US citizens (and visitors from Europe, Australia, Canada and certain other countries) need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to travel to the United Kingdom without a visa. It costs £20 on the official gov.uk site or in the UK ETA app, lasts two years (or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner) and allows stays of up to 6 months. UK citizens do not need one.
This guide explains who needs the ETA, how to apply in the app or online, the response time, the rules for children and airport transit, and how to avoid unofficial websites. Information checked on 12 November 2026 on GOV.UK (guide last updated 27 October 2026) and on the U.S. Department of State’s UK country page (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025).
Our travel deals for UK ETA
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
eSIMAiraloData plan to install before you leave (eSIM-compatible phone).See plans
The essentials on the UK ETA
- Where: gov.uk/eta or the official « UK ETA » app (Google Play, App Store).
- Price: £20, non-refundable.
- Validity: 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner; as many trips as you like, up to 6 months per stay.
- Time: usually a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days.
- Who: every traveller who needs an ETA rather than a visa, babies and children included, travelling on a passport.
- Area covered: the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
What is the ETA and who needs it?
An ETA is an electronic travel authorisation that lets you travel to the United Kingdom, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months, for tourism, visiting family or certain other reasons (GOV.UK). GOV.UK says you usually need an ETA rather than a visa if you are from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries.
US citizens
The U.S. Department of State says that all US citizens travelling to the UK for tourism, family visits, business meetings, conferences or short-term study of 6 months or less must have an ETA before travel (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025). Your passport must be valid for the entire length of your stay.
UK citizens
You do not need an ETA if you hold a British or Irish passport. GOV.UK adds that dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship cannot get an ETA: they prove their citizenship with a valid British passport, another valid passport with a certificate of entitlement proving the right of abode, or a valid Irish passport.
- Each traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and children; you can apply for other people.
- No ETA for British or Irish citizens, people with a UK visa, or people with permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode), among other exemptions listed by GOV.UK.
- Passport: your ETA is linked to the passport you applied with, which is the only document you need to show when you travel to the UK.
ETA price: £20
The UK government says an ETA costs £20, online or in the app, and that you cannot get a refund after you apply. If your application is rejected or you need to change the details, you have to apply again. The amount charged to your card in dollars depends on the exchange rate and your bank’s fees (see our currency exchange guide).
How to apply for the ETA: app or official site
GOV.UK offers two routes, at the same price:
- The UK ETA app (Google Play or the App Store): you scan your passport and your face with the phone’s camera. You can apply for someone else in the app if they are with you.
- The online form on gov.uk/eta: you need a photo of the passport and a photo of the applicant’s face that follows the rules for digital photos. Use this route for a person who is not with you.
- Either way: have the passport you will travel with, an email address and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay ready.
- Wait for the decision email: it contains your 16-digit ETA reference number. You must wait until you get an email confirming you have an ETA before you travel to the UK.
If the photo of the applicant’s face does not meet the rules, the application may be delayed or rejected.
Response time: when to apply
According to GOV.UK, you will usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days. You cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app. If you have not received a decision after 3 working days, check your spam or junk folder before contacting UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), which cannot help with ETA enquiries over the phone but offers webchat.
Validity, stays and airport transit
| Question | Official answer |
|---|---|
| How long is it valid? | 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner (GOV.UK) |
| Length of one stay | Up to 6 months per visit |
| Number of trips | As many as you want while you have an ETA |
| Airport transit | You need an ETA if you are passing through border control at a UK airport before continuing your onward journey (landside); check with your airline if unsure (GOV.UK) |
| Does it guarantee entry? | No: an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man |
| Checking your ETA | Online on GOV.UK: whether you have an ETA and when it expires |
Note the expiry date of your ETA and your passport: it is linked to the passport you applied with, so if you get a new passport you will need to apply again. If you travel often (weekends in London, short business trips), a single ETA covers all your visits during its validity, as long as each stay stays within the limits.
With an ETA you can come for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, a business trip or short-term study, or transit through a UK airport; you cannot stay longer than 6 months, do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person (with limited exceptions such as permitted paid engagements), claim public funds, or live in the UK through frequent or successive visits. For work, long study or settling, you need a visa instead.
Who does not need an ETA?
| Plan | Document to get |
|---|---|
| Tourism, family visit, short stay of up to 6 months (US citizens) | ETA |
| Transit with passage through UK border control | ETA |
| Work, long study, settling | The corresponding UK visa (not an ETA) |
| British or Irish passport holder (UK citizens) | Neither ETA nor visa |
Fake ETA websites
Beware of unofficial sites. GOV.UK says it explicitly: other websites may charge more to apply, and you should avoid websites that imitate government services. You cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app. Check the address of the site before you enter your passport and bank card details. The official address is gov.uk/eta.
Planning your trip to the UK
To plan your stay, see our UK guide, our London page and our guides to Scotland and Edinburgh. For a combined trip, note that Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom: the ETA does not cover it. For trips to continental Europe, see our guides to the Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the ETA for the UK cost?
£20 on gov.uk or in the UK ETA app, non-refundable.
What is the official ETA website?
The UK government’s gov.uk/eta, or the official UK ETA app. Other sites are intermediaries that may charge more.
How long does it take to get an ETA?
Usually within a day, and up to 3 working days according to GOV.UK.
Is an ETA valid for several trips?
Yes: you can travel to the UK as many times as you want for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner, with stays of up to 6 months.
Do children need an ETA?
Yes, each person travelling needs an ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for other people.
Can you travel before you receive the decision?
No. GOV.UK says you must wait for the email confirming you have an ETA before you travel to the UK. The email contains a 16-digit reference number.
Does an ETA guarantee entry to the UK?
No. It lets you travel, but entry is still decided at border control, as GOV.UK points out.
Do US citizens need an ETA for the UK?
Yes. The U.S. Department of State says US citizens travelling to the UK for tourism, family visits, business meetings, conferences or short-term study of 6 months or less must have an ETA before travel.
Do UK citizens need an ETA?
No. British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA, and dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship cannot get one.
How do you check your ETA or its expiry date?
GOV.UK has an online service to check whether you have an ETA and when it expires. Help is by webchat; UKVI cannot help with ETA enquiries by phone.
Do you need an ETA for Ireland?
No: Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom. The ETA covers the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. A connecting flight with a UK landside transit does require one.
Our sources
- GOV.UK, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK (overview, « When you do not need an ETA », « What you can and cannot do » and « Apply for an ETA »; updated 27 October 2026), read on 12 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of State, United Kingdom country information (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), read on 26 October 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.