Travel topic · Transport
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): who needs it and how to apply
If you are a visa-free national flying, sailing or taking the train to the UK, apply online before you book non-refundable travel; most decisions arrive within days, but allow 3 working days minimum and more at peak times. Irish citizens do not need one.
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Applies to
Who must hold a UK ETA before boarding, who is exempt, what it costs, how long it lasts, and the step-by-step application. Written for US, Canadian, Australian, NZ, Irish and EU passport holders.
Key facts
- What it is
- A pre-travel permission linked to your passport, not a visa; it does not guarantee entry
- Who needs it
- Visa-free nationals, including US, Canadian, Australian, NZ and most EU/EEA passport holders (check your nationality)
- Who does not
- Irish citizens, British citizens and Irish/UK dual nationals; anyone holding a UK visa or permission to live in the UK
- Cost
- Paid online by card; 2026 estimate — confirm the current fee on the official application page
- Validity
- Multiple entries over a fixed period, typically 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner (check)
- How to apply
- UK ETA app or the official gov.uk application page; no agent or third-party site required
- Decision time
- Often within hours to a few days; allow at least 3 working days before travel (check)
- Transit
- Applies even if you are only changing planes and passing through UK border control (check)
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The short answer
>- The UK ETA is a digital travel permission for visitors who do not need a visa. It is tied to one passport, is valid for multiple trips over a set period, and must be obtained before you travel to the UK — not at the airport. It is not a visa, and holding one does not guarantee entry: a border officer can still refuse you.
>- If you hold a US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or most EU/EEA passports, plan on needing one. Irish citizens are exempt. If you already hold a UK visa or permission to live in the UK, you do not need an ETA for that purpose. Check your own nationality against the official list before booking anything non-refundable.
>- Apply through the UK ETA app or the official gov.uk application page. Anything else that charges a service fee is a third party.
Who it applies to
>- The ETA applies to visitors who can enter the UK without a visa. That covers short visits for tourism, business meetings, study up to a set limit and transit through the UK. It applies whether you arrive by air, sea or rail — including Eurostar and ferries from France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
>- It does not replace a visa. If your nationality is on the visa list, or you plan to work, study long-term, marry or settle, you need the relevant visa instead. Children and infants need their own ETA, each linked to their own passport.
>- Dual nationals should travel on the passport that matches their status. A British or Irish citizen should not apply for an ETA on a foreign passport they also hold; carry the British or Irish passport instead.
| Situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| US, Canadian, Australian, NZ passport, short visit | UK ETA before travel (check) |
| Most EU/EEA passports, short visit | UK ETA before travel (check) |
| Irish citizen | No ETA; carry your Irish passport |
| British citizen or dual national | No ETA; travel on your British passport |
| Holding a UK visa or settled status | No ETA for that purpose |
| Nationality on the UK visa list | Visa, not an ETA |
| Long stay, work, study or family settlement | Visa, not an ETA |
| Changing planes and passing UK border control | ETA likely required (check) |
Show 6 sectionsHideHow to apply, step by step, Cost and timing, Exceptions and edge cases, How it compares with other schemes, Questions people ask, Related
How to apply, step by step
>- Download the official UK ETA app or open the gov.uk application page. Have your passport, a photo of your face and a payment card ready. You will be asked to scan or photograph the passport photo page, take a live photo, and answer a short set of questions about your trip and any criminal history.
>- Pay the fee by card. Fees and validity periods change; confirm the current amount on the official page before you pay. You will get a decision by email, usually within hours to a few days. If you are asked for more information, allow longer.
>- Once approved, the ETA is linked electronically to your passport. You do not print a visa. Keep the email or app confirmation, and travel on the same passport you applied with. If you get a new passport, you need a new ETA.
Do
- Apply at least 3 working days before travel; earlier if your trip is fixed and expensive.
- Use the same passport at the border that you used in the application.
- Save the confirmation email offline in case you have no data on arrival.
Watch out
- Do not pay a third-party site a premium for a free or low-cost government form.
- An approved ETA does not guarantee entry; border officers make the final decision.
