Some ESTA's Being Cancelled Due To Selfie Photo Errors

U.S. Customs & Border Protection have cancelled some approved ESTA's due to errors.

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Travel News•Published February 4, 2026by Ash

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There's no need to panic, but U.S. Customs & Border Protection has been cancelling some already approved ESTAs if a passport photo was uploaded instead of a selfie. In May 2025, it became a requirement to provide a selfie when applying for an ESTA. Since then, some travellers have uploaded their passport photo or other photo instead of a current selfie when applying. U.S. Customs & Border Protection appears to have checked applications (which have been approved) that did not correctly upload a selfie when asked and cancelled the ESTA. The selfie photo must be done during the application process (or very recently) and the photo must not have been used and will not be used for any other service.

ESTA applications that were made before the selfie requirement was implemented will not be affected and they can continue to be used without the need for a selfie until that ESTA runs out and you have to reapply.

While this will only affect a small number of passengers, it is advised that if you're due to travel in the near future, you log in to your ESTA application to make sure your application is still approved. If not, upload a new selfie photo and submit it again. You don't want to get to the airport not realising it has been cancelled.

Apply or check your current ESTA only on the official ESTA website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

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Ash Hales
Ash

About The Author
Ash Hales is a British Disney Parks writer and the voice behind Mickey From The UK. Based in the South of England, he's been visiting Disney Parks for over three decades and launched Mickey From The UK in 2017 to provide practical, straight-talking advice for British guests - without the American bias.