Tourist visa for the USA: ESTA for a motorcycle or car roadtrip

Planning a USA tourist visa for a self-drive adventure? If you’re a French citizen heading to the United States for less than 90 days, you’ll usually travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and apply for an ESTA rather than a classic visa. Simple doesn’t mean optional: passport type, online form, payment, and timing can make or break your boarding—especially when your trip is a tightly paced roadtrip in the American West or a motorcycle loop with fixed hotel nights.

Which French passport do you need for a USA tourist visa (ESTA)?

To enter the USA under the VWP, you need a valid French passport. It must be a biometric, electronic, or machine-readable passport. In practice, France has issued these formats for years, so most travelers are covered—but check before you lock flights and rentals.

Important: you cannot use the VWP/ESTA if you hold an emergency passport or a temporary passport. In those cases, you’ll need to apply for a visa.

Children: their own passport, their own ESTA

Each child traveling to the USA needs a passport in their own name, and their own ESTA—even if they’re included in your itinerary and hotel bookings.

Planet Ride pro tip

Carry both a paper copy and a digital copy of your passport ID page (the page with your personal details). Make sure the passport number is perfectly readable—handy if you need to re-enter details for rentals, insurance, or a replacement document on the road.

ESTA: the electronic travel authorization that replaces a tourist visa

What is ESTA?

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. It’s an online travel authorization required to board (by air or sea) to the United States under the VWP.

Two key points for a roadtrip:

• ESTA does not guarantee entry—it allows you to travel to the USA and present yourself at the border.
• An approved ESTA is generally valid for two years from the date of issuance (as long as your passport remains valid).

If you already have a valid US visa, you don’t need to apply for ESTA.

How to apply for ESTA (online only)

You apply only online via the official website:

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/application.html?execution=e1s1

New applicants: check the basics

• You do not currently hold a visitor visa for this trip
• Your stay in the USA is 90 days max
• You travel for tourism or business

Then you’ll fill in, among other items:

• Your passport details
• Your contact information
• The nature of your trip (stay, transit, stopover)
• Your employment information

Fee: plan for $14 USD. Payment is by card (commonly accepted networks include Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover).

Timing that matters on the ground: approvals are often quick, but allow up to 72 hours. For a motorcycle roadtrip, don’t leave it for the week you’re collecting the bike—rental dates, hotel deposits, and domestic flight connections don’t wait.

Returning applicants

If you already have an ESTA, the official portal also lets you:

• Check your ESTA status (validity/expiration)
• Correct certain mistakes
• Update a file that was approved or not paid yet
• Pay (typically within 7 days after applying, when relevant)
• Retrieve payment receipts

If your ESTA is denied, you’ll need to apply for a visa to travel to the USA.

What if you “lost” your ESTA?

Under the VWP, you’re not usually required to show a printed ESTA at the border. Airlines and carriers can access your status electronically.

Still, if you printed it and lost it (or want a backup for your travel folder), you can simply check your status online and reprint the relevant page.

When do you need to apply again?

Even though ESTA is valid for two years, you should renew it before it expires—especially if you travel often.

A new ESTA is required if:

• You get a new passport
• You change your name or gender
• You change your nationality
• Your answers to the eligibility questions are no longer up to date

2026 updates that matter for roadtrips

• Apply early: treat ESTA as a first-step item—ideally done before you book non-refundable flights or motorcycle rentals.
• Keep your trip details consistent: the address in the USA can be your first hotel; make sure it matches your initial booking confirmation.
• Plan for low connectivity: on wide-open routes (desert and mountain regions), cell coverage can drop. Save your ESTA confirmation as a PDF offline on your phone.
• Passport validity and rentals: beyond entry rules, many rental desks will scrutinize passport condition and details. A damaged passport can turn into a real-world delay on pickup day.

Useful official links

Do you need a visa? Which passport for ESTA?

http://french.france.usembassy.gov/visas/besoinvisa.html

Official ESTA application:

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/application.html?execution=e1s1

Mini-FAQ (roadtrip travelers)

Do I need ESTA if I’m doing a USA roadtrip by motorcycle?

If you’re eligible for the VWP and staying under 90 days, yes—ESTA is typically required to board for the USA, whether you ride or drive.

How long before departure should I apply for ESTA?

Don’t cut it close. While approvals can be fast, allow up to 72 hours, and do it earlier if you have fixed rental pickup times or domestic connections.

If my ESTA is approved, am I guaranteed entry?

No. ESTA allows you to travel to the USA; the final decision is made at the border.