Seeplan your trip to United Kingdom Travel topics: visas, money, health, transport and planning
Cost and timing
>- The ETA is paid once and covers multiple entries for its validity period, typically two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first (check). That makes it cheap per trip if you visit the UK more than once.
>- Budget for the fee itself plus the cost of a passport photo if you need one, and the time to complete the form. There is no expedited paid service; the only lever you control is applying early. In busy periods, decisions can take longer than the usual few days.
>- If your plans change and you do not travel, the ETA stays valid for its period. If your passport is replaced, the old ETA dies with it.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee | Paid by card on the official page; 2026 estimate — confirm current amount (check) |
| Validity | Multiple entries, typically 2 years or until passport expiry (check) |
| Decision time | Often hours to a few days; allow 3 working days minimum (check) |
| Per-trip cost | Fee divided by number of trips in the validity window |
| Refunds | Generally none if you do not travel (check) |
| New passport | New ETA required |
Exceptions and edge cases
>- Irish citizens do not need an ETA and should not apply for one. British citizens and dual nationals travel on their British passport. If you hold a UK visa, biometric residence permit or settled status, you do not need an ETA for that purpose — but a family member travelling on a different passport may still need one.
>- Transit is the trap. If you change planes in the UK and pass through border control, you generally need an ETA even if you never leave the airport. Airside transit without clearing immigration is different; check the rules for your route and airport before you book.
>- Seafarers, airline crew, diplomats and some military travellers have separate arrangements. Children, including babies, need their own ETA on their own passport.
Watch out
- Check transit rules for your exact route; a cheap connection through the UK can require an ETA.
- Do not assume an old paper or electronic visa waiver covers you; rules have changed.
How it compares with other schemes
>- The UK ETA sits in the same family as the US ESTA, Canada's eTA and Australia's ETA: a cheap, passport-linked, pre-travel permission for visa-free visitors. Europe's ETIAS is the EU equivalent and is separate — if your trip touches both the UK and the Schengen area, you may need both.
>- The practical differences are cost, validity length and how early you must apply. All of them are checked electronically against your passport at check-in, so the airline can refuse boarding if the permission is missing.
| Scheme | Region | Applies to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK ETA | United Kingdom | Visa-free visitors, including US, CA, AU, NZ, most EU (check) | Irish citizens exempt |
| ESTA | United States | Visa Waiver Program nationals | Separate application |
| Canada eTA | Canada | Visa-exempt air travellers | Air arrivals mainly |
| Australia ETA | Australia | Eligible passport holders | App-based |
| ETIAS | Schengen area | Visa-free visitors to Europe | Separate from the UK ETA |
Questions people ask
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): what is the short answer?
It is a pre-travel permission for visa-free visitors to the UK, linked to your passport and valid for multiple trips over a set period. Apply online or in the official app before you travel. It is not a visa and does not guarantee entry.
Who does it apply to?
Most visa-free nationals, including US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and most EU/EEA passport holders, arriving by air, sea or rail. Irish citizens are exempt, as are British citizens and anyone holding a UK visa or settled status. Children need their own ETA.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
You pay a single fee by card on the official application page; the amount changes, so confirm it there (2026 estimate). Decisions usually arrive within hours to a few days — allow at least 3 working days before travel, more in busy periods.
Do I need an ETA if I am only transiting through the UK?
If you pass through UK border control, generally yes, even without leaving the airport. Airside transit without clearing immigration is different. Check the rules for your exact route and airport before booking.
How long is the UK ETA valid?
Typically two years, or until your passport expires if that comes first, with multiple entries allowed (check). If you get a new passport, you need a new ETA.
Is the UK ETA the same as ETIAS?
No. The UK ETA covers the United Kingdom. ETIAS is the European Union scheme for visa-free visitors to the Schengen area. A trip touching both may need both.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check and were last checked Sep 2026
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Sources
- officialGOV.UK – Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
- officialGOV.UK – Check if you need a UK visa
- officialGOV.UK – Foreign travel advice
- officialUS State Department – Travel to the United Kingdom
- officialTravel.gc.ca – United Kingdom
- officialSmartraveller – United Kingdom
- officialSafeTravel – United Kingdom
- officialDFA Ireland – United Kingdom