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An ESA letter is an official document that confirms an individual’s need for an emotional support animal (ESA) and designates their animal as such. These letters are crucial for individuals with mental or emotional disabilities, as they provide legal protection under federal laws—especially the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The FHA ensures individuals with ESAs can live with their animals in housing that typically restricts pets, without paying pet fees or deposits.
Given the significance of this documentation, the ESA letter cost should be seen as a long-term investment in accessibility and legal protection. The cost of an ESA letter varies depending on the provider, your location, and how the letter is obtained. Typically, the emotional support animal letter cost is more affordable through reputable online platforms like CertaPet compared to getting one directly through in-person mental health professionals.
However, it’s important to be cautious. If an ESA letter price seems too good to be true—like being advertised as free or heavily discounted—it likely is. Fake ESA letters are not legally recognized and could put your housing rights at risk, or subject pet owners to fines for misrepresenting an ESA. A legitimate ESA letter cost includes a consultation with a licensed mental health professional and proper documentation—this process cannot and should not be free.
How much does an ESA Letter Cost?
The ESA letter price can vary depending on the provider and the type of letter needed. Some providers bundle the consultation fee with the total cost of the ESA letter, while others charge it separately. Letters that cover both housing and travel rights typically cost more than those issued for just one purpose.
Only licensed mental health professionals (LMHPs)—such as therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists—can legally evaluate and issue ESA letters. Trusted online platforms like CertaPet partner with LMHPs to provide legitimate, legally recognized letters across all 50 states.
At CertaPet, an ESA letter for housing costs $149.99, while a combined ESA letter for housing and travel is $199.99. Both options include the consultation fee and official documentation. While the emotional support animal letter cost might seem high initially, it’s a cost-effective investment that can save hundreds in pet fees and ensure your housing and travel rights are protected.
Why Choose CertaPet for an ESA Letter?
Choose Certapet for an ESA letter because it is trusted and reliable, provides support against landlord pushback, gives legitimate documentation, offers expert advocacy, and comprehensive care.
Certapet works with mental health professionals licensed in all states, ensuring compliance with local and federal ESA laws.
Certapet’s professionals are adequately trained and equipped to handle potential ESA disputes with landlords or housing complexes.
The ESA letters obtained via Certapet are valid and ensure compliance with the Fair Housing Act, meaning they protect the rights of ESA owners and prevent issues with landlords.
The expert team behind Certapet’s operations is prepared to support ESA owners if challenges arise, ensuring ESA owners’ housing rights are upheld.
Finally, choosing Certapet for an ESA letter means you are getting more than just an ESA letter, as the business offers comprehensive care and ongoing support through every step of the way.
Are Payment Plans Available for ESA Letters?
Yes, payment plans are available for ESA letters. Payment plans are made to make ESA letter issuance more affordable for prospective ESA applicants.
Initial Payment: $35.99 upfront, which includes a non-refundable $35 consultation fee.
Monthly Payments:
- For a Housing or Travel ESA Letter: $44.99 per month for three months.
- For a combined Housing + Travel ESA Letter: $59.99 per month for three months.
Certapet’s 3-month payment plan is available to all ESA applicants within the United States, but not in Canada.
Can Insurance Cover the Cost of an ESA Letter?
No, insurance does not cover the cost of an ESA letter. Think of ESA letters like official doctors’ prescriptions. Clients do not pay for the prescriptions themselves, however, they must pay for the evaluations by LMHPs.
Most health insurance policies, either public or private, do not cover assistance animals, such as service animals and ESAs.
If your insurance includes mental health services, a LMHP can evaluate you and recommend an ESA. In such a case, part of the ESA letter cost will be covered by the insurance. Still, this is not the full cost due to co-pays, deductibles, and paperwork expenses.
Can you Get an ESA Letter for Free?
Yes, you can get an ESA letter for free. The only situation in which you can get a free ESA letter is if you are already seeing a licensed mental health professional on a regular basis.
The LMHP you are consulting is authorized to recommend and prescribe an ESA as part of your mental health treatment plan at no added charge.
Online ESA providers that offer free ESA letters, however, are unlikely to be legitimate. Offering free or cheap ESA letters, instant ESA approvals, no involvement from a licensed mental health professional, and letters that last a lifetime are red flags indicating fake ESA letters.
ESA applicants must also be suspicious of online providers advertising the cheapest ESA letter approval on the market. Fraudulent ESA providers often lure applicants with unnecessary gifts such as free ESA registration or the cheapest ESA certification.
Are there Costs for ESA Letter Renewal?
