UK ETA: Who Needs One, Cost and How to Apply in 2026

Planning a trip to London, a family visit or a business meeting in the UK? If you don't need a visa, you almost certainly need a UK ETA before you fly. Since February 2026, airlines won't let you board without one.

The good news is that it's cheap, quick and done on your phone. Here's who needs one, who doesn't, and how to avoid the sites that overcharge.

What is a UK ETA?

An Electronic Travel Authorisation is a digital permission to travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It's linked to your passport. It isn't a visa, and there's no physical document.

It lets you visit for tourism, see family and friends, attend business meetings or do short-term study. Border Force can still refuse you entry on arrival, because an ETA doesn't guarantee entry.

Who needs a UK ETA, and since when?

You need an ETA if you're visiting and you don't need a visa for short stays. The rollout happened in stages:

• 8 January 2025: eligible non-European visitors, including US, Canadian and Australian nationals, needed one to travel (applications opened on 27 November 2024).
• 2 April 2025: nationals of EU countries (except Ireland), Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and several European microstates needed one (applications opened on 5 March 2025).
• 25 February 2026: full enforcement. GOV.UK said visitors from 85 nationalities can't legally travel without an ETA, and carriers now block boarding for anyone without an ETA, an eVisa or another valid permission.

Eligible nationalities can change. GOV.UK has removed some countries from the list and moved them to visa requirements, so check your nationality each time you plan a trip.

Who needs what: ETA, visa or nothing

Who doesn't need an ETA

GOV.UK lists these exemptions:

• British or Irish citizens, including dual citizens, who must travel on a British or Irish passport or certificate of entitlement
• people with a UK visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK
• people with settled or pre-settled status, or the right of abode
• holders of British Overseas Territories citizen or British National (Overseas) passports
• people with permission to live in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
• people living in Ireland travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man with valid proof of residence

Fee, validity and what you can do

As of September 2026, the UK ETA costs £20 per person, and the fee isn't refundable. It lasts 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and covers multiple visits.

Each visit can last up to 6 months. With an ETA you can:

• holiday, or visit family and friends
• attend business meetings and do other permitted business activities
• take a short course
• take part in permitted paid engagements, or visit for up to 3 months under the Creative Worker concession

You can't work for a UK employer or as self-employed, claim benefits, marry or register a civil partnership (or give notice of one), or effectively live in the UK through frequent back-to-back visits.

An ETA doesn't come with healthcare cover, so buy travel insurance that includes medical treatment before you go.

How to apply for a UK ETA

1. Download the official UK ETA app from the App Store or Google Play, or use the online form linked from GOV.UK.
2. Have your passport ready. Use the one you'll travel on, because the ETA is linked to it.
3. Scan your passport and take a photo of your face in the app, or upload photos if applying online.
4. Answer questions about your identity, contact details, criminal record and immigration history.
5. Pay £20 by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
6. Wait for your decision by email. You'll get a reference number when you apply.

GOV.UK says most people get a decision within one day, and it can take up to 3 working days. The Home Office says most app applicants currently get an automatic decision within minutes. Still, apply at least 3 working days before you travel.

You can apply for other people too. Use the app if they're with you, or apply online if they're not.

A quick example

Say you're a Canadian family of four flying from Toronto to Edinburgh via Heathrow next summer. Each of you, including the children, needs your own ETA. That's £80 in total as of September 2026.

You'd apply in one sitting through the app while everyone is with you. If one child's passport runs out next year, their ETA runs out with it, so renew that passport before you apply.

Refusals and alternatives

If your ETA is refused, you won't get your £20 back. Refusal doesn't necessarily mean you can never visit.

GOV.UK suggests people with a criminal record or a past UK entry refusal consider applying for a Standard Visitor visa instead. That's a longer and more expensive process, so leave plenty of time. If you want to work, study long-term or relocate, an ETA is the wrong tool entirely. Look at the proper visa, such as the UK Skilled Worker visa.

Avoid copycat ETA websites

GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more to apply and tells travellers to avoid sites that imitate government services. These sites look official and often rank highly in search results. They then charge several times the fee for the same form.

The only official ways to apply are the UK ETA app and the application form linked from GOV.UK. The same fake-site tactics are used for visas and job offers too. Our guide to spotting job and visa scams covers what to look for.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming EU citizens are exempt. Only Irish citizens are.
• Forgetting children. Every traveller needs their own ETA.
• Applying with the wrong passport, or not reapplying after renewal.
• Paying a third-party site that looks like GOV.UK.
• Leaving it until the airport. Decisions can take up to 3 working days.
• Assuming all transit is exempt. Only certain airside transits are.
• Treating an ETA as permission to work.

Your next steps

Check whether your nationality needs an ETA or a visa on GOV.UK, then download the official UK ETA app. Apply for everyone in your group at least a few working days before you travel, and keep the confirmation email handy.

If you're also travelling on to Europe, read our guide to the Schengen 90/180 rule, EES and ETIAS so both trips go smoothly.