US travel fees going up this month

Foreign travellers heading to the United States will soon have to pay more as multiple travel-related fees are being increased later this month.

Under President Donald Trump’s administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”, the fee for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) for citizens of visa waiver countries will rise from $21 to $40 from Sept 30.

The list of affected countries includes the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Qatar and most European nations. Currently, over 40 countries participate in the programme.

Fees for travellers entering the US via land routes will also increase. The current $6 I-94 arrival/departure record fee will rise to $30 at the end of the month.

A new rule for Chinese travellers requires a $30 charge to include their names in the electronic visa update system.

Another fee, the “Visa Integrity Fee”, will soon apply to travellers from countries outside the visa waiver programme at $250, though it has not yet been implemented.

A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security said coordination among agencies is needed before it can take effect.

These hikes come at a time when inbound international travel to the US has seen a marked drop.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the country could lose an estimated $12.5 billion in 2025 due to fewer overseas visitors. Of 184 economies analysed by the council, the US is the only country expected to face this kind of decline.

Houston-based immigration lawyer Steven Brown told CNN that the general fee increase will have limited impact, while the $250 visa integrity fee is a completely new measure.