A long weekend in London, a family visit in Manchester or a connection through Heathrow that takes you through passport control: if you hold a passport from the United States, Canada, Australia, an EU country other than Ireland, or the Gulf, you now need a UK ETA (electronic travel authorisation) before you travel. Since 25 February 2026, the UK has enforced the rule strictly. Airlines, ferry and rail operators check your permission before you board.
The UK ETA for US citizens, Canadians and the other nationalities on the official list costs £20 from 8 April 2026. It is not a visa. Many other passports, including those of India, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, Türkiye (Turkey) and mainland China, still need a Standard Visitor visa. This guide explains who needs which, the official fee, how to apply and the mistakes that cost travellers money. Voyfaro does not issue ETAs or visas. Confirm on the official GOV.UK pages in the Sources list before you pay or travel.
UK ETA: the quick answer
- What it is: a digital permission to travel to the UK, linked to your passport. The Home Office says it “is not a visa”. It does not guarantee entry: a Border Force officer still decides at the border.
- Who needs one: visitors from the 83 nationalities and territories on the official ETA list (checked 5 October 2026). These include the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, the six Gulf (GCC) states and every EU country except Ireland.
- Official fee: £20, from 8 April 2026 (it was £16). You cannot get a refund after you apply.
- Where to apply: only through GOV.UK (gov.uk/eta) or the official UK ETA app. The Immigration Rules accept applications made only through these two routes.
- How long it lasts: 2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can make many trips, each of up to 6 months.
- Decision time: usually within a day by email, but it can take up to 3 working days. Apply at least 3 working days before you travel.
- Children: every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies.
- Who does not need one: British and Irish citizens (including dual citizens), people with a UK visa or UK immigration status, travellers who change planes without passing through UK border control, and a few other groups listed on GOV.UK.
- Where it works: the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), plus Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It does not cover Ireland.
UK ETA or visa? Your passport decides, not where you live
What you need depends on the nationality of the passport you travel on and why you are coming. Where you live does not change it, apart from a few narrow exceptions, mainly for people who live in Ireland (see Special cases below). An Indian citizen who lives in Dubai needs a visa, while an Emirati citizen needs an ETA. A US green card holder with a Mexican passport needs an ETA, while a green card holder with a Nigerian passport needs a visa.
The UK publishes two official lists: one for ETA nationalities and one for visa nationalities. Here is how common passports fall, based on both lists as we found them on 5 October 2026.
| Your passport | What you need for a visit of up to 6 months | Official fee |
|---|---|---|
| British or Irish, including dual citizens | No ETA or visa. Travel on your British or Irish passport (see Special cases) | None |
| United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand | ETA | £20 |
| EU countries except Ireland, plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City | ETA | £20 |
| Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates | ETA | £20 |
| Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Taiwan* | ETA | £20 |
| Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Barbados, The Bahamas and others on the ETA list | ETA | £20 |
| Israel, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives | ETA | £20 |
| India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal | Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
| Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco | Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
| Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, China (mainland passports) | Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
| Türkiye (Turkey), Jordan, Lebanon, Colombia, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago | Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
*Taiwan passports that include the holder’s identification card number.
This table covers common passports, not all of them. The lists change: Jordan moved from the ETA to visas in 2024, and St Lucia and Nicaragua followed in March 2026. Before you book, use the official GOV.UK checker, Check if you need a UK visa (gov.uk/check-uk-visa).
Special cases
- Dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship cannot get an ETA. Travel on a valid British or Irish passport, or on your other passport with a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in the UK. The Home Office strongly advises dual British citizens to carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid problems such as being denied boarding.
- You already have UK permission. You do not need an ETA if you hold a UK visa, settled or pre-settled status, right of abode or other permission to live, work or study in the UK, or permission to live, work or study in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man. The same applies while you wait for a decision on an EU Settlement Scheme application.
- British Overseas Territories citizen and British National (Overseas) passports do not need an ETA.
- You live in Ireland. If your nationality would normally need an ETA, you do not need one when you enter the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. If you are 16 or over, carry an original, valid document issued by the Irish government as proof, such as an Irish Residence Permit or an Irish driving licence. If your nationality needs a visa, you still need one.
- School trips from France or Germany. Under the Immigration Rules, pupils travelling as part of an organised school party of 5 or more from a school in France (aged 18 or under) or Germany (aged 19 or under) do not need an ETA or a visit visa for that trip. GOV.UK refers to a France-UK school trip travel information form. Check the details with the school.
How much does a UK ETA cost?
The Home Office sets the ETA fee in pounds. It has doubled since early April 2025, from £10 to £20.
| Period | Official fee per person |
|---|---|
| Until 8 April 2025 | £10 |
| 9 April 2025 to 7 April 2026 | £16 |
| From 8 April 2026 | £20 |
| Fee update of 8 October 2026 | No change: £20 |
What to know before you pay:
- Each person pays. Every traveller needs their own ETA, so a family of four pays £80.
