UK ETA Complete Guide 2026: Who Needs It, How to Apply

Quick Facts

Rolled out: February 25, 2025 (remaining eligible nationalities added)
Cost: £20 (~USD 27)
Validity: 2 years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first
Stay length per trip: Up to 6 months, multiple entries permitted
Applies to: 85+ visa-exempt countries (US, Korea, Japan, EU, etc.)

What is the UK ETA?

The UK Electronic Travel Authorization (UK ETA) is a digital pre-approval linked to your passport. It's conceptually similar to the US ESTA or Canada's eTA — not a visa, but a required clearance for visa-exempt travelers arriving in the United Kingdom.

The UK government began rolling out the ETA in late 2023 for Gulf nationals, extended it to "eligible non-European" nationals in January 2025, and completed coverage of the remaining eligible countries (including most EU members) in February 2025. It is now fully operational.

Who Needs an ETA?

Yes — you need an ETA

North America: United States, Canada
Asia-Pacific: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand
Europe (non-UK, non-Irish): All EU and EEA member states, Switzerland
Middle East: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan
Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, and others
Full eligibility list: see gov.uk

No ETA needed

British and Irish citizens (traveling on UK or Ireland passports)
Holders of a valid UK visa — the visa itself serves as your authorization
Those with existing Leave to Enter / Leave to Remain in the UK
Travelers whose nationality requires a visa — you apply for the visa, not an ETA

How to Apply

Go to the official site: gov.uk/apply-eta — or install the UK ETA app (iOS / Android)
Prepare: a valid passport, a recent digital photo, an email address, and a payment card
Fill in: identity, passport, contact, and a short set of security questions
Pay: £20 at the end of the application
Wait: most approvals arrive within minutes; allow up to 3 working days in case of manual review
Confirmation: arrives by email and is linked to your passport automatically — you do not need to print or carry anything extra

Common Mistakes

Every traveler needs their own ETA, including infants and children.
An ETA is not a visa. If your nationality requires a visa, the ETA system doesn't apply to you — apply for the visa instead.
It doesn't guarantee entry. Border officers make the final decision on arrival.
Apply with the passport you'll actually travel on. If you renew your passport later, you must reapply for a new ETA.
Beware of scam sites. The official cost is £20. Third-party "services" that inflate the price offer no advantage.
UK ETA is not the same as Irish entry rules. Ireland is a separate jurisdiction and doesn't use ETA.

Related Information

Official Sources

UK Home Office — ETA policy page
gov.uk/apply-eta — official application portal
Information current as of April 2026; confirm on the official site before travel