Yes, there are costs for ESA letter renewal. ESA letter renewals incur similar fees as initial ESA evaluations and approvals.
The cost of the annual ESA renewal fee varies from $50 to over $200, depending on the mental health professional you are seeing, and the type of consultation.
Certapet offers budget-friendly renewal plans starting at $99 for one consultation. When using Certapet, ESA owners can complete the entire renewal process online via a telehealth platform.
Certapet permits ESA letter renewal requests up to one month before the current ESA letter’s expiration date.
Another renewal-related perk when using Certapet is continuity of care. Certapet allows ESA owners to consult with the same mental health professional they had before.
What are the Factors Affecting the Cost of ESA Letters?
The factors affecting the cost of ESA letters are listed below.
- Application Process: Collaborating with an online ESA provider is usually cheaper than working directly with a LMHP, especially in states with stricter ESA regulations, such as California.
- ESA Letter Purpose: ESA letters intended for a single purpose, such as housing rights cost less than ESA letters valid for both housing and travel protection.
- Local Standard: ESA letters tend to have higher price tags in states with high standards of living compared to states with lower affluence levels.
- Doctor Profile: Different doctor profiles charge differently for ESA letters. Social workers and counselors are usually more affordable than psychiatrists and psychologists.
- State ESA Laws: ESA letters are more expensive in states that require multiple consults with LMHP and an established client-doctor relationship of at least 30 days.
How much is an ESA Letter directly through a Local LHMP?
An ESA letter obtained by consulting a licensed professional in person costs on average between $100 and $300. This is the general cost of outpatient mental health psychiatric services.
The main benefits of working directly with a mental health professional are that you may already have an established relationship, making it easier to open up, and that some LMHPs offer sliding-scale fees based on income.
The price of the letter is the primary disadvantage. Getting an ESA letter directly from a LMHP is more expensive than using a legitimate online ESA provider.
The cost of an ESA letter obtained directly from a LMHP is also variable, as states with higher cost of living have higher ESA letter fees.
The ESA letter’s price also depends on the professional you are consulting. For example, psychiatrists and psychologists tend to charge more than counselors and social workers.
Finally, LMHPs in certain states are required to have established client relationships of at least 30 days to be permitted to issue ESA letters.
Montana, Iowa, Arkansas, Louisiana, and California are examples of such states. Scheduling multiple sessions with a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) will cost significantly more than using an online ESA provider.
Do ESA Letter Prices Vary by State?
Yes, ESA letter prices vary by state, but only if obtained directly through licensed mental health professionals and physicians. What you are paying for is the consultation with a healthcare provider, not the letter itself. Doctors in different states operate under varying circumstances, so they offer ESA letters at different prices.
When using online ESA providers, however, the price of the ESA letter in all states is uniform. For example, Certapet’s ESA letters cost the same in all states. The ESA letters themselves are also the same.
Legitimate ESA letters are issued by LMHPs, written on their official letterheads, and valid for 12 months. The ESA letter confirms an individual’s need for an ESA, but does not disclose the diagnosis.
Is there a Refund Policy for ESA Letters?
Yes, most ESA letter providers offer a refund policy—but there are important exceptions. The initial consultation fee is generally non-refundable. However, if an ESA application is denied, many providers will refund the cost of the letter itself.
Reputable providers like CertaPet not only offer legally compliant ESA letters at accessible prices but also have clear refund policies. For example, CertaPet offers a partial refund if the licensed professional does not approve your ESA letter. You can also cancel before the consultation begins and receive a refund minus an administrative fee. However, your CertaPet therapist will advocate for their patients in case issues arise.
Pricing & Refund Policy
- CertaPet: $149; offers partial refunds depending on the stage of the process:
- Full refund minus $5 admin fee if assessment was submitted but no therapist appointment was taken.
- Partial refund if an appointment was taken (therapist fee of $40 is deducted).
- Other Online Services: $149; offers a full refund if the letter “does not work” with a landlord, indicating they only pay therapists if they approve clients (an unethical practice).
Letter Legitimacy & Advocacy
- CertaPet:No concerns about letters “not working” since all letters meet federal and state legal requirements.
- CertaPet therapists advocate for clients when landlords are uninformed, sometimes assisting at the state and national level.
- All legal cases pursued with CertaPet backing have resulted in 100% success for clients.
- Other Online Services: Offers refunds if letters “don’t work,” implying a lack of confidence in the legitimacy of their letters and potential non-compliance with HUD guidelines.
No pet deposit 
Travel with your PSD at no cost 
No pet rent fee 
Easy ESA letter renewal plans 
No size or breed restrictions 
Continued care from your licensed professional