Do Children and Babies Need an ESTA? A Family Travel Guide
Last reviewed: 11 September 2026
Every child travelling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program needs an individual approved ESTA. There is no minimum age: the requirement applies to newborn babies, infants, toddlers and teenagers as well as adults.
A child cannot travel using a parent’s ESTA. Each family member must also have a separate eligible passport, and the information in the child’s application must match that passport exactly.
Quick answer: Yes. Children and babies need their own ESTA approval before travelling under the Visa Waiver Program, even when included in a family or group application. A parent, legal guardian or authorised third party may complete the application on the child’s behalf.
Does Every Child Need a Separate ESTA?
Yes. U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that accompanied and unaccompanied children, regardless of age, must obtain their own independent ESTA approval when travelling under the Visa Waiver Program.
This means that a family of four normally needs four separate approvals: one for each parent and one for each child. A baby sitting on a parent’s lap during the flight is still a separate traveller for immigration purposes and therefore requires a separate application.
The rule applies whether the child enters the United States by air, sea or land. It also applies when the United States is only a connection point and the family does not intend to leave the airport.
Can a Child Be Added to a Parent’s ESTA?
No. An ESTA cannot cover a spouse, child or any other person. Travel authorisation is linked electronically to one traveller and one passport.
Parents may submit several applications together through a group application, but grouping them does not create one shared ESTA. Every family member still receives an individual application number, status and decision. One application can be approved while another remains pending or is refused.
| Family member | Own passport required? | Own ESTA required? |
|---|---|---|
| Parent or adult traveller | Yes | Yes |
| Teenager | Yes | Yes |
| Young child | Yes | Yes |
| Baby or newborn | Yes | Yes |
Passport Requirements for Children and Babies
To qualify for ESTA, a child must have an individual, unexpired electronic passport issued by a Visa Waiver Program country. An electronic passport contains an embedded chip and normally displays the international e-passport symbol on its cover.
A child who is merely listed in a parent’s passport does not qualify for ESTA. The child must obtain a separate eligible passport before an application can be completed.
Some children’s, temporary or emergency travel documents may not satisfy the Visa Waiver Program’s passport requirements. Families should confirm the document type with the issuing passport authority before booking. If the child does not hold an eligible e-passport, a U.S. visa may be required instead.
Use the exact passport details
Enter the child’s full name, passport number, date of birth, nationality and passport dates exactly as printed in the passport’s machine-readable zone. Do not use a nickname, shortened name or the parent’s passport information.
Pay particular attention to the characters in the passport number. Confusing the letter O with the number 0, or the letter I with the number 1, can result in an application that is not correctly linked to the child’s passport.
Who Completes the ESTA Application for a Minor?
A parent or legal guardian will normally complete the application. An authorised third party may also submit it, but the person completing the form must read the questions carefully and provide accurate information about the child.
Questions must be answered for the child—not for the parent who is typing. For example, passport, citizenship, previous travel and eligibility answers must reflect the child’s circumstances.
Before submitting, compare every important field with the child’s passport. Passport and biographical mistakes can require a completely new application and another application fee.
How to Apply for ESTA for a Child
- Obtain the child’s passport. You cannot safely complete the application from memory or a travel booking.
- Confirm that it is an eligible e-passport. It must belong to the child and remain valid for the planned journey.
- Start an individual or group application. A group is convenient for families, but each traveller still has a separate application.
- Enter the child’s information exactly. Use the passport spelling and answer every eligibility question for the child.
- Review before payment. Check names, dates, nationality and passport number character by character.
- Save the application details. Keep the individual or group reference information so you can retrieve each status later.
- Wait for approval before travel. Do not assume the child is approved because the parents have received approvals.
Individual Applications vs Group Applications
The official ESTA system allows families to organise two or more applications as a group and make one combined payment. The people in the group do not have to travel together, and the group function does not change the assessment of each traveller.
A group application can make administration easier for parents because the applications can be retrieved using the group information. However, every child still needs:
- a separate eligible passport;
- a separate application with individual answers;
- the required application fee for that application; and
- an individual approved status before travel.
How Early Should Parents Apply?
Apply as soon as the family begins planning the trip and preferably before purchasing non-refundable travel. CBP recommends applying at least 72 hours before departure, but parents should leave additional time in case one family member’s application remains pending.
Do not submit an application before the child has received the passport that will be used for the journey. ESTA is linked to the passport entered in the form. If a new passport is issued after approval, the child will need a new ESTA for the new passport.
If an application has not yet received a decision, see our guide to ESTA processing times and pending status. Parents should verify each traveller separately rather than relying solely on confirmation emails.
