What Is the UK ETA and How Do I Get One?

Which do I need for the UK: an ETA, a visa, or nothing?

Your passport decides: 89 passports need a UK ETA, 115 passports need a Standard Visitor visa, and Irish passport holders and a few British-linked passports need nothing.

Dual British or Irish citizens cannot get an ETA. If one of your nationalities is British or Irish, travel on that passport, or on your other passport with a certificate of entitlement. If you already have permission to live, work or study in the UK, you do not need an ETA either.

Not sure which group your passport is in? Our visa checker sorts it for you, and the United Kingdom visa page shows every option.

What is a UK ETA and is it a visa?

A UK ETA is an electronic travel authorisation, not a visa: there is no sticker and nothing to print, because airlines, ferry and rail companies check it electronically against your passport before you board.

The ETA covers travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. You also need one if you change flights and pass through UK border control. If you know the US ESTA, the UK ETA works the same way.

An ETA does not guarantee entry. Border Force makes the final decision when you arrive. Your approval email carries a 16-digit ETA reference number, so save it on your phone. Travel on exactly the same passport you used to apply, because the ETA is linked to that one passport.

Do US citizens need an ETA to travel to the UK?

Yes, US citizens need a UK ETA for tourism, family visits and certain other short trips of up to 180 days per visit, and it is not a visa.

A US passport sits in the ETA group. You can make repeat trips for 730 days, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Airlines check for the ETA before you board, and every traveler needs their own, including babies and children.

Other purposes, such as taking a job, may need a visa. Dual US-British citizens are exempt and should carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement.

Canadians are in the same group: a Canadian passport needs an ETA, not a visa, and Canadians with British or Irish citizenship travel on that passport instead.

When did the UK ETA start?

The UK ETA was rolled out in phases by nationality rather than on one date, and the grace period has ended: airlines, ferry and rail companies now refuse boarding without an approved ETA, eVisa or other valid permission.

Until enforcement began, travelers could still board if they had applied and were waiting for a decision. That no longer works. The rule also applies to visitors who change planes and pass through UK border control. Today, 89 passports need an ETA to visit the UK.

How much does a UK ETA cost?

A UK ETA with PassportsAndVisas.com costs from $106, with the government fee included, and the speed you choose sets the total.

Every total includes the government fee of $27; nothing is paid separately. Door to door includes the government's decision window.

The price covers a full service: we complete the form, check your answers and photo, submit the application and follow it through. Other services charge total $57 (service $30, government $27) up to total $129.99 (service $102.99, government $27) as fast as 15 minutes for the same ETA. Each traveler, children included, needs their own ETA.

How long does a UK ETA take, and how long is it valid?

The government's decision window for a UK ETA is 0-3 days, and an approved ETA is valid for 730 days or until your passport expires.

Wait for the approval email with your 16-digit reference before you travel, because a pending application is not enough to fly. A small number of applications go to manual review, and family members may receive decisions at different times, so make sure everyone is approved before heading to the airport.

While valid, the ETA covers many trips of up to 180 days each. A new passport means a new ETA. Because one ETA covers many trips, apply as soon as your plans are set.

How do I get a UK ETA, and what do I need?

To get a UK ETA with PassportsAndVisas.com you upload a photo of your passport's photo page and a face photo, then we complete, check and submit the application for you.

What you need

1. Passport photo pageA clear photo of your passport's bio-data page, so we can enter your details correctly.
   How to get it: Take it with your phone and upload it online. Nothing is shipped.
   Watch out: Apply with the passport you will travel on, because the ETA is linked to it.
   Who needs it: Every traveler
2. Digital face photoA recent passport-style photo: plain light background, face clearly visible, no glasses.
   How to get it: Take it with your phone and upload it.
   Watch out: A photo that breaks the UK's digital photo rules can delay or sink the application. We check it first.
   Who needs it: Every traveler, babies and children included
3. Email address and paymentYour approval email with the 16-digit reference arrives at this address. You can pay by credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
   How to get it: Use an inbox you check daily.
   Watch out: Check spam or junk if nothing arrives within the usual window.
   Who needs it: Every traveler

What to do, step by step

1. You send your detailsUpload your passport photo page and face photo online from a phone or computer.
2. We complete the formWe fill in the application, including the suitability questions, which are always answered honestly.
3. We check everythingWe check your answers and your photo against the UK's photo rules before anything is submitted.
4. We submit your applicationPassportsAndVisas.com submits it for you and follows it through.
5. The government reviews itThe decision is the government's alone.
6. Your ETA arrivesYour approval email and 16-digit ETA reference reach you. There is nothing to print.

The suitability section asks about criminal convictions and involvement in war crimes, terrorism or extremism. Declaring a past conviction does not mean automatic refusal, but a caseworker will review the application, which can take longer. If you have a criminal record or were refused entry before, a Standard Visitor visa may suit you better.

Can I get a UK ETA at the airport, or fly without one?

No, you cannot get a UK ETA at the airport: your airline checks before boarding, so your ETA must be approved and linked to your passport before you leave.

Without one, the problem shows at check-in, not at the UK border. Landside transit needs an ETA too. Passengers changing planes airside at Heathrow or Manchester are currently exempt, but that could change, so check with your airline.

Already at the last minute? Our Emergency speed is 1 day door to door at $176, government fee included.

Do I need a UK ETA to fly from Ireland to Northern Ireland?

Yes, a US citizen who is not resident in Ireland needs a UK ETA to visit 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 these routes. Residents of Ireland from ETA countries do not need an ETA when travelling from Ireland, but anyone 16 or over must carry proof of Irish residence, such as an Irish driving licence or Irish Residence Permit.

Is the official UK ETA website the only way to apply?

No: PassportsAndVisas.com is a private company, not the government, and we complete your UK ETA application for you, check it and submit it.

You send us your passport photo and face photo online, and we handle the form, the checks and the submission. Our price includes the government fee, so nothing is paid separately.

What if I need a visa instead of an ETA?

If your passport is one of the 115 that need a visa, an ETA cannot replace it: you need a Standard Visitor visa, with biometrics given at a visa application centre.

Every total includes the government fee. Each visit is limited to 180 days, long-term visas included. Rush and Emergency speeds are faster, and every applicant, children included, pays their own fee.

See the United Kingdom visa page for every speed, or read are visa agencies worth it to see what a service does.

Why PassportsAndVisas.com for your UK ETA?

PassportsAndVisas.com is a registered passport expediter since 1992 and a private company, not the government, and we handle your UK ETA from form to approval email.

• We complete the application for you, including the suitability questions.
• We check your answers and your face photo against the UK's photo rules before we submit.
• We submit and follow your application through to your approval email.
• Options run as fast as 1 day door to door, from $106, government fee included.
• 500K+ travelers served, with 11,766 customer reviews.

Verified 2026-10-21. Questions first? Call (800) 860-8610.