Under the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, nationals from specific countries such as the United States, European Union member states, Japan, Australia, Canada and other non-visa national countries will need an ETA permit to visit the UK.
In this guide, we explain what the UK ETA is, who will need an ETA and how to apply. We also look at how much an ETA will cost, how long an ETA will last and the process of travelling to the UK with an ETA.
Finally, we look at what happens if you are denied an ETA and highlight the risks of travelling without an ETA where one is required under the rules.
What is an ETA?
An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is the UK’s digital system for screening certain travellers before they arrive. It provides advance permission to travel and is electronically linked to the traveller’s passport. The UK’s ETA system is similar to the United States’ ESTA programme.
The system became fully operational in 2025 following a phased implementation process.
Now, most travellers who do not require a visa, known as non-visa nationals, must obtain an ETA before coming to the UK, whether for a visit or to transit through the country. This requirement applies to adults and children alike. British and Irish citizens are exempt, as are individuals who already hold valid UK immigration status.
| Non visa national countries | ||
|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Antigua and Barbuda | Argentina |
| Australia | Austria | Bahamas |
| Bahrain | Barbados | Belgium |
| Belize | Botswana | Brazil |
| Brunei | Bulgaria | Canada |
| Chile | Costa Rica | Croatia |
| Cyprus | Czechia | Denmark |
| Estonia | Finland | France |
| Germany | Greece | Grenada |
| Guatemala | Guyana | Hong Kong (SAR) |
| Hungary | Iceland | Israel |
| Italy | Japan | Kiribati |
| Kuwait | Latvia | Liechtenstein |
| Lithuania | Luxembourg | Macau (SAR) |
| Malaysia | Maldives | Malta |
| Marshall Islands | Mauritius | Mexico |
| Micronesia | Monaco | Nauru |
| Netherlands | New Zealand | Nicaragua |
| Norway | Oman | Palau |
| Panama | Papua New Guinea | Paraguay |
| Peru | Poland | Portugal |
| Qatar | Romania | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Samoa |
| San Marino | Saudi Arabia | Seychelles |
| Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia |
| Solomon Islands | South Korea | Spain |
| Suriname | Sweden | Switzerland |
| Taiwan* | Tonga | Tuvalu |
| United Arab Emirates | United States | Uruguay |
| Vatican City | ||
The ETA requirement does not change the existing rules for visa nationals, who must continue to apply for the appropriate visa, such as a Standard Visitor Visa or a Transit visa.
An ETA is not a visa. It does not change the fact that nationals of visa-free countries may continue to visit the UK without a visa, but they must now secure prior authorisation through the ETA process.
It’s important to note that while an ETA permits travel to the UK, it does not guarantee entry. On arrival, UK Border Force officers may still refuse entry if they are not satisfied with your circumstances, documentation, or reasons for travel.
Who needs an ETA?
If you are a national of a non-visa national country, you will need an ETA to travel to the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting family or friends, business, or short-term study.
You will also need an ETA if you are entering the UK as a non-visa national for up to three months under the Creative Worker Concessio, or if you are transiting landside through the UK.
| Traveller Type | Needs an ETA? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| British citizens | No | Can enter the UK freely with a British passport |
| Irish citizens | No | Protected under the Common Travel Area |
| Legally resident in Ireland (non-Irish citizens) | No (if entering from Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey or Jersey) | Must prove Irish residence with valid documents |
| Non-visa national visitors (e.g. USA, Australia, Canada) | Yes | Required for visits of up to 6 months from rollout date |
| Non-visa nationals transiting airside | No (temporary exemption) | Must remain airside and not pass through border control |
| Non-visa nationals transiting landside | Yes | Required if passing through UK border control |
| Visa national visitors (e.g. India, Nigeria, Pakistan) | No | Must apply for a UK visa instead |
| Holders of valid UK visas or immigration status | No | ETA not required if you already have UK entry clearance |
Who does not need an ETA?
You will not need an ETA if any of the following apply:
a. You have a British or Irish passport, a British Overseas Territories citizen passport or a British National (Overseas) passport
b. You have permission to either live, work and/or study in the UK
c. You have a valid visa to enter the UK.
d. You are transiting through a UK airport and will not pass through border control.
