If you are planning to visit the UK from the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, or one of around 85 other countries, you now need advance digital permission before you travel — even if you have never needed a visa to visit Britain before. This permission is called an Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA. It became a strict legal requirement on 25 February 2026. Without one, airlines, ferry operators, and rail services will not allow you to board. This guide explains exactly what the ETA is, who needs one, who is exempt, how to apply, and what it costs.
What is the UK ETA?
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is a digital pre-travel permission linked electronically to your passport. It is not a visa — it does not grant you the right to live, work, or study in the UK. It is a pre-screening system similar to the US ESTA or the Australian eTA that allows the Home Office to check travellers against security databases before they arrive at the UK border.
Having an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. UK Border Force still makes the final decision when you arrive. What the ETA does is authorise you to board transport to the UK in the first place — without it, you will not be allowed to travel.
Who needs a UK ETA?
You need a UK ETA if you are a national of a country that does not require a UK visa for short visits, and you want to visit, transit through (landside), or travel to the UK for a permitted short-stay purpose.
The ETA requirement applies to nationals of approximately 85 countries. These include citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and all 27 EU member states, as well as EEA countries including Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
EU and EEA nationals — who previously entered the UK without any pre-travel permission — have been required to hold an ETA since April 2025. Full enforcement began on 25 February 2026. This is one of the most significant changes to UK entry requirements since Brexit.
Who does not need a UK ETA?
The following groups are exempt from the ETA requirement:
- British citizens — including dual nationals who hold British citizenship. Dual British nationals must travel on their British passport and cannot use the ETA to enter the UK on a foreign passport
- Irish citizens — including those who live outside Ireland, provided they are not subject to a UK deportation or exclusion order
- People with a valid UK visa — if you already hold a current UK visa, you do not need an ETA for trips covered by that visa
- People with UK settled or pre-settled status — those with EU Settled Status, ILR, or other forms of leave to remain do not need an ETA
- Airside transit passengers — if you are transiting at a UK airport without passing through UK border control (remaining in the international departure area), you do not currently need an ETA. This exemption is under ongoing review
- Landside transit passengers do need an ETA — if you pass through UK immigration at any point during transit, for example to change airports, you must have a valid ETA
What does an ETA allow you to do?
An approved ETA allows you to travel to the UK for short stays of up to six months per visit for the following purposes: tourism, visiting family or friends, business meetings and events, short study courses of up to six months, and certain other permitted activities. An ETA is valid for multiple trips to the UK over two years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. There is no limit on the number of trips you can take while your ETA is valid, provided each stay is within the six-month limit.
An ETA does not allow you to work in the UK, study for more than six months, or live in the UK long-term. For any of those purposes, a visa is required — see our UK Family Visas or UK Work Visas for the appropriate routes.
How much does a UK ETA cost?
The ETA costs £20 per person from 8 April 2026. The fee increased from £16 on that date. The fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome — if your application is refused, you do not get the fee back.
Every person travelling needs their own ETA, including babies and young children. If you are travelling as a family of four, the total ETA cost is £80.
Be careful of third-party websites that charge higher fees for processing your ETA. The official and cheapest route is to apply directly through the UK ETA app or on gov.uk — both charge the same £20 fee.
How to apply
Applying for a UK ETA takes around 10 minutes. You can apply through the official UK ETA smartphone app — available on both iOS and Android — or directly on the gov.uk website. The app is the recommended method as it makes it easier to take and upload passport and facial photographs.
To apply you will need your passport, a photograph of your face, and a debit or credit card to pay the £20 fee. You will be asked to provide your contact details, employment information, and answer a short set of questions about your criminal history and any involvement with terrorism or extremism.
Once submitted, most applications receive an automatic decision within minutes. You should allow up to three working days for a decision in case your application is flagged for additional checks. Do not book non-refundable travel before you have received your ETA confirmation by email.
Your ETA is linked electronically to the specific passport you used when applying. You do not receive a physical document — simply show your passport when you travel and the carrier and border staff can verify your authorisation. If you renew or replace your passport for any reason, your ETA becomes invalid and you must apply again on the new passport.
Important: apply before you travel
From 25 February 2026 the enforcement is strict — carriers including airlines, ferry operators, and Eurostar are legally required to check that passengers hold an ETA before they board. Those without one will be refused boarding. Apply at least three working days before your travel date to allow for any additional checks.
The ETA now applies to Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man
From 23 April 2026, the ETA requirement was extended to Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man for travellers arriving directly from outside the Common Travel Area. If you are travelling to any of these islands from outside the UK and Ireland, you now need an ETA. The Common Travel Area — which includes the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey — means that travel between these territories does not trigger the ETA requirement.
What happens if your ETA is refused?
If your ETA application is refused you will be told the reason. You can reapply, but if your application is refused again you cannot appeal — you must instead apply for a standard UK visa if you still wish to travel. ETA refusals are rare for straightforward travellers but can occur where there is a serious criminal history or national security concern.
The ETA and UK immigration status
If you are in the UK on a visa — for example a Spouse Visa, Skilled Worker Visa, or Student Visa — you do not need an ETA when you travel back to the UK. Your existing visa or digital immigration status covers your right to return. The ETA is only relevant to people who do not hold any existing UK immigration permission and whose nationality would otherwise give them visa-free access for short visits.
Frequently asked questions
Do EU citizens need a UK ETA?
Yes. EU citizens are required to hold a UK ETA before travelling to the UK for short stays. The ETA requirement for EU nationals was introduced from April 2025 and has been strictly enforced since 25 February 2026. This applies to all 27 EU member states as well as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
Do Americans need a UK ETA?
Yes. US citizens are required to hold a UK ETA before travelling to the UK for short visits. The requirement has applied to US nationals since January 2025 and has been strictly enforced since 25 February 2026. The ETA costs £20 per person and can be applied for in minutes through the UK ETA app or on gov.uk.
How long does a UK ETA last?
A UK ETA is valid for two years from the date of approval, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. It allows unlimited trips to the UK during the validity period, with each stay limited to up to six months. If you renew your passport, you must apply for a new ETA.
Can I apply for a UK ETA at the airport?
The ETA is a digital application that can technically be submitted anywhere. However, applying at the airport is risky — while most decisions arrive within minutes, some applications are flagged for manual review which can take up to three working days. Apply at least three working days before your travel date. Do not rely on obtaining approval at the airport.
Does an ETA guarantee entry to the UK?
No. An approved ETA authorises you to board transport to the UK but does not guarantee entry. UK Border Force makes the final decision on whether you are admitted when you arrive at the border. The ETA is a pre-travel check — the border is a separate assessment.
I have dual British citizenship. Do I need a UK ETA?
No. British citizens — including dual nationals — are exempt from the ETA requirement. However, dual British nationals must travel to the UK on their British passport. From 25 February 2026, dual British nationals who cannot present a British passport or Certificate of Entitlement face additional identity checks and may be delayed at the border.
For advice on UK visa routes that allow longer stays — including UK Spouse Visas, Skilled Worker Visas, Student Visas, and routes to Indefinite Leave to Remain and British Citizenship — contact JPS Immigration for a free initial assessment. Call +44 (0) 333 577 0034 or visit jpsimmigration.com/assessment.
