Made a Mistake on Your ESTA Application? What You Can Correct—and When to Reapply

Last reviewed: 15 September 2026

Discovering a mistake after submitting an ESTA application can be worrying, especially when a flight is approaching. The correct solution depends on which detail is wrong and whether the application has already been submitted and paid for.

Some information can be updated through an existing application. Errors involving passport or biographical information generally require a new ESTA application and another application fee. A mistaken answer to an eligibility question needs particular care and should not be “fixed” by guessing or changing a truthful answer.

Traveller comparing passport details with an online ESTA application before a flight

Quick answer: If the mistake concerns your passport number, passport details, citizenship, date of birth, name or other important biographical information, you will normally need to submit and pay for a new ESTA application. After approval, the information that can generally be updated is limited to your email address and your address in the United States. If an eligibility answer is wrong, contact the CBP Information Center for guidance before taking further action.

First, Identify the Type of ESTA Mistake

Not every typo has the same consequence. A wrong hotel address is different from a wrong passport number because ESTA approval is linked electronically to the passport used for the application.

Use the following table as a practical starting point. The final action must always follow the options shown when you retrieve the application and the latest instructions from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Information that is wrong Can it normally be updated after approval? Usual action
Passport number No Submit a new application using the correct passport number.
Passport-issuing country, citizenship or date of birth No A new application is generally required.
Name or other important biographical information No Submit a new application that matches the passport.
Passport issue or expiration date after payment No Submit a new application with the correct date.
Email address Yes Retrieve the application and update the field if the system offers it.
Address in the United States or accommodation Yes Update the existing application; a routine hotel change does not normally require a new ESTA.
An eligibility or security question Do not assume Contact the CBP Information Center and answer truthfully.
Employer, parents, home address or another non-editable field Often no Check the available update fields and ask CBP if the error could affect the application.

What Can You Correct Before Paying and Submitting?

The safest time to correct an ESTA application is before payment and final submission. The application process includes review screens so that you can compare the entered details with your passport and correct mistakes.

Do not review the application from memory. Open the passport you will actually use for travel and check every character. Pay particular attention to:

  • all given names and the surname;
  • passport number, including letters that resemble numbers;
  • passport-issuing country and country of citizenship;
  • date of birth;
  • passport issue and expiration dates;
  • answers to all eligibility questions; and
  • the email address used to receive application information.

If a core passport field is already locked before payment, do not submit information you know is wrong. Return to the appropriate step or start a clean application with the correct details.

If information was captured from a passport photograph, compare the populated fields with the printed passport page. Optical reading can confuse characters such as the letter O and the number 0. Our guide to ESTA passport photo requirements explains how to provide a clear image and review the extracted information.

What Happens If the ESTA Has Already Been Submitted?

Once the application has been submitted and paid for, your options become more limited. Retrieve the application through the status function and inspect both its status and the information available for updating.

Do not assume that an approval makes incorrect passport data acceptable. An approval linked to the wrong passport number or materially incorrect identity details may not match the travel document presented at check-in or at the U.S. border.

Similarly, do not assume that a pending application will correct itself. “Authorization Pending” means that an immediate decision has not yet been made; it does not mean that CBP is automatically fixing data entered incorrectly. Read more about the decision window in our guide to ESTA processing times and pending status.

Passport Number Mistake: Do You Need a New ESTA?

Yes. A wrong passport number is a material error and cannot normally be corrected after payment. Submit a new application using the passport that will be presented for travel and pay the required fee for the new application.

Copy the number directly from the passport’s biographical page or machine-readable zone. Check common character combinations carefully, including:

  • O and 0;
  • I, 1 and L;
  • B and 8; and
  • S and 5.

The same principle applies if you receive a new passport. An ESTA is linked to one passport, so an approval connected with an old, lost, stolen, damaged or expired passport does not transfer to the new document.

Name Mistake on an ESTA Application

Your name should match the passport you will use for travel. If the submitted application contains a materially incorrect name or other biographical information, CBP guidance states that a new application is required.

