On this page · 10 sections
- Do you need an ETA, a visa, or nothing for the UK?
- What is a UK ETA, and is it a visa?
- What does a UK ETA cost for US citizens, and how long does it last?
- How long does UK ETA approval take, and how early should you apply?
- What do you need, and how do we get your ETA done?
- Do you need an ETA if you travel to the UK via Ireland or Northern Ireland?
- What about children, a new passport or a criminal record?
- Can you still enter the UK without an ETA, or get one at the airport?
- What changes for other passports?
- Why PassportsAndVisas.com for your UK ETA?
Key Takeaways
- A UK ETA is a digital permission linked to one passport, with no sticker and nothing to print, and airlines check it electronically before you board.
- PassportsAndVisas.com completes and checks your UK ETA application, from $106 with the government fee included and 1 day door to door.
- A UK ETA lets you make repeat trips of up to 180 days each for 730 days, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
- Every traveler needs their own UK ETA, including babies and children, and a parent or guardian can apply for a child.
- A dual US-British or US-Irish citizen does not need an ETA and should travel on the British or Irish passport.
Do you need an ETA, a visa, or nothing for the UK?
A US passport holder visiting the UK needs an ETA, not a visa, unless they hold British or Irish citizenship or already have UK permission to live, work or study.
A US passport holder visiting the UK for tourism, family visits or certain other short trips needs an ETA. The ETA is a digital permission linked to your US passport, and it is not a visa. Find your situation below.
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| You hold a US passport and are visiting for a holiday, family visit or short trip | You need a UK ETA before you travel. |
| You change planes in the UK and pass through UK border control | You need a UK ETA for the landside connection. |
| You change planes and stay airside the whole time | Airside passengers changing planes at Heathrow or Manchester are currently exempt, but this could change, so check with your airline. |
| You are a dual US-British or US-Irish citizen | You cannot get an ETA. Travel on your British or Irish passport, or with a certificate of entitlement. |
| You already have a UK visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK | You do not need an ETA. |
| You plan to take a job, work for a UK company or move to the UK | An ETA does not cover this. You need the right work visa before you travel. |
What is a UK ETA, and is it a visa?
A UK ETA is an electronic travel authorisation, not a visa, and it is linked digitally to the passport you applied with.
A UK ETA has no sticker and nothing to print. Airlines, ferry operators and rail companies check it electronically against your passport before you board. It covers travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
The ETA does not guarantee entry: Border Force makes the final decision when you arrive. Since 25 February 2026, airlines check for the ETA before you board.
Your approval email carries a 16-digit ETA reference number, so it is worth saving on your phone. Travel on exactly the same passport you used to apply.
What does a UK ETA cost for US citizens, and how long does it last?
A UK ETA from PassportsAndVisas.com costs $106 at Standard speed, with the government fee included, and lasts 730 days.
| Option | Total you pay (includes the government fee) | Door to door |
|---|---|---|
| UK ETA, Standard | $106 | 1 day |
| UK ETA, Rush | $126 | 1 day |
| UK ETA, Emergency | $176 | 1 day |
Every total includes the government fee of $27; nothing is paid separately.
One ETA covers multiple entries for 730 days, or until your passport expires if that is sooner. Each visit can last up to 180 days. For comparison, other services charge total $57 (service $30, government $27) and total $129.99 (service $102.99, government $27) as fast as 15 minutes.
How long does UK ETA approval take, and how early should you apply?
Our UK ETA service runs 1 day door to door, and you should apply early and wait for the approval email before you travel.
| Stage | Time | Type |
|---|---|---|
| PassportsAndVisas.com Standard, Rush or Emergency Includes our review, filing and the decision. | 1 day door to door | PassportsAndVisas.com |
| Government processing Included in door to door. | 0-3 days | Government processing |
The decision arrives by email with your ETA reference number, and you must wait for that email before you travel. A pending application is not enough.
Family members may get decisions at different times, so make sure everyone is approved before you head to the airport. Some applications go to manual review. If nothing has arrived after the usual wait, check your spam or junk folder.
One ETA covers many trips, so applying early carries little risk. Check your passport's expiry date first, because a new passport means a new ETA.
What do you need, and how do we get your ETA done?
To get your UK ETA done with us, you send a passport photo page and a digital passport-style photo, and everything is uploaded online with nothing shipped.
