Point of Contact - No longer Valid

Question

Hi Everyone,

Im pretty sure i know the answer to this but just need it clarifying.

We have ESTA's from last year which are still valid for this years trip. I have updated the villa details as for the first time in 15 years we are staying in a different villa. However the Point of Contact details on our existing esta is no longer valid and it wont let me change this.

Iv seen posts where people have said leave it blank or put unknown, But mine already has details in which are now incorrect.

Does this matter or do i need to get us new estas for this year.

Answer

Your situation is extremely common, and the good news is that you do not need to apply for new ESTAs just because your Point of Contact information is outdated.

Once an ESTA is approved, only certain fields can be updated (such as your accommodation address). The Point of Contact field is not one of the editable sections, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) fully expects that many travellers' contact details may change over the two-year validity period.

CBP has stated publicly that this field is not critical and does not affect your ESTA validity. In fact, this is why the online form allows you to enter “Unknown” when applying. Having old or outdated information in that field is completely fine.

You do not need to purchase new ESTAs.
You do not need to worry about the old contact being listed.
You’ve already updated your accommodation details — that is the only relevant part for your trip.

At the border, immigration officers do not check or ask about the Point of Contact field unless there is some unusual circumstance, and outdated information is normal for repeat travellers.

So you’re absolutely fine to travel as you are — no further action needed.