- No refunds. GOV.UK says you cannot get a refund after you apply, even if your application is rejected.
- Local currency. In the app, the price shows in the local currency for your country, and you can change the currency you pay in.
- No fast track. GOV.UK says you cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app.
If a website adds a “service fee” or charges more than the £20 official fee (apart from any currency conversion when you pay in another currency), you are not on the official service. GOV.UK warns that “Other websites may charge more” and tells you to avoid sites that imitate government services. If you think you have paid a scam site, GOV.UK asks you to report it to Report Fraud.
How to apply for a UK ETA, step by step
- Check that you need one with GOV.UK’s visa checker. If your passport is on the visa list, an ETA will not work for you.
- Get ready. You need the passport you will travel with (the original, not a photocopy or digital passport), an email address and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- Choose the app or the website. Start at gov.uk/eta, which links to both. The UK ETA app needs an iPhone 7 or newer with iOS 16 or later, or an Android phone with Android 12 or later and NFC (if you can pay by tapping your phone, it has NFC). The app is only in English. If you cannot use the app, apply online.
- Photograph and scan your passport. Online, you upload a photo of the passport. In the app, you photograph the photo page and the app scans the chip. US passport holders: if scanning the front cover does not work, GOV.UK says to place the phone on the inside of the back cover. If the app cannot read the chip, it takes the details from the photo, so check every letter and number. Details that do not match your passport can delay your application or get it rejected.
- Add a photo of your face. Every applicant, including babies, needs a face photo that meets the GOV.UK rules for digital photos. GOV.UK says a photo that does not meet the rules may delay your application or get it rejected. In the app, applicants aged 10 or older also do a face scan; children aged 9 or younger do not. The app tells you if a photo does not meet the rules. You can still submit it if you need to, for example if you wear a head covering for religious or medical reasons.
- Answer the questions about your address, job, other nationalities and any criminal convictions. For anyone under 18, give contact details for a person with parental responsibility.
- Pay the £20 fee.
- Wait for the email. It contains your 16-digit ETA reference number. Do not travel until you have it. If nothing arrives after 3 working days, check your spam folder, then contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). For questions, UKVI offers an ETA webchat but cannot help with ETAs by phone.
- Travel with the same passport. The ETA is linked to it digitally, so there is nothing to print. You can check your ETA and its expiry date on GOV.UK’s Check your ETA service.
Applying for family members or a group
You can apply for someone else in the app if they are with you. If they are not with you, apply for them online. Each person gets their own decision, and decisions may arrive at different times. Wait until everyone in the group has their ETA before you travel.
Transit: do you need a UK ETA for a layover?
GOV.UK describes two kinds of transit:
| Your connection | ETA needed? |
|---|---|
| Airside: you change planes without passing through UK border control | No. The Home Office says passengers who change planes at Heathrow or Manchester without going through UK passport control do not currently need an ETA |
| Landside: you pass through border control, for example to collect and re-check bags, before your onward journey | Yes, if your nationality is on the ETA list |
Not sure which applies? Ask your airline, as GOV.UK suggests.
If your passport is on the visa list, you may need a Direct Airside Transit visa (£41.50) to change planes airside, or a Visitor in Transit visa (£74.50) if you go through border control and leave within 48 hours. Some travellers are exempt, depending on nationality and the documents they hold, so run the GOV.UK visa checker for your exact route. If you are travelling through the UK to or from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, GOV.UK says you will usually need a Standard Visitor visa instead of a transit visa, unless you are exempt.
What you can and cannot do with an ETA
| You can | You cannot |
|---|---|
| Visit for up to 6 months for tourism or to see family and friends | Stay longer than 6 months |
| Make a business trip or do short-term study | Do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless it is a permitted paid engagement or event, or work under the Creative Worker visa concession |
| Do a permitted paid engagement, or come for up to 3 months under the Creative Worker visa concession | Claim public funds (benefits) |
| Transit through a UK airport, including when you pass through border control (landside) | Live in the UK through frequent or back-to-back visits |
| Visit Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man | Marry, register a civil partnership or give notice of either. You need a Marriage Visitor visa |
The UK is not part of the Schengen area, which the EU lists as 29 countries. A UK ETA covers only the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, and a Schengen visa is not permission to travel to the UK.
Who still needs a visa, and when a visa is the safer choice
If your passport is on the visa list, apply for a Standard Visitor visa online before you travel and attend an appointment at a visa application centre, which could be in another country. It costs £135 for up to 6 months, and the earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks once you have applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, and that you should not book travel until you have a decision. Long-term visit visas of 2, 5 or 10 years are also available for frequent visitors.
