UK ETA Entry Guide: Who Needs It, Cost, and How to Apply (2026)
If you can visit the UK without a visa — as nationals of the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and the EU can — you now need one more step before boarding: an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). It is a pre-travel digital permission, not a visa, but since full enforcement began in February 2026, airlines can deny boarding to travellers who need one and do not have it. Here is who needs an ETA, what it costs, and how to apply.
What the UK ETA is
The ETA is a digital pre-travel permission linked to your passport, for short visits to the UK by people who do not need a visa (so-called "non-visa nationals"). Think of it as the UK's version of the US ESTA or Canada's eTA: it screens travellers before they fly, rather than at the border.
Key points:
- Cost: £20 per person. The fee rose from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026 (it was £10 at launch).
- Validity: 2 years or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. It covers multiple journeys during that period.
- Stay length: up to 6 months per visit, for tourism, business visits, short-term study, and permitted activities (it is not a work visa or a route to residence).
- It is linked to your passport — get a new passport and you need a new ETA.
An ETA grants permission to travel to the UK, not a guarantee of entry: you still go through UK border control on arrival, and officers can still refuse admission.
Who needs an ETA
You need an ETA if you are a national of a visa-exempt (non-visa national) country travelling to the UK as a visitor — around 80+ nationalities in total. The rollout happened in stages:
- nationals of countries including the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan have needed one since 8 January 2025;
- nationals of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland have needed one since 2 April 2025.
Every traveller needs their own ETA — including babies and children. There is no family bundle: each person pays the full £20 fee.
Who does NOT need an ETA
You do not need an ETA if you:
- are a British or Irish citizen (including dual nationals travelling on a British or Irish passport);
- hold a UK visa (e.g. a work, student, or family visa);
- have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme;
- have right of abode in the UK;
- are a non-visa national legally resident in Ireland entering the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man (the Common Travel Area exception).
If you are unsure which category you fall into, check the official GOV.UK guidance before booking — the exception for Ireland residents is narrow.
How to apply
Apply through the official "UK ETA" app (available on the App Store and Google Play) or on GOV.UK. The Home Office advises applying at least 3 working days before travel. Most decisions arrive within hours, but some applications take longer, so do not leave it to the last minute.
You will need:
- a valid passport (the one you will travel on);
- an email address and a way to pay online (£20);
- a compliant digital photo (taken during the application, following the app's instructions);
- answers to suitability and criminality questions.
The app can scan your passport chip and perform a face check, which speeds things up. Once approved, the ETA is linked electronically to your passport — there is nothing to print, though keeping a record of the confirmation is sensible.
Transit: landside vs airside
- Landside transit (passing through UK border control to change airports or flights): you need an ETA.
- Airside transit (staying airside, not passing through border control — e.g. connecting at Heathrow or Manchester without entering the UK): currently temporarily exempt from the ETA requirement.
If your connection requires you to pass through passport control — for example, an overnight layover or a change of airport — assume you need an ETA.
Full enforcement since February 2026
The ETA requirement has been fully enforced since 25 February 2026: travellers who need an ETA and do not have one risk being denied boarding by the airline. Do not treat it as optional paperwork — build it into your trip planning the same way you would a passport-validity check.
Beware unofficial third-party sites
A cottage industry of unofficial websites offers to "process" your ETA application for a mark-up — sometimes far above the £20 fee. You do not need them. Apply only through the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK. If a site charges more than £20 or looks like a concierge service, it is a third-party intermediary.
Practical tips
- Apply before booking non-refundable travel, or at least well ahead of departure — most decisions are quick, but outliers exist.
- Double-check the passport number you apply with; the ETA is tied to a specific passport.
- Children need ETAs too — remember to apply for each family member.
- Renewal: when your ETA or passport expires (whichever comes first), apply again — there is no renewal shortcut, just a new application.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ETA a visa?
No. It is a pre-travel permission for people who do not need a visa. If you need a UK visa, you apply for the visa itself, not an ETA.
How long does approval take?
The Home Office says most decisions come within hours, but advises applying at least 3 working days before travel. Some applications need extra checks and take longer.
Can I work in the UK with an ETA?
No. The ETA is for visits of up to 6 months — tourism, business visits, short-term study and similar permitted activities. It does not authorise employment.
Do I need an ETA for a connecting flight through Heathrow?
If you stay airside and do not pass through UK border control, you are currently temporarily exempt. If you pass through border control (landside transit), you need an ETA.
What if my application is refused?
A refused applicant cannot travel on an ETA and will generally need to apply for a UK visa instead. Check the official guidance for the refusal and next-step process.
Sources
- Home Office, Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) factsheet (April 2026): https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta-factsheet-april-2026/
- Free Movement, How to apply for electronic travel authorisation to enter the UK: https://freemovement.org.uk/how-to-apply-for-electronic-travel-authorisation-to-enter-the-uk/
- Lewis Silkin, UK ETAs: who needs one and when (March 2026): https://www.lewissilkin.com/en/insights/2026/03/27/uk-etas-who-needs-one-and-when
- London Travel Geek, UK ETA guide: https://www.londontravelgeek.co.uk/articles/uk-eta-guide/
This article is general information about UK immigration requirements, not legal advice. ETA rules and fees can change — check the official GOV.UK guidance before travelling, and consult a licensed UK immigration adviser for complex cases.