Quick answer
The UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is a digital permission to travel to the UK for people who do not need a visa for short visits. It costs £20, is linked to your passport, lasts 2 years and allows visits of up to 6 months at a time.
The ETA is not a visa and there is no sticker or document. Your airline, ferry or train company checks it electronically against your passport before you board. Since 25 February 2026 carriers refuse boarding to travellers who need an ETA and do not have one.
On this page
What you can do with an ETA
- visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism or to see family and friends
- come on a business trip, for example for meetings or a conference
- study for a short course of up to 6 months
- pass through a UK airport when you go through border control
- take part in a permitted paid engagement, or work for up to 3 months under the Creative Worker visa concession
One ETA covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and also Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
What you cannot do with an ETA
- stay longer than 6 months on one visit
- do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person (outside the two exceptions above)
- live in the UK through frequent or repeated visits
- claim public funds (benefits)
- marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of one: that needs a Marriage Visitor visa
If your plans go beyond this list, you need a visa instead. See ETA or visa: which one do you need?
Who needs one
Nationals of 82 countries and territories that do not need a visa for a short visit, including all EU countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. British and Irish citizens never need one. Check your nationality and the exemptions.
The key facts
| UK ETA | |
|---|---|
| Fee | £20 per person, not refundable |
| Valid for | 2 years, or until the passport expires if that is sooner |
| Visits | As many as you like while it is valid, up to 6 months each |
| Decision | Usually within a day, up to 3 working days |
| Where to apply | UK ETA app or GOV.UK |
| Who applies | Every traveller, including babies and children |
An ETA is not a guarantee of entry. It allows you to travel to the UK border. If you have a criminal record or were refused entry before, GOV.UK suggests applying for a Standard Visitor visa instead.
How the ETA was introduced
- October 2023: the scheme starts, with a fee of £10
- 2 April 2025: European nationals need an ETA to travel
- 9 April 2025: the fee rises to £16
- 25 February 2026: carriers must refuse boarding without an ETA
- 8 April 2026: the fee rises to £20
Questions
Do I get a document or a stamp?
No. You receive an email with a 16-digit reference number. The ETA itself is stored electronically against your passport, and you only show the passport when you travel.
Can I use my ETA with a new passport?
No. The ETA is tied to the passport you applied with. If you renew or replace your passport you need to apply, and pay, again.
Is the ETA the same as the EU’s ETIAS?
No. ETIAS is a separate European Union scheme for travel to the Schengen area. The UK ETA is only for travel to the UK.
Sources
Checked on 10 November 2026. Rules can change; the official pages below always take priority.
- GOV.UK: Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK
- GOV.UK: What you can and cannot do with an ETA
- GOV.UK news: No permission, no travel: UK set to enforce ETA scheme
- The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
- Immigration Rules, Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation