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

From April 2025 every visa-free traveller — including American, Canadian, Australian, and EU citizens — needs a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before boarding. £10, valid 2 years, two-day average decision.

Published May 10, 2026 · 7 min read · By Visavu editorial

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) replaced the “just turn up” model for visa-free travellers in 2024–2025. As of April 2025 it applies to almost every nationality that doesn't need a UK visa — including the United States, the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the GCC. £10, valid 2 years, multiple entries.

TL;DR

  • What: Pre-travel authorisation for visa-free entry to the UK. Same shape as the U.S. ESTA or the upcoming EU ETIAS.
  • When: Live for almost all visa-free nationalities since April 2025.
  • Who: Every visa-free traveller. Currently exempt: British /Irish citizens, anyone with a UK visa or settled status, and Irish residents who fall under Common Travel Area rules.
  • How: UK ETA app (iOS/Android) or the gov.uk web form. £10 fee.
  • Validity: 2 years or until your passport expires. Multiple entries. Stays of up to 6 months per visit.

Who needs one

The blunt rule: if you didn't need a visa for the UK before April 2025, you almost certainly need an ETA now. The list of visa-required nationalities (the “visa nationals” in Home Office terminology) hasn't changed — they continue applying for visit visas as they always did. The change is for the 60-ish nationalities who used to walk through Border Control and now must pre-register first.

The biggest groups affected:

  • The European Union (all 27 member states + EFTA: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland)
  • The United States
  • Canada, Australia, New Zealand
  • Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Taiwan, Brunei
  • The GCC: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman
  • Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, plus most Central American countries
  • The Caribbean: Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago

Who doesn't need one

  • British and Irish citizens
  • Anyone with a valid UK visa (visit, study, work, settlement)
  • Anyone with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
  • Anyone transiting airside (not crossing the UK border at all)
  • Holders of a valid Electronic Visa Waiver — NOT the same thing; it's a different scheme for some Gulf nationals

How to apply

  1. Download the official UK ETA app (iOS / Android) or use the web form on gov.uk.
  2. Scan your passport bio page; take a selfie when prompted.
  3. Answer suitability questions (criminal history, prior immigration breaches).
  4. Pay the £10 fee by card.
  5. Decision usually within 3 days; some come within minutes. If your application is flagged for review, expect up to 10 working days.

Common gotchas

Children need their own ETA.

Every passport holder, including infants, needs their own application. £10 each. There is no family discount.

Avoid third-party application services.

A £10 government process is being marketed as £40-£70 by various third parties. They are legally allowed to charge a service fee, but the only thing they do is fill in your passport details on the same form you can use yourself. Use the official app or gov.uk directly.

The Common Travel Area still works.

If you're an Irish resident travelling from Ireland to the UK by ferry or domestic air route, ordinary Common Travel Area rules apply — no ETA needed for that crossing. But if you're an Irish resident flying to the UK from a third country, the ETA rule applies based on your nationality.

Transit requires an ETA only if you cross the border.

Connecting flight at Heathrow without leaving the international transit area? No ETA. Stopover where you go into central London? ETA required.

What if you arrive without an ETA?

Airlines won't board you. Carrier sanctions for boarding non-ETA passengers are steep, so airline staff at check-in are now trained to verify ETA status as a routine step in document checks. If you somehow get past check-in (rare) and arrive at UK Border Force without an ETA, expect refusal of entry and a return flight at your own expense.

Look up your route

Use our visa finder with passport → United Kingdom selected to confirm whether you need a visit visa or an ETA. UK results carry the ETA banner inline.

References