US ESTA Applies Stricter Checks to Applicant Photographs

ESTA applications include a photograph, which is checked as part of the automated assessment before an authorisation is granted.

Those checks have been tightened, with submissions failing more often where the image does not meet requirements.

A stricter automated check means more rejections at the application stage, which is when travellers are most likely to turn to a paid intermediary. EntryCheck lists the official ESTA address.