Yes. British citizens need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) for visa-free entry into the USA. The United Kingdom is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows travel for tourism or business purposes as well as transit for up to 90 days without a visa, provided a valid ESTA is obtained.
You can apply for the permit online after paying a fee, it is typically valid for two years or until your passport expires. Multiple entries are possible during this period. For more information, you can visit the official ESTA page here.
An eVisa is a full visa that is required for longer stays, while ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a simplified travel authorization. ESTA allows citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa, for example for tourism or business trips. The application is submitted online and the permit is valid for two years.
In the worst case, this could result in you being denied entry to your desired travel destination. You're obliged to provide this information.
You can find the API data form in the Condor app or online via "My trip".
The inquiry is primarily for successful entry into the USA or Puerto Rico and is mandatory for all travellers.
The extended passenger data includes information on your passport, your main residence, and precise details about your first place of stay in the respective travel country. Here you can directly access the API data form.
You can submit your details in the Condor app or online via “My trip” up to 75 hours before departure at the latest.
The TSA, or 'Transportation Security Administration,' is an agency in the United States. She is responsible for traffic safety. Their main goal is to ensure the safety of air travel by screening passengers and baggage at airports in the USA.
Airlines like Condor are required to send specific passenger data to the TSA. This is done as part of the "Secure Flight" program. The data is sent securely and encrypted. They will not be used for any other purposes.
For more information about TSA and data verification, visit their TSA website.
If you're flying to the USA, you need to provide Secure Flight data. As a rule, you also need to fill out an electronic travel application, or ESTA for short. You can find all information about US entry requirements on our entry page.
Secure Flight data is necessary for all flights to the USA with Condor. This includes flights to the USA, from the USA, with stopovers, and certain flights over the USA region. The data includes salutation or gender, first and last name, date of birth, and possibly the Redress Number. This data is automatically collected when you book your flight. It doesn't matter if you book directly on condor.com, book through a travel agency or as part of a package holiday.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) uses the data for security screenings. All passengers are checked before their flight to, from, or via the USA. Condor transmits the data in an encrypted form and according to the highest security standards to the TSA, three days before departure. Your personal information will only be used for this purpose and will not be shared.
For flights to the USA and Canada, special safety regulations apply to passengers and carry-on baggage. You might need to show your electronic devices at security. These should be charged and unpacked. This helps to avoid delays. In the USA, every piece of baggage can be opened and inspected. If a piece of baggage cannot be opened, the TSA is allowed to break the lock. It's best to use a suitcase with a special TSA lock.
Avoid powder-like substances in carry-on baggage. More than 350 ml of powder is prohibited unless you need it for medical reasons or as baby food.
Find out about the current rules before your flight. As the checks for flights to the USA might take longer, make sure to allow extra time for your trip to the airport.
With the TSA PRE✓ program, you can go through security checks faster at over 200 US airports. Save a lot of time when leaving the USA.
You can register:
You can find further information and prices for expedited entry with TSA Precheck here.
Yes, we offer TSA Precheck at US departure airports.
To participate, first register and apply with the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA). After a successful background check, you'll receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN). This number will be noted on your boarding pass. This lets you take advantage of the simplified security check.
But you can't send your Known Traveller Number (KTN) ahead of time. So, please inform the check-in staff at the airport about your KTN or provide it during online check-in.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a digital border control system operated by eu-LISA . It applies to short stays of non-EU citizens and covers every entry and exit to the Schengen area. The system replaces manual passport stamps with biometric data - a facial image and fingerprints - as well as information on the travel document and the time and place of the border crossing. By using digital records instead of manual checks, the EES reduces errors, improves verification and strengthens border security. It will be introduced gradually at all border control points, with some locations being converted earlier than others.
The EES focuses on the electronic registration of the entry and exit of non-EU citizens. In contrast, ETIAS is an online travel authorisation that many visa-exempt travellers must get before their trip and is currently scheduled to roll out by the end of 2026. Together, EES and ETIAS form part of the EU's broader border management systems.
No visa or prior registration is needed, as the EES registration is automatically completed at the border. Travelers should use a biometric passport – US passports issued after 2006 already contain the required chip. When you first enter, you should expect biometric checks at a kiosk where your face and fingerprints might be scanned. The permissible duration of stay remains unchanged: up to 90 days within a period of 180 days without a visa. ETIAS is a separate system whose introduction is expected to take place later, probably in the year 2026.
If your passport does not contain an electronic chip, you can't use the automated self-service kiosks that are based on biometric matching. In this case, you'll be processed manually by border officials at a manned counter. You'll still be registered in the EES, but the process might take longer as the biometric data collection is done directly by the official. If you're using an older passport and travel to Europe regularly, it's a good idea to renew your passport before your trip to reduce the processing time at the border.
The EES stores information about personal travel documents, including your name, nationality, document number and the date, time and location of each border crossing. In addition, biometric data like facial images and fingerprints of most visa-free visitors are stored when they first cross the border. Children under 12 years old don’t have to have their fingerprints taken, but a photo of them will be taken. In addition, the system registers exit dates when you leave the Schengen area to calculate your allowed length of stay, monitor the maximum allowed length of stay and prevent overstays.
All information collected under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is securely stored and managed by eu-LISA, the EU agency responsible for large-scale information systems. The data will be processed in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and used exclusively for legitimate border management and security purposes.
At border crossings, you can use self-service terminals or special counters for biometric registration. Upon your first entry under the EES, you enter your biometric data and travel document for registration. On subsequent trips, you can easily verify your identity using the biometric data already stored, which speeds up the process at the self-service terminals.
Before your trip, no further steps are required – no online form and no prior registration, as the EES registration takes place directly at the border.
The official start date for the EES is 12 October 2025. The introduction will take place gradually, with the member states implementing the system at the external border crossings over a period of approximately six months until around April 2026. During this transitional phase, some border control points may continue to use manual passport stamps or a mixed procedure until full implementation.