For those living in Ireland who are not Irish citizens, you will not need an ETA if you are legally resident in Ireland and you do not need a visa to enter the UK, provided you will be entering the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. You will be able to prove that you live in Ireland by showing a number of different documents including, among various others, an Irish Residence Permit or an Irish driving licence, provided this document is an original, issued by the Irish government and valid at the time of travel.
Do you need an ETA to transit through the UK?
The ETA system outlines specific requirements for transit passengers, distinguishing between airside and landside transits.
Airside Transit (No Entry Through UK Border Control)
Airside transit applies to passengers who remain within the airport’s international transit area and do not pass through UK border control.
At present, travellers in airside transit do not need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). This exemption has been introduced by the UK Home Office in response to concerns from the travel industry, in order to support the continued appeal of UK airports for international connections. The exemption is subject to review and may be amended in due course.
To be eligible for airside transit without an ETA:
- The transit must take place at London Heathrow or Manchester Airport.
- Both arrival and departure must occur on the same calendar day.
The onward journey must be to a destination outside the Common Travel Area, which includes Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.
Landside Transit (Entry Through UK Border Control)
Landside transit refers to situations where a traveller passes through UK border control, such as when transferring between airports, collecting checked baggage, or staying overnight before their onward journey.
Travellers who are non-visa nationals must apply for an ETA before undertaking landside transit. Those who are visa nationals must instead apply for a Visitor in Transit visa unless an exemption applies.
To be eligible for landside transit:
- Both arrival and departure must be by air, with the onward flight scheduled to depart by 23:59 on the following day.
- The traveller must hold a confirmed booking for their onward journey and the necessary documents for entry into their destination country.
- The traveller must carry valid documentation appropriate to their circumstances, such as a visa or residence permit, depending on their nationality and the requirements of the destination.
How to apply for an ETA
To apply for an ETA, you will need to use the UK ETA app or apply online at GOV.UK.
Each traveller must have their own ETA, including children and babies, although an adult can apply on behalf of family members.
You will need to upload or take photos of your passport and face during the application process.
Having submitted an ETA application, you should get a decision within 3 working days, although you may get a quicker decision.
In some cases, it will take longer than 3 working days to receive a decision if further background and other checks are needed. As such, once the ETA requirements come into force, you should not book any travel to the UK before you have been granted an ETA.
How much is an ETA?
It costs £16 per applicant to apply for authorisation under the ETA scheme.
If an application is approved, you will receive an email confirmation. The successful ETA will then be linked electronically to the passport that you applied with.
If your ETA application is denied, you will not be entitled to a refund of your fee. You will also need to apply for a visa in advance of travel from the Home Office to be able to come to the UK.
Beware scam ETA websites
You should only apply for your ETA through official UK government channels. Applications should be made either via the official UK government website or using the UK ETA app available on Apple and Google Play stores. These are the only authorised platforms for submitting an ETA application.
There have been reports of unofficial websites offering to process ETA applications for inflated fees or collecting personal information under false pretences. Using these sites may result in unnecessary costs, delayed processing or, in some cases, fraudulent use of your data. The UK Home Office has issued warnings about such scams and advised travellers to check carefully that they are using a genuine government service.
Applying through official channels ensures that you pay the correct fee — currently £16 — and that your application is handled securely. If you are in doubt, look for the “.gov.uk” domain in the web address or download the official UK ETA app from a trusted app store.
Do not share personal or passport details with third-party services unless you have verified they are authorised to act on your behalf.
How long does an ETA last?
Once granted, an ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. During this period, you can make multiple visits to the UK.However, you must use the same passport to travel with, or risk being refused travel or entry to the UK. That passport must also be valid for the entire duration of your UK stay.
How do you travel with an ETA?
An ETA simply gives you advance permission to travel to the UK. This does not alter the requirement to go through passport control, using either an ePassport gate, if you are eligible, or to see a Border Force officer to enter the UK.
