UK ETA Electronic Travel Authorisation 2026 — Who Needs It & How to Apply

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme rolled out in phases between 2023 and 2025, and as of 2026 it is now mandatory for almost all non-visa-required nationals visiting the UK. Coming for a holiday from the US, Canada, Australia, the EU or 30+ other countries? You almost certainly need an ETA before you board. This guide covers who needs one, the £10 application process, validity rules, and what to do if denied.

What is an ETA?

An ETA is a digital pre-travel authorisation, similar to:

• US ESTA
• Canadian eTA
• Australian ETA

It is not a visa. It is permission to travel to the UK; the final decision to enter is still made by Border Force when you arrive. But without an ETA, the airline will refuse to board you.

Who needs an ETA in 2026

You need an ETA if all of the following are true:

1. You are a national of one of the eligible countries (see list below)
2. You are visiting the UK for tourism, business, short study (under 6 months), or transit
3. You do not already hold a UK visa or other UK immigration status (e.g. Family permit, settled status)
4. You are not a British or Irish citizen

Countries that need an ETA in 2026

Full list as of 2026 (subject to expansion):

• All EU/EEA member states + Switzerland
• USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
• Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong (BNO holders separate route)
• Gulf states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE
• Israel, Brunei
• Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, etc. (Caribbean Commonwealth)
• Argentina, Chile, Uruguay
• Taiwan, Malaysia, Mauritius

Who does NOT need an ETA

• British and Irish citizens
• Holders of a current UK visa (Skilled Worker, Student, Visitor, etc.)
• Holders of UK settled status (ILR, EUSS)
• Holders of a UK Family Permit
• Nationals of "visa national" countries (India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, etc.) — these still need a full visit visa, not just an ETA
• Children under 18 if travelling with a parent who has an ETA — wait, this is wrong: every traveller including infants needs their own ETA

How to apply

Where: UK ETA app (iOS / Android) or gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation

Cost: £10 per person (free for under-3s but they still need an ETA submission)

Time: Most decisions are returned within minutes; the official target is 3 business days.

What you need to apply

• A valid passport (must remain valid for at least the duration of your stay)
• A recent digital photo (or live face scan via app)
• A credit/debit card
• An email address for notifications

Step by step

1. Download the UK ETA app or go to the gov.uk page.
2. Choose "Apply for an ETA."
3. Scan the photo page of your passport.
4. Take a live selfie (the app checks it matches your passport photo).
5. Answer questions about employment, recent travel, criminal history, immigration history.
6. Pay £10 by card.
7. Receive ETA decision by email — usually within 30 minutes.

ETA validity rules

• Valid for 2 years from issue, OR until your passport expires (whichever is sooner)
• Allows multiple visits during validity
• Each visit can be up to 6 months (the standard visitor allowance)
• Allows transit through UK airports

You do not need to apply for a new ETA for each visit during the 2-year validity. If your passport is renewed during this period, your old ETA does not transfer — you must apply for a new one linked to the new passport.

What you can do on an ETA visit

The ETA permits the same activities as a standard Visitor visa:

• Tourism, leisure, sightseeing
• Visiting family and friends
• Short business activities (meetings, training, conferences)
• Short-term study courses under 6 months
• Transit through UK airports
• Marriage / civil partnership if pre-arranged at a registered venue

You cannot:

• Work or run a business in the UK
• Live in the UK long-term
• Study a course over 6 months
• Access public funds or NHS-eligible long-term services
• Claim asylum on entry (separate process)

ETA refusals and what to do

ETA refusal rates are low — around 1–2% — but rising as Home Office screens more carefully. Common refusal reasons:

1. Previous UK immigration breach

Overstayers, deportees, or those with prior UK refusals will usually be refused an ETA and must apply for a full visitor visa instead.

2. Serious criminal convictions

You must declare convictions in any country. Serious convictions (12+ months custodial in last 10 years; offences against children; drug trafficking; serious violence) result in refusal.

3. Inconsistent passport / identity issues

• Damaged passport
• Different name from previous visa applications
• Recent passport issued without supporting biographical detail

4. Recent travel patterns suggesting overstay risk

Frequent short trips with quick returns can flag concerns.

5. Application errors

Wrong nationality, wrong date of birth, mismatched photo — these are rejected automatically and require new application + new £10 fee.

If refused

A refusal letter explains the ground. You can:

1. Apply for a standard Visitor visa instead — this allows fuller documentation and more discretion, though costs more (£127) and takes longer (3 weeks).
2. Reapply for ETA if the refusal was due to a fixable error (wrong details, recoverable identity issue). You'll pay £10 again.
3. Address the underlying issue first if refusal cited immigration history or criminal record — apply for visa with detailed explanation rather than ETA.

There is no formal ETA appeal route — your remedy is to reapply (for fixable issues) or escalate to a visitor visa application.

ETA and connecting flights / transit

If you transit through a UK airport (e.g. London Heathrow connecting to another country), you need an ETA in 2026 — even if you don't pass through immigration. The exceptions are:

• Same terminal, airside transit at LHR / LGW under 24 hours — some routes still don't require ETA
• Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) routes for certain nationals — different scheme

The rules around transit have shifted multiple times. If your itinerary involves a UK stopover, check the most current gov.uk transit guidance before booking.

Common mistakes

1. Booking flights before getting ETA. While ETA approval is fast, the few applications that go to manual review can take 3+ business days. Apply at least a week before travel.
2. One ETA for a family. Each person — including infants — needs their own.
3. Assuming ETA works for work or long study. It doesn't. Misusing ETA for work activity triggers entry refusal and a future ban.
4. Forgetting ETA when boarding a UK-bound flight. Airlines check ETA at check-in. No ETA = no boarding. You don't get a chance to "explain at the gate."
5. Renewing passport mid-validity and assuming ETA carries over. It doesn't.

What's coming next

• Phase 4 expansion in 2026: more nationalities expected to be added to the ETA-eligible list, moving some current visa nationals (e.g. South Africa is being discussed) into ETA territory.
• EU national rollout completed October 2024; most teething issues at borders resolved by 2026.
• Possible integration with eVisa system for status verification at borders.

ETA vs Visit visa — which do you need?

See our Visitor visa guide if you're a visa national, or our eligibility checker if unsure which route applies.