What you need
- Passport photo pageA photo of your passport's photo page. The ETA is linked to this passport.How to get it: Take a clear photo with your phone and upload it online.Watch out: Travel on the same passport you applied with, because the ETA stays linked to it.Who needs it: Every traveler, each on their own passport
- Digital passport-style photoA recent photo of your face with a plain light background, face clearly visible, no glasses.How to get it: Take it with your phone against a plain light wall and upload it online.Watch out: A photo that does not meet the rules can delay or sink the application.Who needs it: Every traveler, including babies and children
- PaymentOur total covers our service and the government fee.How to get it: Pay online with a card when you order.Watch out: The government fee is not refundable, so we check your details before we submit.Who needs it: Every traveler
What to do, step by step
- You upload your documentsSend your passport photo page and face photo online from a phone or computer. Nothing is shipped.
- We complete the formWe fill in the application, including the suitability questions, from your documents.
- We check everythingWe check your passport details, photo and answers before anything is submitted.
- We submit your applicationWe file it at the speed you chose, and the government reviews it.
- Your ETA arrivesYou receive the approval email with your ETA reference number, linked to your passport.
Applying for a spouse or children is simple: we complete one application per person, because each traveler needs their own ETA.
Reader has a special case
Ask Sarah a question →Do you need an ETA if you travel to the UK via Ireland or Northern Ireland?
A US passport holder entering the UK through Ireland still needs an ETA, because the ETA covers all of the UK including Northern Ireland.
Ireland, the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man form the Common Travel Area, so there is usually no immigration check on those routes. The ETA covers the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, so get it before you travel.
Irish, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey passport holders need no visa or ETA. Residents of Ireland from ETA countries do not need one when travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, but anyone 16 or over must carry proof of Irish residence, such as an Irish driving licence or Irish Residence Permit.
What about children, a new passport or a criminal record?
Every traveler needs their own UK ETA, including babies, and a new passport means a new ETA.
- Children: A parent or guardian can apply for a child. At the border an adult may be asked to prove their relationship to the child, for example if surnames differ, so carry a birth or adoption certificate.
- New passport: The ETA ends early if the passport it is linked to expires or is replaced, and you need a new ETA before your next trip.
- Criminal record or earlier refusal: Declaring a conviction does not mean automatic refusal, but a caseworker will review the application, which can take longer. A Standard Visitor visa may suit you better.
- Entry: An ETA does not guarantee entry. Border Force makes the final decision on arrival.
- Work: An ETA does not allow work for a UK company, self-employment or living in the UK through repeated visits.
Can you still enter the UK without an ETA, or get one at the airport?
A traveler who needs an ETA cannot get one at the airport, because airlines, ferry operators and rail companies check electronically before you board.
The problem shows up at check-in, not at the UK border. Your ETA must be approved and linked to your passport before you leave. The same applies to a landside connection in the UK.
Booked late? Our Emergency speed is $176 total with the government fee included, at 1 day door to door.
What changes for other passports?
The UK sorts passports into three groups: 89 use an ETA, 115 need a Standard Visitor visa, and Irish and Crown Dependency passports need nothing.
If your passport is on the ETA list
89 passports use an ETA, including Canada, Australia, Mexico, Japan and most EU countries. The ETA lets travelers visit for up to 180 days each trip, and anyone with British or Irish citizenship can travel on that passport instead.
If your passport needs a visa
115 passports, including India, China, Nigeria and Turkey, need a Standard Visitor visa, and an ETA cannot replace it. We sell the Standard Visitor visa from $331 with the government fee included, at 36 days door to door.
If your passport needs nothing
Irish, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey passport holders need no visa or ETA. See all options on our United Kingdom visa page or the visa checker. For other destinations, read which countries require visas for U.S. citizens.
Why PassportsAndVisas.com for your UK ETA?
PassportsAndVisas.com has been a registered passport expediter since 1992, and we complete, check and submit your UK ETA application for you.
- We check your passport photo page and face photo before anything is submitted.
- We complete the application, including the suitability questions, and review your answers.
- We submit it at the speed you choose: Standard $106, Rush $126 or Emergency $176, each with the government fee included.
- 500K+ travelers served and 11,766 reviews.
We are a private company, not the U.S. government. Questions? Call (800) 860-8610 or ask Sarah about your UK ETA.
We handle your United Kingdom ETA for you
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