Travelling to the US? Your visa fees are about to rise — who will be most affected?

Dubai: The cost of visiting the United States is set to increase significantly for many international travellers, with new fee structures taking effect on September 30. The changes, mandated by the Trump administration’s 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' will particularly impact residents of countries in the Middle East that are part of the Visa Waiver Program.

The fee for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) will nearly double from $21 to $40. This affects citizens of more than 40 countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program and can travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days. This includes countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, most of Europe, and Qatar.

US Visa Waiver Program: The complete list of countries

The fee increases are not limited to the ESTA. Travellers arriving at a US land border will also see a sharp rise in the cost of their I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, which jumps from $6 to $30. Additionally, travellers from China will be asked to pay a new $30 enrollment fee for the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS).

The new fees come at a challenging time for US tourism. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the United States is the only country out of 184 economies projected to see a decline in international visitor spending in 2025. The new costs, along with the looming $250 'visa integrity fee' for many non-visa waiver countries, could further discourage international visitors.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told CNN that the new visa integrity fee, which has not yet been implemented, "requires cross-agency coordination before implementation."