This information is provided by the Consulate General of Sweden New York and is important for citizens traveling to the United States. If you or your organization is hosting friends, relatives, or guests from Sweden, please remind them them that this new travel procedure must be completed prior to departing for the United States of America.
Electronic System for Travel Authorization is Mandatory January 12, 2009
On August 1, 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), introduced the Electronic System for Travel Authority (ESTA). This system requires nationals from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to apply online for advance authorization before using the VWP to travel to the USA. ESTA authorization will be valid for two years or until the applicant's passport expires, whichever date comes first. The ESTA system became mandatory on January 12, 2009. VWP travelers who do not have ESTA authorization on or after January 12, 2009, will not be allowed to board a U.S.-bound aircraft or ship. There is no charge to use the ESTA system, which is administered by the DHS.
An ESTA application may be completed online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Once the application is submitted, the applicant should receive a response within seconds. The responses range from, Authorization Approved (applicant's travel is authorized), to Travel Not Authorized (applicant must obtain a non-immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate before traveling to the U.S.), to Authorization Pending (applicant will need to check the ESTA website for updates within 72 hours for a final response).
Instructions on how to obtain an electronic travel authorization are available in 13 additional languages: Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish.
For further information on ESTA, please visit: http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/esta_tear_sheet.ctt/esta_tear_sheet.pdf
