SINGAPORE: Under newly-implemented regulations, Singaporeans who visit the United States will have to apply online for authorisation to travel.

The mandatory web-based system, known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), will kick in on January 12 next year.

All citizens of the 27 visa waiver countries, which include Singapore, Australia and Japan, will have to apply online through ESTA.

This is essentially a shift to a paperless process - from the current paper embarkation forms visitors fill out, to a web-based system under the US Department of Homeland Security.

Under the new process, the authorisation is valid for multiple entries into the US for two years.

Visitors are encouraged to apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before takeoff, during which a response to the application can be expected.

Family members or relatives can apply on behalf of those who have no Internet access or are not web-savvy.

For now, ESTA applications are on a voluntary basis, and visitors from visa waiver countries have to fill in paper embarkation forms. The paper forms are expected to be phased out in time to come.

So far, US authorities have processed more than 89,000 ESTA applications, of which some 1,500 are from Singapore.

The new process to enhance security comes under the 9-11 Act by US authorities in August last year. - 938 Live/yb