This can include:

  • a misspelled surname;
  • the surname and given name entered in the wrong fields;
  • a missing given name that appears in the passport’s given-name field;
  • a nickname used instead of the passport name; or
  • an application completed in a previous legal name.

Names can be complicated when they contain accents, hyphens, multiple given names or characters that are transliterated in the machine-readable zone. Follow the instructions displayed in the application and use the passport as the authoritative document. If you are uncertain how the official system expects the name to be entered, obtain guidance before submitting rather than experimenting with several paid applications.

Wrong Date of Birth, Citizenship or Passport Country

A wrong date of birth, country of citizenship or passport-issuing country is not treated like a change of hotel. These details are central to identity and Visa Waiver Program eligibility and generally require a new application after submission.

Check that the day and month have not been reversed and that the correct country was selected from the list. Dual nationals must also answer citizenship questions completely and use the same eligible passport for the application, airline check-in and entry to the United States.

Wrong Passport Issue Date or Expiration Date

CBP’s correction guidance distinguishes between an application that has not yet been paid for and one that has. Passport issue and expiration dates may be corrected before payment. If either date is wrong after payment, a new application is required and the fee is charged again.

Do not confuse the date on which the passport was issued with the date on which an ESTA was approved. They are different records with different validity periods.

Can You Change the Email Address?

An email address is one of the fields that can generally be updated on an existing approved ESTA. Retrieve the application through “Check ESTA Status” and use the available update option.

An incorrect email address does not change the passport to which an ESTA is linked, but it can prevent you from receiving notifications. Check the status directly rather than assuming that no email means no decision. Our ESTA status service can assist travelers who need help locating and reviewing an existing authorization.

What If Your Hotel or U.S. Address Changes?

A routine change of hotel or U.S. accommodation does not normally require a completely new ESTA. The address in the United States is another field that can generally be updated after approval.

Retrieve the existing application and enter the address of the accommodation that is relevant to the trip when the update option is available. If you have not yet booked accommodation, use only the entries permitted by the application and never invent a hotel or contact. See our detailed guide to the ESTA point of contact for examples covering hotels, friends, family, business visits and transit.

What If You Answered an Eligibility Question Incorrectly?

Eligibility questions require the most cautious approach. They can concern matters such as immigration history, arrests or convictions, certain health-related circumstances, previous travel and other grounds relevant to Visa Waiver Program eligibility.

If you misunderstood a question or selected the wrong answer, do not submit false information in a new application in an attempt to obtain approval. CBP specifically directs travelers with a mistaken eligibility answer to the CBP Information Center.

A truthful “Yes” answer is not a typo merely because it may affect eligibility. If the true answer means you cannot use ESTA, the appropriate route may be a U.S. visa. Conversely, if you accidentally selected “Yes” when the truthful answer is “No,” obtain official guidance on correcting the record.

Important: Never alter facts, omit relevant information or repeatedly submit applications with different answers simply to obtain an approval. Incorrect or misleading statements can create consequences far more serious than the original form error.

How to Retrieve and Update an Existing ESTA

  1. Go to the official ESTA website.
  2. Select Check ESTA Status and then Check Individual Status.
  3. Accept the security notification.
  4. Enter the requested passport and application details.
  5. Open the application and check which fields the system allows you to update.
  6. Save the change and confirm that the updated information is displayed correctly.

If you no longer have the application number, the official status tool may offer retrieval using your passport and biographical details. Enter the information exactly as it appeared in the submitted application. If the application cannot be found, first check whether you are using the same passport and spelling.

When Should You Submit a New ESTA Application?

A new application is generally the appropriate action when:

  • the passport number is wrong;
  • the application contains incorrect passport or important biographical information;
  • the passport issue or expiration date is wrong after payment;
  • you have received a new passport;
  • your legal name, citizenship or other passport identity information has changed;
  • a truthful answer to an eligibility question has changed; or
  • the previous ESTA or linked passport has expired.

A separate fee is charged for every new application. Check the replacement application character by character before paying so that the same mistake is not repeated.

What Happens to the Previous ESTA?

When a new application is submitted for the same traveler and passport context, the earlier authorization should not be treated as a backup approval. Use the status and application information connected with the corrected, current passport details.

