Visa rules change frequently — always verify before you book.
This guide was last reviewed in June 2026. Entry requirements, fees, and stay lengths can change at short notice. Confirm the current rules with the official government sources linked below before booking flights or travelling.
- Visa needed?
- Not a visa — but a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is mandatory for visa-exempt visitors before they travel
- Maximum stay
- Up to 6 months per visit, multiple entries
- Cost
- £20 per applicant (as of June 2026; raised from £16 on 8 April 2026)
- Validity
- 2 years, or until your passport expires — whichever is sooner
- Processing time
- Often automatic within minutes via the app; allow up to 3 working days
The United Kingdom now requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) — a US-ESTA-style digital permission — from visa-exempt visitors before they travel to England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. It is not a visa, but for those who need it the requirement is now strictly enforced: since 25 February 2026, airlines and other carriers must refuse boarding to anyone without a valid ETA.
This guide explains who needs a UK ETA, exactly what it costs, how long it lasts, how to apply, and how UK and EU entry differ after Brexit. All figures below are drawn from the UK government (gov.uk) and were last checked in June 2026; because fees and rules change, confirm the current details on the official gov.uk pages linked at the end before you book.
UK ETA at a Glance
The table below summarises the key facts for a tourist or short-stay visit, taken from gov.uk as of June 2026.
| Detail | What to know (as of June 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who needs one | Visa-exempt visitors — US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, EU/EEA and most non-visa nationals |
| Who does NOT | British & Irish citizens (including dual nationals); holders of a UK visa, eVisa, or settled status |
| Cost | £20 per applicant, non-refundable (raised from £16 on 8 April 2026) |
| Validity | 2 years, or until the passport expires — whichever is sooner |
| Stay per visit | Up to 6 months, multiple entries — tourism, family, or short business |
| How to apply | Official UK ETA app (iOS/Android) or gov.uk — nothing to print |
| Decision time | Often within minutes; allow up to 3 working days |
What Is the UK ETA?
The UK ETA is a digital travel authorisation linked electronically to your passport — there is no sticker or document to print. It covers tourism, visiting family and friends, short business trips, and stays of up to six months at a time.
It is not a visa and does not guarantee entry — a border officer still makes the final decision — but without an approved ETA, carriers will not let you board. It is the UK equivalent of the US ESTA or Canada's eTA.
Who Needs a UK ETA?
The requirement was phased in by nationality through 2024 and 2025 and now applies to essentially all visa-exempt visitors. You need an ETA if you are travelling on a passport from a non-visa country, including:
- US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand citizens
- EU and EEA citizens (Europeans came into scope from 2 April 2025)
- Most other nationalities who do not need a full UK visa for short stays
Who Does Not Need One
You do not need an ETA — and cannot apply for one — if you are a British or Irish citizen, including a dual citizen, who should travel on a British or Irish passport (or a document showing a certificate of entitlement). The Common Travel Area arrangements with Ireland continue unchanged.
You also do not need an ETA if you already hold a UK visa, an eVisa, or settled or pre-settled status. Visa-required nationals are different: travellers from countries such as India and Pakistan still need a Standard Visitor Visa rather than an ETA, and that visitor-visa fee rose to £135 on 8 April 2026. If you are unsure which applies to you, use the official checker at gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
What It Costs
As of June 2026 the UK ETA costs £20 per applicant. The fee was £10 when the scheme launched in October 2023, rose to £16 in April 2025, and increased to £20 on 8 April 2026. It is non-refundable — you pay whether or not the application is approved.
Every traveller needs their own ETA, including children and infants, and there is no family discount, group rate, or fee waiver. The fee is the same whether you apply through the app or the gov.uk website. Apply only via the official UK ETA app or gov.uk — other websites may charge more for no added benefit — and because the government keeps the fee under review, check the current price on gov.uk before you pay.
Travel insurance is often required
Many visas and entry systems require proof of travel medical insurance — and even where it is not mandatory, it protects you against medical bills, cancellations, and lost baggage. Compare cover that meets visa requirements.
Compare travel insurance →How to Apply
- Apply through the official UK ETA app (iOS or Android) or the gov.uk website — and nowhere else
- Have ready the passport you will travel with, an email address, a payment method, and a digital photo
- Scan your passport, upload or take a photo, answer a short set of questions, and pay the £20 fee
- Most applications get an automatic decision within minutes, but apply at least three working days before you travel
- The ETA is linked electronically to your passport — there is nothing to print or carry
Validity and Stays
An approved ETA is valid for two years from the date of approval, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. Within that period it allows multiple journeys to the UK, each for a stay of up to six months for tourism, visiting, or short business.
If you get a new passport you will need a new ETA, because it is tied to the specific passport you applied with.
UK and EU Entry Are Separate
Since Brexit, the UK sits outside the EU and the Schengen Area, so the two run entirely separate entry systems. If your trip includes both, you handle each one independently: a UK ETA for the UK, and — once it launches — the EU's ETIAS travel authorisation for the Schengen Area.
Travelling the other way, British citizens visiting the Schengen Area are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period, the same as other visa-exempt nationalities. A UK ETA does not cover Ireland; many visitors can enter Ireland visa-free, but check Irish requirements separately.
Official Sources
Always confirm the latest requirements directly with the official government website before travelling:
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are a visa-exempt visitor — including US, Canadian, Australian, and EU citizens — yes, you need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK for tourism or a short visit, and since 25 February 2026 carriers will refuse boarding without one. British and Irish citizens (including dual citizens), and people who already hold a UK visa, eVisa, or settled status, do not need one. Visa-required nationals, such as Indian and Pakistani passport holders, need a Standard Visitor Visa instead.