Question 1

Do I need an ETA or a visa to visit the UK?

Accepted Answer

The UK sorts visitors into two main groups. Travelers from countries that don't need a visa for short visits must get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before they travel. Travelers on the UK's visa national list need a Standard Visitor visa instead, and an ETA can't replace it. You don't need either if you hold a British or Irish passport, or if you already have permission to live, work or study in the UK. Everyone traveling needs their own ETA, including babies and children. Passports that use the ETA: 89 countries.

Question 2

Who needs a Standard Visitor visa instead of an ETA?

Accepted Answer

Nationals or citizens on the UK's Appendix Visitor: Visa national list must obtain entry clearance (a visa) before travelling to the UK for any purpose, including tourism.

Question 3

Why do Canadians need an ETA for the UK?

Accepted Answer

Canadians still don't need a visa for tourism, family visits and certain other short trips. The ETA is a quick online check before travel, not a visa. You must have it before you set off, and your airline checks your travel documents before you board. Every traveler needs one, children included. It covers visits of up to 180 days each for 2 years, or until your passport expires. Canadians who also hold British or Irish citizenship can travel on that passport instead and don't need an ETA. The same goes for anyone with permission to live, work or study in the UK. PassportsAndVisas.com can complete the application for you.

Question 4

Can I still enter the UK without an ETA?

Accepted Answer

Airlines, ferry operators and rail companies check your permission electronically before departure, so the problem shows up at check-in, not at the UK border. If you normally need an ETA, apply before you travel and wait for the approval email before setting off. Some travellers are exempt, including British and Irish citizens, people who already hold a UK visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK, and passengers who stay airside when changing planes. If you have a criminal record or have been refused entry before, a Standard Visitor visa may be the safer route.

Question 5

Who can travel to the UK without an ETA?

Accepted Answer

Other exemptions include holders of British overseas territories citizen or British National (Overseas) passports, people with permission to live, work or study in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, and passengers who change planes without passing through UK border control. Residents of Ireland from ETA countries don't 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. Dual British or Irish citizens can't get an ETA and should travel on their British or Irish passport, or with a certificate of entitlement.

Question 6

Can I travel to the UK on an ETA if I'm a dual citizen?

Accepted Answer

If one of your nationalities is British, travel with a valid UK or Irish passport, or with a certificate of entitlement (proof of your right of abode) in your other passport. Airlines may accept an expired UK passport issued in 1989 or later together with a valid passport from an ETA country, but that's up to the airline. If you became British after settling under the EU Settlement Scheme, you can use your other passport or EU/EEA/Swiss ID card once your UKVI account is up to date. If you're not British or Irish, apply with one passport and travel on that same passport, because the ETA is linked to it.

Question 7

When did the UK ETA start and when did it become mandatory?

Accepted Answer

The scheme was rolled out in phases by nationality. Until enforcement began, travellers could still board if they had applied and were waiting for a decision. That grace period has ended, and airlines, ferry and rail companies now refuse boarding without an approved ETA, eVisa or other valid permission. 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.

Question 8

Do US citizens need a visa to visit the UK?

Accepted Answer

The ETA is a digital permission linked to your US passport. It is not a visa. It covers tourism, family visits and certain other reasons. Each stay can last up to 180 days, and you can make repeat trips for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. The government fee is $27. Since 25 February 2026, airlines check for the ETA before you board, and every traveler needs their own, including babies and children. Dual US-British citizens are exempt but should carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Other purposes, such as work, may need a visa. PassportsAndVisas.com can complete the ETA application for you.

Question 9

Can I work in the UK on a tourist visa or ETA?

Accepted Answer

Visitors may attend meetings or interviews, give lectures or performances as an expert under a permitted paid engagement, volunteer briefly with a registered charity, and take short recreational courses. Working for a UK company or as a self-employed person isn't allowed, and neither is claiming benefits, marrying or giving notice of marriage, or living in the UK through repeated visits. Some creative workers can use a separate concession. If you plan to take a job, you'll need the right work visa before you travel. GOV.UK's visa checker shows which one fits.

Question 10

How much does a UK visa cost?

Accepted Answer

What you pay depends on your passport, which needs a visa from an embassy or consulate for most passports for a tourist trip. If you visit often, you can choose a long-term visitor visa instead of applying each time. The 2 years option costs $683, the 5 years option $1,220 and the 10 years option $1,523. Visits for medical treatment or as an academic use a higher-priced Standard Visitor visa. Every applicant pays their own fee, children included. Fees aren't refunded if the visa is refused or issued for a shorter period. PassportsAndVisas.com can handle the application and payment for you.

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