Do Children Need an ESTA for Transit?
Yes. A child travelling through a U.S. airport under the Visa Waiver Program needs an approved ESTA even if the family is connecting immediately to another country and does not plan to leave the airport.
The United States generally requires connecting international passengers to go through immigration and customs. There is no general exemption for babies or children in transit.
What If the Child Has More Than One Nationality?
Use the passport that the child will present for the journey and disclose other citizenship information accurately when the application asks for it. The ESTA must be linked to the same passport used for check-in and entry.
A child who is also a U.S. citizen should not use ESTA to enter the United States. U.S. citizens are expected to travel to the United States using a valid U.S. passport. If you are uncertain about a child’s citizenship status or travel-document requirements, seek guidance from the relevant passport authority or U.S. government source before travelling.
Travelling With One Parent or Without Both Parents
ESTA approval does not replace documents showing that a child has permission to travel. When a minor travels with only one parent, another adult or a group, the accompanying adult should carry a signed consent letter from the absent parent or legal guardian. Depending on the circumstances and destination requirements, notarisation may be advisable.
The letter should normally identify the child, the accompanying adult, the journey and the consenting parent or guardian. Carrying a copy of the child’s birth certificate and relevant custody or guardianship documents can also help explain the relationship.
Airlines and countries included in the itinerary may impose additional rules. Check with the carrier and the authorities for every destination and transit country.
What If a Child’s ESTA Is Denied?
An approval for the parents does not override a denial for the child. A child without an approved ESTA cannot travel under the Visa Waiver Program merely because the rest of the family is approved.
If an application is denied, first confirm that you checked the status using the correct passport and application information. Do not repeatedly submit new applications with altered answers. Unless the circumstances have changed or an identifiable error must be corrected, another ESTA application may receive the same result. The child may need to apply for an appropriate U.S. visa.
How Long Is a Child’s ESTA Valid?
A child’s approved ESTA is generally valid for two years or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first, unless the authorisation is revoked. It may normally be used for multiple eligible trips during that period.
Children’s passports may have shorter validity periods than adult passports. Consequently, a child’s ESTA can expire sooner than a parent’s approval even when the applications were submitted on the same day.
A new application is required if the child receives a new passport or if other circumstances arise that require a new ESTA. If an ESTA expires during an uninterrupted U.S. visit, read our guide explaining what happens when ESTA expires during a trip.
Family ESTA Checklist
- Every adult, child and baby has an individual eligible e-passport.
- Every family member has a separate ESTA application and status.
- Each application matches the passport exactly.
- The same passport used for the application will be used for travel.
- Every traveller is approved before check-in.
- Applications were submitted at least 72 hours before departure where possible.
- Consent and relationship documents are packed when a child is not travelling with both parents.
- Transit-country and airline requirements have also been checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a three-month-old baby need an ESTA?
Yes. There is no age exemption. A three-month-old baby needs an individual eligible passport and a separate approved ESTA to travel under the Visa Waiver Program.
Can my baby use my ESTA?
No. ESTA approval belongs only to the traveller and passport named in the application. A parent’s authorisation cannot be shared with a baby or child.
Can I use one application for the whole family?
You may create a group to organise and pay for several applications together, but each person still has an individual application and receives a separate decision.
Does a child pay an ESTA application fee?
Yes. The required fee applies to each ESTA application, including applications for babies and children. A group payment combines the payment process but does not remove the individual fees.
Can I apply before my baby receives a passport?
No. The application requires the baby’s own passport information, and the approval will be linked electronically to that passport. Wait until the passport has been issued.
Does my child need to print the ESTA approval?
ESTA is checked electronically against the passport, so a printed copy is not normally required. Nevertheless, keeping a digital or printed record of the application number and status can be useful during the journey.
Does an approved ESTA guarantee that my child can enter the USA?
No. ESTA authorises travel to request admission under the Visa Waiver Program. A CBP officer makes the final admission decision at the U.S. port of entry.
Official Information Sources
Requirements can change. Before travel, verify the family’s information with the official U.S. government ESTA website, the CBP Visa Waiver Program and ESTA FAQs and the U.S. Department of State Visa Waiver Program guidance.
Editorial note: This article was reviewed against current U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Department of State guidance concerning children, passports and travel under the Visa Waiver Program. It provides general travel information and is not legal advice.
Independent service notice: esta-cbp-gov.com is a private travel-assistance website and is not affiliated with the U.S. Government. Applicants may also apply directly through the official U.S. Government ESTA website.