Keep the new application number and verify the final status before travel. Do not present a screenshot of an older approval as evidence that the incorrect application is valid. Airlines and border systems check the electronic authorization against the passport presented.

Can You Cancel an ESTA Application or Receive a Refund?

Submitting a corrected application does not normally refund the fee paid for the mistaken application. CBP states that the associated fee is charged for each new ESTA application submitted.

If you used a private assistance service, its cancellation and refund terms are separate from the official government rules. Review the terms accepted with that service and contact its support team about the specific transaction. A private service cannot change CBP’s rules about which official ESTA fields are editable.

What If Your ESTA Was Denied Because of a Mistake?

First establish whether there was a genuine, identifiable data-entry error. If core information was entered incorrectly, a new truthful application may be needed to provide the correct information.

If the application was accurate and your circumstances have not changed, repeatedly applying again is unlikely to solve the problem. CBP does not generally disclose the reason for an ESTA denial. A traveler who is not authorized through ESTA may need to apply for an appropriate nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Never change a truthful eligibility answer to make a new application appear more favorable.

What If Departure Is Soon?

Correcting the form does not create an expedited ESTA process. A flight reservation, hotel booking or imminent departure does not guarantee a faster decision.

If a new application is required, submit it as soon as the correct information is available and wait for an approved status before attempting to travel under the Visa Waiver Program. CBP recommends applying at least 72 hours before departure, but a decision may remain pending while the application is reviewed.

Do not rely only on email. Retrieve the status directly and make sure the approved authorization is linked to the passport you will carry.

Checklist Before Submitting the Corrected Application

  • Use the passport that will be presented for the journey.
  • Copy every name exactly as instructed and shown in the passport.
  • Check the passport number one character at a time.
  • Confirm the issuing country, citizenship and date of birth.
  • Verify the issue and expiration dates.
  • Answer every eligibility question truthfully.
  • Use an email address you can access.
  • Save the new application number.
  • Check the final status directly before travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit my ESTA after submitting it?

Only limited information can be updated after submission. Once an ESTA is approved, the email address and address in the United States can generally be changed. Incorrect passport or biographical information normally requires a new application.

Do I need a new ESTA for one wrong digit in my passport number?

Yes. Even a one-character error means the passport number in the application does not match the travel document. A new application using the correct passport number is normally required.

Can I change my passport expiration date after paying?

No. CBP guidance states that if the passport issue date or expiration date is incorrect after payment, a new application must be submitted.

I entered the wrong hotel. Must I reapply?

Not normally. A change to the address in the United States can generally be made through the existing application. A routine hotel change is not the same as a passport or identity error.

I used the wrong email address. Is my ESTA invalid?

An incorrect email address does not by itself change the passport linked to the authorization. Retrieve the application, update the email field if available and check the status directly.

I accidentally answered “Yes” to an eligibility question. What should I do?

Contact the CBP Information Center for official guidance. Do not submit inconsistent or false answers. If “Yes” is the truthful answer, it must not be changed merely to seek approval.

Will my new application be processed faster because I already paid once?

No. A previous application, travel booking or approaching departure does not create priority processing. The corrected application receives its own status and decision.

Does an approved ESTA guarantee entry to the United States?

No. ESTA authorizes an eligible traveler to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request admission under the Visa Waiver Program. A CBP officer makes the final decision on admission.

Correct the Right Information Before You Travel

The key question is not whether the mistake looks small—it is whether the error affects the passport, identity or eligibility information on which the authorization is based.

Update an email address or U.S. accommodation through the existing application when permitted. For wrong passport or biographical details, complete a new application using the correct passport. For an eligibility-answer mistake, obtain official CBP guidance and keep every answer truthful.

Finally, check the corrected application’s status before departure and use the same passport throughout the application and journey.

Official Information Sources

Editorial note: This article was reviewed against current U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance on correcting and updating ESTA applications. It provides general travel information and is not legal advice.

Independent service notice: esta-cbp-gov.com is a private application-assistance service and is not affiliated with the U.S. Government. Service fees are separate from the government application fee. Applicants may also apply directly through the official U.S. Government ESTA website.