An ETA also does not guarantee entry to the UK, where you may still be refused permission to enter if Border Force officials are not satisfied that your intentions are genuine or that you meet the relevant requirements under the visitor rules.
It is therefore important to carry with you sufficient documentation, either physical or electronic, to be able to satisfy officials of the purpose of your trip.
You should also carry documentary proof of where you will be staying in the UK, the funds available to you to support yourself during your stay, as well as evidence of your return flight or onward journey.
Strictly speaking, you do not need to carry a paper printout of your ETA when travelling to the UK, although it may be helpful to print the confirmation email and keep this with you.
Denied an ETA for the UK?
When it comes to permission to travel to the UK, the rules are strict. This means that if you are denied an ETA, where one is needed, you will instead need to apply for a suitable visa. The type of visa you will need will depend on the purpose of your trip, such as a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK for tourism, business, a short course of study, and other permitted activities, including visiting as an academic or for medical reasons or a Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa: to come to the UK as a creative worker.
Standard Visitor visa
To be eligible for a Standard Visitor visa, in the same way that you must abide by the visitor rules when travelling under an ETA, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- be genuinely seeking to come the UK for a purpose permitted under the rules
- be able to support yourself for the duration of your stay in the UK
- be able to pay the reasonable costs relating to your UK visit, without undertaking paid work or accessing public funds, including the cost of your return or onward journey
- not be intending to undertake any prohibited activities during your stay in the UK
- be intending to leave the UK at the end of your permitted stay
- not be intending to live in the UK for extended periods of time through either frequent or successive visits, nor be trying to make the UK your main home.
Until such time that non-visa nationals can continue to travel to the UK visa-free and without an ETA, they will also need to meet these requirements when seeking entry.
Creative Worker visa
A Creative Worker visa is for someone coming to the UK to temporarily work in the creative industries, for example, as an actor, musician, dancer or film crew member.
To be eligible for a Creative Worker visa under the Temporary Worker route, you must have a sponsorship certificate from a licensed sponsor and the work you will be doing in the UK must relate to the work of your UK-based sponsor organisation. You must also be paid a minimum salary and have sufficient funds to support yourself on arrival in the UK.
UK transit visa
There are two types of Transit visa for the UK. You will need to apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa if you will be changing flights from within the UK and will not be going through border control. If you are going through border control but then leaving the UK within a period of 48 hours, you will instead need to apply for a Visitor in Transit visa.
You will also need a Visitor in Transit visa if you need to frequently pass through the UK over a period of more than 6 months, although if you are staying in the UK at any one time for a period of more than 48 hours, you will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.
To apply for either a Direct Airside Transit visa or a Visitor in Transit visa, you will need a current passport or other valid travel document. You may be asked to prove that your onward journey to your destination country is booked or confirmed, such as a flight booking email, or a copy of your ticket or boarding pass. Further, if you are not a national of your destination country, you may need to provide evidence that you are allowed to enter that country, such as a residence permit, green card or valid visa. You may also need to explain why you are travelling there, providing details of where you will be staying.
Travelling to the UK without an ETA
If you attempt to travel to the UK without a valid ETA, where one is required, it is likely that you will not be permitted to board a UK-bound carrier. This essentially means that if you are travelling to the UK, for example, by air, you will be prohibited from boarding your flight. Additionally, even if you are allowed to board your flight, you may then be refused entry on arrival by UK Border Officials.
It is also worth noting that an ETA will not replace the requirement for a visa where one is currently needed, for example, for the purposes of paid employment or long-term study. This means that if you travel to the UK on an ETA for a reason other than one permitted under the visitor rules, you may again be refused entry in the event that Border Officials suspect that you are fraudulently using an ETA to gain entry to the UK on an unlawful basis.
Need assistance?
DavidsonMorris are UK immigration specialists. For advice on your immigration options to come to the UK, contact our experts.
UK ETA FAQs
What is the UK ETA?
The ETA, or Electronic Travel Authorisation, is a new entry requirement for certain travellers visiting or transiting the UK. It applies to non-visa nationals who previously did not require a visa for short stays.
