Once the ESTA form has been paid and submitted, the US government examines the requests received.
The evaluation process for the ESTA is very swift and usually takes up to 2 business days, with many applications being approved sooner.
Upon completion of the evaluation, a copy of the ESTA confirmation will be sent to the Finnish citizen by email. If any of the applications have not been successful for any reason, we recommend that travelers contact the American embassy in Helsinki.
As mentioned above, the US ESTA is issued quickly. International travelers sometimes receive their approved authorization within hours of having applied. However, to account for any unexpected issues, we recommend that Finnish nationals submit an application at least 3 working days before the intended date of arrival in the US.
The US ESTA is electronically linked to the Finnish citizens’ passport. In theory, they do not need a printed copy when entering the United States of America. However, it is advisable to bring one to ensure you have proof of the travel authorization.