Even if you could get an ETA, a visa may suit you better in some cases:
- Criminal record or past refusal. GOV.UK suggests a Standard Visitor visa instead if you have a criminal record or have previously been refused entry. Under the Immigration Rules, an ETA must be refused for some convictions (for example, a prison or suspended sentence of 12 months or more, or any conviction in the last 12 months) and after some earlier refusals or immigration breaches, such as overstaying.
- Longer or different trips. For stays over 6 months, work, longer study or a wedding in the UK, check the right visa on GOV.UK.
If your ETA application is refused, you cannot appeal. To travel, apply for a visa. If your application is rejected (for example, because of a problem with the photo or details), the Home Office tells you why and you can apply again, but you pay again.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying an unofficial website more than £20. The official routes are GOV.UK and the UK ETA app only
- Applying a day before you fly. Allow at least 3 working days
- Applying with one passport and travelling on another. If you renew your passport or are a dual national, the ETA stays with the passport you applied with
- Forgetting the children: babies need an ETA too
- Assuming a residence permit, US green card or Schengen visa changes what you need for a UK visit. The passport you travel on decides (residents of Ireland are the main exception)
- Dual British citizens applying for an ETA instead of travelling on a British passport or with a certificate of entitlement
- Assuming a UK ETA also lets you visit Ireland. It does not: Ireland sets its own visa and border rules
- Typos in passport details when the app cannot read the chip
- Booking non-refundable fares before every traveller has an ETA or visa
- Treating the ETA as a guarantee. You must still meet the visitor rules and may be asked about your plans at the border, so keep your return or onward booking and accommodation details to hand
Planning your UK trip
- Flights: compare routes to London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and other UK airports. Compare flights.
- Hotels: match your booking to your travel dates and keep the confirmation on your phone. Compare hotels.
- Mobile data: an eSIM can give you data for maps, rail apps and messages when you land. See eSIM options or read eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM.
- Travel insurance: GOV.UK does not list travel insurance among the things you need to apply for an ETA, but a policy can cover medical costs, delays and lost baggage, depending on its terms. Compare travel insurance. Combining the UK with Schengen countries? See Schengen visa travel insurance.
How Voyfaro can help
- ETA and visas: we point you to the official GOV.UK pages and explain them in plain English. We do not apply for, issue or guarantee ETAs or visas. The ETA costs £20 on the official service, and you can apply yourself. See our visa guidance.
- Bookings: we help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and travel insurance from trusted partners we reach through the Travelpayouts affiliate network.
- You stay in control: you book and pay directly with the partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
- Questions? Contact us with your route, dates, passports and who is travelling. Asking is free.
FAQ
Do US citizens need a UK ETA?
Yes. US citizens have needed an ETA for trips to the UK since 8 January 2025, and it is strictly enforced from 25 February 2026. It costs £20 through GOV.UK or the UK ETA app. If you hold a US green card but a different passport, the rule for that passport applies.
Do Canadians and Australians need a UK ETA?
Yes. Canada, Australia and New Zealand have been on the official ETA list since 8 January 2025. Each traveller pays £20 and gets an ETA that lasts 2 years or until the passport expires.
Do EU citizens need a UK ETA?
Yes, if you visit on an EU passport other than an Irish one. The requirement began on 2 April 2025 and also covers Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City. You do not need one if you have settled or pre-settled status in the UK. The Immigration Rules say you apply with a national passport.
Do children and babies need a UK ETA?
Yes. Every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies, and each costs £20. Children aged 9 or younger do not do the face scan, and anyone under 18 must give contact details for a person with parental responsibility.
How long does a UK ETA take?
GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days. The Home Office says most app users get an automatic decision in minutes. Apply at least 3 working days before you travel.
What is the official UK ETA website?
GOV.UK, at gov.uk/eta. It links to the Home Office online application and to the official UK ETA app on the App Store and Google Play. GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more.
Do I need a UK ETA for a layover at Heathrow?
Not if you stay airside and do not pass through UK border control. You do need one if you go through border control, for example to collect your bags, and your nationality is on the ETA list. Your airline can tell you which applies.
Can I get a UK ETA if I hold a US visa or green card?
Not if your passport is on the UK visa list. A US visa or green card does not change what you need to visit the UK. For example, Indian, Nigerian and Philippine citizens need a Standard Visitor visa even if they hold one. If you are only changing planes in the UK, whether you need a transit visa depends on your nationality and documents, so use the GOV.UK checker for your route.
I live in the UAE or Saudi Arabia. Do I need a UK ETA or a visa?
It depends on your passport, not your residence permit. Emirati and Saudi citizens need an ETA. Residents with, for example, an Indian, Pakistani, Egyptian or Philippine passport need a Standard Visitor visa.
