Do I need a UK ETA? Free checker
Answer three questions to see whether you need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), a visa or nothing at all to visit the UK, with the official GOV.UK page for your next step.
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The nationality printed in the passport you will travel with.
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Your answers stay on this page: nothing is saved or sent. We are not an agency and cannot apply for you. Apply only on GOV.UK or in the official UK ETA app.
What a UK ETA is
An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is digital permission to travel to the UK for people who do not need a visa for short visits. It is linked to your passport, so there is nothing to print: the airline checks it when you board and the border officer sees it when you arrive. Since April 9, 2026, the same ETA also covers trips to Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
An ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry. Border officers still decide whether to let you in, and GOV.UK suggests applying for a Standard Visitor visa instead if you have a criminal record or were refused entry before.
Who needs an ETA
Since February 25, 2026, the UK has enforced the scheme: travelers of the nationalities on the GOV.UK list need an ETA for:
- tourism and visiting family or friends, for up to 6 months
- business trips, such as meetings and conferences
- short courses of study of up to 6 months
- permitted paid engagements and the Creative Worker concession (up to 3 months)
- connecting flights where you pass through UK border control
The list includes the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil, every EU country and the Gulf states (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman), among 82 nationalities in total. Taiwan passports qualify when they include the holder’s identification card number. Other nationalities cannot get an ETA and must check whether they need a visa.
Who does not need an ETA
You do not need an ETA if you:
- are a British or Irish citizen, including dual citizens (you cannot get one)
- already have a UK visa, an eVisa, settled or pre-settled status, or permission to live, work or study in the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
- travel on a British overseas territories citizen or British National (Overseas) passport
- live in Ireland and travel to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man (bring proof of residence if you are 16 or older)
- are waiting for a decision on an EU Settlement Scheme application
- stay airside while changing planes, without passing through border control
Pupils on a school trip of 5 or more organized by a school in France or Germany are also exempt under the Immigration Rules (Appendix ETA).
ETA cost, timing and validity
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee | £20 per person (from April 8, 2026; it was £16), no refund |
| Decision | Usually within a day; allow up to 3 working days |
| Valid for | 2 years, or until your passport expires if sooner |
| Each visit | Up to 6 months, any number of visits |
Every traveler needs their own ETA, including babies and children, but you can apply for family members. The ETA app scans your passport chip and takes a photo of your face; the online form asks you to upload a passport photo and a face photo that follows the UK digital photo rules.
Apply only on official channels
GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more and imitate government services. passportvisapic is not an agency: we never apply for you and never ask for payment or passport details. Your result above links to GOV.UK pages only, and the official route is the GOV.UK form or the UK ETA app from the App Store or Google Play.
Before you apply, check that your passport is valid for your whole stay with the passport validity checker. If you continue to the Schengen area, a UK ETA does not count there: plan those days with the Schengen calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need an ETA to visit the UK?
Yes. Since February 25, 2026, US citizens need an ETA for visits of up to 6 months, including tourism, business trips and visiting family, and for connecting flights that go through UK border control. Airlines check before you board. If you are also a British or Irish citizen, you cannot get an ETA and travel on that passport instead.
Do Canadians and Australians need a UK ETA?
Yes. Canada and Australia are on the GOV.UK list of nationalities that need an ETA for short visits, as are New Zealand, Japan, the EU countries and the Gulf states. Each traveler applies separately, including children and babies. The ETA is linked to the passport you apply with, so travel on that same passport.
How much does a UK ETA cost?
An ETA costs £20 when you apply on GOV.UK or in the official UK ETA app. The fee went up from £16 on April 8, 2026, and you cannot get a refund. Other websites that offer to apply for you charge more and cannot get you a faster decision.
How long does a UK ETA last?
Two years, or until the passport you applied with expires, whichever comes first. You can visit as many times as you like while it is valid, each time for up to 6 months. If you get a new passport, you need a new ETA, so check your passport's expiry date before you apply.
Do I need an ETA if I am only changing planes in London?
Only if you go through UK border control, for example to change airports or collect your bags. If you stay airside and never pass passport control, you do not need an ETA. Ask your airline if you are not sure. Some nationalities that cannot get an ETA need a transit visa even airside.
How long does it take to get an ETA?
Most people get a decision by email within minutes or a day, but GOV.UK says to allow up to 3 working days. You must wait for the email confirming your ETA before you travel. Apply as soon as your trip is booked rather than at the airport.
Can I work or get married in the UK with an ETA?
No. An ETA does not allow work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, except permitted paid engagements and the Creative Worker concession. You cannot marry, register a civil partnership or give notice of one: you need a Marriage Visitor visa. Living in the UK through frequent visits is not allowed either.
Is the UK ETA the same as ETIAS?
No. The ETA is for the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. ETIAS is a separate EU scheme for the Schengen area and, when we checked on September 30, 2026, it was not in operation and no applications were being collected. A UK ETA does not let you enter France, Spain or any other EU country.
Does this checker send my answers anywhere?
No. The checker runs in your browser, and your answers are kept only while the page is open. We do not apply for ETAs, take payments or collect passport details. When you are ready, use the GOV.UK link in your result or the official UK ETA app.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK (all parts) (opened )
- GOV.UK — Check if you can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) (updated April 9, 2026) (opened )
- Immigration Rules Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation (updated August 3, 2026) (opened )
- Home Office news — UK enforces digital permission to travel (24 February 2026) (opened )
- Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (opened )
- Travel to Europe (EU) — EES and ETIAS (opened )
Last checked:
passportvisapic.com is not affiliated with the UK government and is not a visa or ETA agency. This checker is a guide: GOV.UK and UK border officers decide who may enter.