESTA approvals are often quick, they can take up to 72 hours. To guarantee you get the lower price get your application in before the 30th September 2025 deadline.
Why is the ESTA price increasing?
You might be wondering why there has been such a big price increase? Well, it all comes down to piece of US government legislation named the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (PL 119-21). The new Bill has approved an increase in administrative fees for all travellers from the 42 countries entering the US using the ESTA system.
The new $40 fee is composed of a few different parts, which the US government have explained as being:
The Travel Promotion Fee: $17 (Stays the same as before)
The Treasury General Fund Fee: $13 (This is new)
The Operational Fund Fee: $10 (This is going up from $4)
ESTA FAQs for UK Travellers
We know lots of you out there will have questions so we’ve put together some of the most common queries from UK travellers regarding their ESTA.
Will my existing ESTA still be valid after 30th September, 2025?
Yes! If you already have an ESTA that was approved within the past two years, it remains valid for its full two years, regardless of the price change. Just remember to check the expiry date before you travel. However, if you have had to get a new passport since your last ESTA application, you will need to get a brand new ESTA to match your new passport.
What information do I need for the new ESTA application?
The application is staying the same, it’s just the price of it that is increasing. You’ll still need your personal details, passport details, and details about where you are staying. You’ll also be asked some questions.
Where do I get my ESTA?
Always apply for your ESTA on the official U.S. Custom and Border Protection website. There are many third-party websites out there that look official but will charge you a significantly higher fee to process your application for you. Yes, higher than the price hike, (sometimes £60 or more). You can easily fill out your form yourself and we highly recommend avoiding them completely and sticking to the official source.
Key points: not to be missed
Apply for your ESTA now before September 30th 2025 if travelling or booking Walt Disney World in the next 12 months.
An approved ESTA is valid for 2 years
Always use the official US ESTA website
Sort your ESTA well in advance of travelling
*Exchange rates right at the time of writing. Exchange rates fluctuate daily, so this price will vary slightly.