An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a digital permission to travel to the United Kingdom that most visitors who do not need a visa must now hold before they travel. It costs £20, lasts for two years or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first, and it allows as many visits as you like within that period, each of up to six months. An ETA is not a visa, and it does not guarantee entry: Border Force officers still make the final decision when you arrive.

The ETA covers travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was rolled out in stages, with travellers from the United States, Canada, Australia and other non-European countries needing one from January 2025 and most European nationals from April 2025. Full enforcement began on 25 February 2026, so by November 2026 every eligible visa-exempt traveller is expected to hold one before boarding.

Who needs a UK ETA?

You usually need an ETA rather than a visa if you are from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries and you are coming to the UK for a short visit. GOV.UK says most visitors need either an ETA or a visa, and what you need depends on your nationality and the reason for your trip.

The requirement applies to visitors of all ages. Each person travelling needs their own ETA, including babies and children, and a parent or guardian can apply on a child's behalf. You can also apply for other people, which matters for families and groups travelling together.

You also need an ETA if you are transiting through a UK airport and will pass through border control before continuing your onward journey. This is known as transiting landside. If you are not sure whether you will pass through border control, GOV.UK advises checking with your airline.

Who does not need an ETA?

Several groups do not need an ETA at all. GOV.UK lists the main exemptions, and they are worth checking before you pay for anything.

• British or Irish passport holders, including dual citizens
• Anyone who already holds a UK visa
• Anyone with permission to live, work or study in the UK, including settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and people with right of abode
• People with permission to live, work or study in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
• Travellers passing through a UK airport without going through border control, known as airside transit
• People travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport or a British National (Overseas) passport
• People who live in Ireland and are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• Children travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form
• People who are exempt from immigration control or do not need permission to enter

Dual citizens need particular care. If you hold British or Irish citizenship alongside another nationality, you cannot get an ETA. When you travel you must prove your British or Irish citizenship using a valid British passport, a valid Irish passport, or another valid passport carrying a certificate of entitlement that proves you have the right of abode in the UK.

How much does a UK ETA cost?

An ETA costs £20, paid when you apply online or through the UK ETA app. The fee is non-refundable, even if your application is refused, and you cannot get a refund after you apply. You pay by credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

The fee was £16 when the scheme launched and rose to £20 on 8 April 2026. GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more to apply and advises travellers to avoid websites that imitate government services. You cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app, so there is no reason to pay a third party extra.

How long does an ETA last?

An ETA lasts for two years or until the passport you applied with expires, whichever is sooner. While it is valid you can travel to the UK as many times as you want, with each visit lasting up to six months. Your ETA is linked electronically to your passport, so you only need to show your passport when you travel. You do not get a paper document.

If you get a new passport, you will need a new ETA, because the authorisation is tied to the passport used in the application. You can check whether you have an ETA and when it expires on GOV.UK.

What can you do with an ETA?

An ETA lets you come to the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, a business trip or short-term study. You can also come for up to three months on the Creative Worker visa concession, come for a permitted paid engagement, or transit through a UK airport if you will pass through border control.

There are clear limits. With an ETA you cannot stay in the UK for longer than six months, do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or work on the Creative Worker visa concession, claim public funds or benefits, live in the UK through frequent or successive visits, or marry or register a civil partnership. For a wedding you need a Marriage Visitor visa instead.

If you have a criminal record or you were previously refused entry into the UK, GOV.UK says you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead of an ETA. The Standard Visitor visa costs £115 and is also valid for visits of up to six months.

How to apply for a UK ETA

You apply either through the official UK ETA app or online on GOV.UK. The app is available on Google Play and the App Store, and it uses your phone's camera to scan your passport and your face. If you cannot download the app, apply online instead.

To apply you will need the passport you will travel with, an email address and a way to pay. You will need to upload or take photos of the passport and of the face of the person applying, and the photo of the face must follow the rules for digital photos. If it does not meet the rules, the application may be delayed or rejected.

If you are applying for someone else on the app, they need to be with you. If they are not with you, you must apply for their ETA online, and you will need a photo of their passport and a photo of their face.

How long does a decision take?

You will usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to three working days. The email will contain your 16-digit ETA reference number. You must wait until you get the email confirming you have an ETA before you travel. If you have not received a decision after three working days, GOV.UK advises checking your spam or junk email folder before contacting UK Visas and Immigration.

People who applied together may get their decisions at different times, so each traveller should wait for their own confirmation. If your application is rejected, or you need to change the details in it, you will need to apply again and pay again.

Beware of copycat websites

The most common problem travellers face is not the application itself but unofficial websites that charge far more than £20. Search results and adverts often show third-party ETA services that add large markups, and some imitate the look of GOV.UK. The official route is the UK ETA app or the GOV.UK guidance page, and the official fee is £20. GOV.UK states this plainly and warns that other application services may charge a higher fee than the UK government.

Before you travel, check the latest guidance on GOV.UK, because eligibility rules can change. And remember that an ETA is permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry: Border Force makes the final decision at the border.

Frequently asked questions

Do babies and children need an ETA? Yes. Every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies. A parent or guardian can apply on their behalf.

Is an ETA a visa? No. It is a digital travel authorisation linked to your passport. Travellers from countries that require a visa still need a visa instead.

Can I work in the UK on an ETA? No, except for a permitted paid engagement or work under the Creative Worker visa concession. You cannot take a job or work as a self-employed person.

What if my passport expires? Your ETA expires with it. You will need a new ETA linked to your new passport.

Do I need an ETA if I already have a UK visa? No. Visa holders, and people with permission to live, work or study in the UK, do not need one.

Check the official GOV.UK page before you travel, as the rules can change.