Visa restrictions for the US will tighten from August this year, following an announcement by the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.
The new regulation requires travellers to submit security details online prior to travel.
Biographical data, travel information such as flight numbers and an address in the US must be provided.
Questions must also be answered on any contagious diseases, history of arrests and convictions for certain crimes. The announcement concerns travellers from all 27 Visa Waiver countries, including the UK.
US Customs and Border protection said it would not charge for ESTA applications, but it has not ruled out collecting a fee in future.
Despite acknowledging that the US has a “long way to go” to improve the entry process for international visitors, Travel Industry Association in America president Roger Dow said the TIA welcomed the move.