Do I need an ETA if I have settled status or live in the UK?
No, if you have permission to live, work or study in the UK, including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode, or a UK visa. You also do not need one while you wait for a decision on an EU Settlement Scheme application. Dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship cannot get an ETA and should travel as described in Special cases above.
Does a UK ETA cover Ireland?
No. A UK ETA covers the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Ireland is not part of the Schengen area and runs its own visa and border rules, so check what the Irish government requires for your passport. In the other direction, if you travel from Ireland into the UK, including Northern Ireland, you still need a UK ETA if your nationality is on the ETA list, unless you live in Ireland (see Special cases). The Home Office says there are no immigration controls on the land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, but the UK rules still apply.
Do I need a new ETA if I renew my passport?
Yes. Your ETA is linked to the passport you applied with. If your passport expires or changes, GOV.UK says you need to apply for a new ETA.
Can Voyfaro apply for my UK ETA?
No. Only the Home Office issues ETAs, and you apply yourself on GOV.UK or the UK ETA app. We can help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and insurance for your trip.
Sources
Official pages we checked on 5 October 2026:
- GOV.UK, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK (£20 fee, ETA covers the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, who needs an ETA, warning about imitation websites, no guarantee of entry, families and babies, landside transit, webchat but no phone help)
- GOV.UK, When you do not need an ETA (British and Irish citizens, UK visa and permission holders including settled and pre-settled status, permission in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, EU Settlement Scheme applicants, airside transit, BOTC and BN(O) passports, France-UK school trip form, dual citizens, Ireland residents and proof documents)
- GOV.UK, What you can and cannot do with an ETA (what you can and cannot do; criminal record and previous refusal advice)
- GOV.UK, Apply for an ETA (what you need, no refunds, no faster decision through other websites, face photo rules, decision time, 16-digit reference, spam folder, applying for someone else, 2-year validity)
- GOV.UK, Using the ‘UK ETA’ app (phone requirements, English only, original passport, US passport scanning tip, details from the photo if the chip cannot be read, face scan from age 10, head coverings, application questions, under-18 contact, payment in local currency, nothing to print; updated 9 April 2026)
- GOV.UK, Check your electronic travel authorisation (ETA) (check your ETA and expiry; new ETA needed when a passport expires or changes)
- Home Office, Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) factsheet – April 2026 (“not a visa”, no boarding without an ETA, carriers including airlines, maritime and rail, apply 3 working days ahead, automatic decisions in minutes, airside transit at Heathrow and Manchester, rejected and refused applications, Northern Ireland and the Common Travel Area, dual British citizens)
- Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration, No permission, no travel: UK set to enforce ETA scheme (24 November 2025: enforcement from 25 February 2026, carrier checks, advice for dual British citizens)
- GOV.UK, Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List (83 nationalities and territories, with start dates; Taiwan identification card rule; updated 5 March 2026)
- GOV.UK, Immigration Rules Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation (applications only through the UK ETA app or the GOV.UK online form, national passport, refused applicants apply for a visa, grounds for refusal, 2-year validity, 6 months per visit, same-passport rule, Ireland residents, school parties from France and Germany, Jordan transition; updated 3 August 2026)
- GOV.UK, Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa national list (visa nationalities, with no exception for holders of a US visa, US green card or Schengen visa; St Lucia and Nicaragua transition ending 16 April 2026; school parties from France and Germany; updated 5 March 2026)
- UK Visas and Immigration, Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 9 April 2025 (ETA £10 to £16)
- UK Visas and Immigration, Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (ETA £16 to £20; short visit visa £127 to £135; transit visas £41.50 and £74.50)
- UK Visas and Immigration, Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026 (ETA, short visit visa and transit visa fees unchanged)
- GOV.UK, Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor (three outcomes by nationality, visitor rules still apply without a visa, questions at the border, criminal record and refusal advice)
- GOV.UK, Apply for a Standard Visitor visa (£135 fee, apply online and attend a visa application centre, earliest 3 months before travel, decision usually within 3 weeks after proving identity, long-term visas of 2, 5 or 10 years)
- GOV.UK, Visa processing times: applications outside the UK (Standard Visitor and transit visas: 3 weeks; do not book travel before a decision; updated 9 September 2026)
- GOV.UK, Visa to pass through the UK in transit (Direct Airside Transit visa £41.50, Visitor in Transit visa £74.50, 48-hour rule, ETA holders exempt, travel to or from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man)
- GOV.UK, Entering the UK: layovers and transiting through a UK airport (airside and landside transit)
- GOV.UK, Check if you need a UK visa (official ETA and visa checker)
- GOV.UK, Report visa and immigration scams (report to Report Fraud)
- European Commission, Schengen area (29 Schengen countries: 25 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein; Ireland runs its own visa and border policies)