UK ETA: who needs one, what it costs, how to apply

What is a UK ETA?

Think of the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) as a digital permission slip for the UK. It isn't a visa. You apply online, and once it's approved, it's linked to your passport.

There's nothing to print. Your airline checks for your ETA before you board, and at the border you just show your passport. Gov.uk says the same ETA also lets you travel to Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

One thing to know: an ETA lets you travel, but it doesn't guarantee entry. The border officer still has the final say when you arrive.

Who needs a UK ETA?

If you can visit the UK without a visa and don't already have UK immigration status, you need an ETA. That's 85 nationalities, including Americans, Canadians, Australians and EU citizens (the Irish are the exception). I'm German, so yes, I need one too.

It was phased in. Gulf visitors came first, then other visitors from outside Europe on 8 January 2025, and Europeans on 2 April 2025. Since 25 February 2026, it's strictly enforced: no ETA, no boarding.

Everyone needs their own ETA, babies and children included.

Your passport: ETA or visa?

Our visa checker covers 78 passports for trips to the UK. Find yours below: each link opens the full rules for that passport, with the date we last checked them.

Not on the list? Gov.uk has a quick visa check for every nationality.

Who doesn't need a UK ETA?

A few groups can skip it:

• British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens. If you're also British or Irish, you can't get an ETA, so travel on your British or Irish passport. British dual citizens can also use a certificate of entitlement.
• People with a UK visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK, including settled or pre-settled status.
• Legal residents of Ireland travelling from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
• Transit passengers who stay airside and never go through UK passport control. More on that below.
• Travellers with a British National (Overseas) or British overseas territories citizen passport.

Gov.uk lists a few rarer cases too, like school trips from France. Here's the full list.

How much does the UK ETA cost?

£20 per person. It went up from £16 on 8 April 2026. You can pay by credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

One catch: there's no refund once you've applied, even if you made a typo. So check your details before you pay.

How to apply for a UK ETA

The app is the quickest way, and most people get an answer within minutes. Here's what you need:

• the passport you'll travel with
• an email address
• a credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay

1. Download the UK ETA app from the App Store or Google Play. Or open the online form on gov.uk.
2. Scan your passport with your phone's camera. Online, you upload a photo of it instead.
3. Scan your face in the app (good light helps). Online, you upload a photo of your face that follows the gov.uk photo rules.
4. Answer a few questions about yourself.
5. Pay £20.
6. Wait for the email with your decision and your 16-digit ETA reference number.

Applying for your family? In the app, you can apply for someone else if they're with you. Otherwise, use the online form with a photo of their passport and a photo of their face.

How long does a UK ETA take?

Usually minutes in the app. Gov.uk says you'll normally hear back within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days. My advice: don't leave it to the airport queue. Apply at least 3 working days before you fly.

You have to wait for the approval email before you travel. Nothing after 3 working days? Check your spam folder.

How long is a UK ETA valid?

Two years, or until the passport you applied with expires, whichever comes first. In that time you can come and go as often as you like, for up to 6 months each visit.

New passport? New ETA. Yours is tied to the passport you applied with. You can see when it runs out with gov.uk's Check your ETA service.

What can you do with a UK ETA?

Most normal trips are covered. You can:

• visit for up to 6 months for tourism, or to see family and friends
• go on a business trip
• do a short course of up to 6 months
• do a permitted paid engagement (gov.uk lists which ones count)
• change planes, if you go through UK passport control

You can't:

• stay longer than 6 months
• work for a UK company, paid or unpaid, or work in the UK as a self-employed person
• claim benefits
• live in the UK through frequent or back-to-back visits
• marry or register a civil partnership

Do you need an ETA to change planes in the UK?

It depends on passport control. If you go through it, for example to change airports or pick up your bags, you need an ETA. If you stay airside at Heathrow or Manchester and never pass passport control, you currently don't.

The Home Office says "currently", so check gov.uk again shortly before you fly.

What if your UK ETA is refused?

If it's refused, you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead. It costs £135 for up to 6 months (since 8 April 2026) and takes longer, so leave plenty of time. If you made a mistake, or your details change, you need to apply again.

Planning the rest of your UK trip

Once your ETA is sorted, these are the things I'd look at next. They're paid links: if you book through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

That's it. Apply in the app or on gov.uk at least 3 working days before you fly, then go and enjoy the UK. Safe travels!