Do I need a UK ETA?

On this page

1. Nationalities that need an ETA
2. Who does not need an ETA
3. Special cases
4. Questions
5. Sources

Nationalities that need an ETA

The list is set by the UK government and was last updated on 9 April 2026. It includes associated territories of the places named.

A to F	G to N	O to Z
Andorra	Guyana	Paraguay
Antigua and Barbuda	Hong Kong Special Administrative Region	Peru
Argentina	Hungary	Poland
Australia	Iceland	Portugal
Austria	Israel	Qatar
The Bahamas	Italy	Romania
Bahrain	Japan	Samoa
Barbados	Kiribati	San Marino
Belgium	Kuwait	Saudi Arabia
Belize	Latvia	Seychelles
Brazil	Liechtenstein	Singapore
Brunei	Lithuania	Slovakia
Bulgaria	Luxembourg	Slovenia
Canada	Macao Special Administrative Region	Solomon Islands
Chile	Malaysia	South Korea
Costa Rica	Maldives	Spain
Croatia	Malta	St Kitts and Nevis
Cyprus	Marshall Islands	St Vincent and the Grenadines
Czechia	Mauritius	Sweden
Denmark	Mexico	Switzerland
Estonia	Monaco	Tonga
Federated States of Micronesia	Netherlands	Tuvalu
Finland	New Zealand	United Arab Emirates
France	Norway	United States
Germany	Oman	Uruguay
Greece	Palau	Vatican City
Grenada	Panama
Guatemala	Papua New Guinea

Holders of a passport issued by Taiwan can apply if the passport includes the number of their identification card. Any nationality not listed cannot get an ETA and should check on GOV.UK whether they need a visa.

Who does not need an ETA

• British and Irish citizens
• anyone with a UK visa
• anyone with permission to live, work or study in the UK, including settled or pre-settled status and right of abode
• people with permission to live, work or study in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
• passengers who change planes without passing through border control (airside transit)
• holders of a British overseas territories citizen passport or a British National (Overseas) passport
• people who live in Ireland and travel from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• children on the France-UK school trip travel information form
• people exempt from immigration control, and people waiting for a decision under the EU Settlement Scheme

Special cases

Dual nationals with British or Irish citizenship

You cannot get an ETA. Travel on a valid British or Irish passport, or on your other passport with a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode.

Residents of Ireland

If you legally live in Ireland and enter the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, you do not need an ETA. From age 16 you must carry an original, valid document issued by the Irish government that shows you live there, such as an Irish driving licence, medical card or Irish Residence Permit.

Children and babies

There is no age limit. Every child needs their own ETA and the fee is the same. A parent or guardian can apply for them.

Questions

I have two passports. Which one should I use?

Apply with the passport you will actually travel on. The ETA is linked to that passport only. If one of your nationalities is British or Irish, you cannot get an ETA and should travel on that passport.

I only have a connecting flight. Do I need one?

Only if you pass through UK border control. See the transit rules.

I had an ETA refused. What now?

There is no appeal. If the application was refused you need to apply for a visa, usually a Standard Visitor visa. ETA or visa?

Sources

Checked on 10 November 2026. Rules can change; the official pages below always take priority.

• GOV.UK: Check if you can get an ETA (list of nationalities, updated 9 April 2026)
• GOV.UK: When you do not need an ETA
• GOV.UK: Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK
• GOV.UK: Check if you need a UK visa