Who needs an ETA to travel to the UK?
Nationals of countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and EU member states will need an ETA to enter the UK for short stays of up to six months. Irish and British citizens are exempt. Visa nationals still require a visa and do not need an ETA.
Is an ETA a visa?
An ETA is not a visa. It grants advance permission to travel to the UK but does not replace a visa where one is otherwise required, such as for long-term work or study.
How much does an ETA cost?
An ETA costs £16 per applicant. The fee is non-refundable, even if the application is refused.
How long does it take to get an ETA?
Most applications are decided within three working days, but it may take longer if additional checks are required. Travellers are advised not to book travel until they have received a decision.
How long is an ETA valid for?
An ETA is valid for two years or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first. It can be used for multiple visits within that period.
Do I need an ETA if I am only transiting through the UK?
Yes, an ETA is required for landside transit. However, a temporary exemption applies to airside transit passengers who do not pass through UK border control.
Does an ETA guarantee entry into the UK?
An ETA allows you to travel to the UK, but entry is still subject to approval by Border Force officers on arrival.
How do I apply for an ETA?
Applications can be made through the UK ETA app or online at GOV.UK. Each traveller, including children, must have their own ETA.
What documents do I need when applying for an ETA?
You will need a valid biometric passport, a recent digital photograph, and must answer a series of eligibility and security questions.
Can someone else apply on my behalf?
A third party such as a parent, guardian or travel agent can apply for an ETA on your behalf.
What happens if my ETA is refused?
If your ETA application is refused, you will need to apply for a visa suitable to your circumstances before travelling to the UK.
Do children need an ETA?
All travellers, including infants and children, require their own ETA to travel to the UK.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) | A new online permit required for non-visa overseas visitors to enter or transit through the UK. It costs £10 and is valid for multiple entries over two years. |
| eVisa | A visa for travellers who do not qualify for visa-free status. The eVisa must be applied for through the UK immigration system. |
| Visa-free Status | A status allowing certain nationals to enter the UK without needing a visa, provided they obtain an ETA. |
| Airside | The part of an airport beyond passport and security control, where passengers wait before boarding or between international flights. |
| Common Travel Agreement | An agreement allowing free movement between the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, exempting Irish nationals from needing an ETA. |
| Juxtaposed Controls | Border checks performed by UK Border Force in continental Europe, such as at ferry ports in France or Eurostar terminals, before passengers travel to the UK. |
| Non-visa Visitors | Travellers who are eligible to visit the UK without applying for a visa but must obtain an ETA for permission to enter. |
| Border Force | The UK government agency responsible for managing the UK border, including checking ETAs and passports of arriving passengers. |
| Transit Passengers | Travellers passing through the UK without entering the country, such as changing planes at Heathrow; they will still require an ETA. |
| ETA Application Process | The steps required to apply for an ETA, which include submitting a photograph and answering security questions via an online platform or mobile app. |
| ETA Fee | The cost of applying for an ETA, set at £16. |
| Passport Control | The process where travellers present their passports for inspection by border authorities to verify their identity and legal status for entry into a country. |
| Immigration System | The legal framework through which the UK regulates entry, residence, and employment of foreign nationals. |
| Carrier Penalty | A fine of up to £2,000 imposed on airlines, ferry operators, or other transport companies for allowing inadequately documented passengers to travel to the UK. |
| ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) | A US travel permit similar to the UK ETA, required for travellers entering or transiting the US from visa-waiver countries. |
| Passport Expiry | The end of a passport’s validity. An ETA is valid until the passport’s expiry or for two years, whichever comes first. |
Additional Resources
UK Government – Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta
The official UK government page detailing the ETA scheme, including eligibility, the application process, and key dates for rollout.
UK Home Office – Immigration and Border Control
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration
Comprehensive information about UK visas, immigration policies, and border control measures, including the ETA.
Visit Britain – Official Travel Advice
https://www.visitbritain.com/gb/en/practical-information/visa-and-passport-requirements
A guide to UK visa and passport requirements, aimed at helping international visitors navigate travel regulations, including the ETA.
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
