Travellers to the United Kingdom, including those from the US, Canada, Australia and more than 30 European countries, must now apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before entering the country.
Each person in a travelling group must apply separately for an ETA - including babies and children - and the quickest way to apply is through downloadable apps on the App Store or Google Play, though you can also apply online from a computer. You should get a decision within three working days (though “most people get a much quicker decision” and “occasionally” it may take longer).
British citizens and Irish citizens will not be required to apply for an ETA.
The ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires. During that two-year period, the holder can travel to the UK as many times as they want, as long as no single visit exceeds a period of six months.
The ETA is essentially a digital security check for visitors arriving in the United Kingdom who do not require a full UK visa. The application is similar to the longstanding ESTA required to visit the US (with the EU’s similar EES project also set to launch “later in 2025”). The ETA currently costs £10 (approximately 12.85 USD or 12 euros), and is valid for two years or until your passport expires.
During that two-year period, the holder can travel to the UK as many times as they want, as long as no single visit exceeds a period of six months.
The UK’s ETA was first introduced back in November 2023, initially for Qatari travellers and Gulf states. It was was significantly extended to more than 50 countries in January 2025 - including the US, Canada, Hong Kong and Australia.
It will be mandatory for visitors from most EU states to have an ETA from 2 April 2025.
On 5 March, the ETA application process was opened to citizens of EU states and European countries - specifically, from the following nations:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City.
It will be mandatory for visitors from most EU states to have an ETA from 2 April 2025.
To apply, you’ll need the passport you will travel with and access to e-mail. You’ll also need to upload or take photos of the passport and the face of the applicant.
Each ETA allows visitors to visit the UK for up to six months for tourism, as well, the government states, as visiting family and friends and business or short-term study. It's not valid for travel to work for a UK company or claiming public funds.
The site also adds “an ETA does also not guarantee entry to the UK, and you will still need to pass through one of the ePassport gates at an airport, or see a Border Force officer.” Don’t let this spook you. It simply means that as well as having an ETA, you will need to follow all the other standard procedures.
According to government guidance, you do not need an ETA to enter the UK if:
- you have a visa
- you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode)
- you are transiting through a UK airport and you will not pass through border control - check with your airline if you are not sure
- you are a British or Irish citizen
- you are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
- you live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
- you are a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form
- you are exempt from immigration control
Dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship will not need an ETA.
The UK government suggest you may want to apply for a standard visitor visa instead if you have a criminal record or were previously refused entry to the UK.
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