What is an ETA and who needs one?
An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is a digital permission required to travel to the UK. From 25 February, most individuals who previously could enter the UK visa-free will now need an ETA. This new requirement applies to citizens of 85 countries, including the US and Australia.
Once granted, an ETA permits stays in the UK of up to six months. It remains valid for two years or until the associated passport expires and allows multiple entries. Permitted visit purposes include tourism, business, short-term study, and transit through the UK as part of a journey. However, travellers merely transiting through UK airports without passing through border control do not require an ETA.
Longer visits, work-related stays, or extended study require a visa. Those who already need a visa to enter the UK will continue to do so and are not required to obtain an ETA in addition.
British and Irish citizens are exempt from needing an ETA or visa to visit or transit through the UK. Other exceptions include individuals with settled status and children travelling from France on school trips.
The ETA scheme was introduced in October 2023 but was not strictly enforced initially to allow visitors time to adapt. In November, the government announced that ETAs would become mandatory from 25 February. The government states that ETAs will streamline and secure the immigration system and accelerate processing.
How do I get an ETA and how much does it cost?
The cost of obtaining an ETA is £16, with plans to increase the fee to £20 in the future. Applicants are advised to download the official app available on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Application requires providing contact information, passport details, a suitable photograph, and answering a series of questions. The passport used for travel must be the same as the one used to apply for the ETA.
The government indicates that most applicants will receive an automatic response within minutes when applying via the app but recommends submitting applications at least three working days before travel.
If an ETA application is rejected, the applicant will be informed of the reason and may reapply. However, there is no right of appeal for refusals; instead, applicants must apply for a visa to enter the UK.
How will the rules be enforced?
Travel operators such as airlines, rail companies, and shipping firms have been provided with tools by the UK government to verify travel authorisations through automated digital checks linked to the Home Office.
Passengers may be denied boarding without a valid ETA. The ETA is electronically linked to the traveller's passport, eliminating the need for a paper copy at the border, although the government suggests retaining a printed copy for personal records.
While an ETA grants permission to visit the UK, it does not guarantee entry. All travellers must undergo passport control, and entry may be refused if other issues arise during border checks.
What is the problem for dual nationals?
Dual nationals—individuals holding both UK and another nationality—are unable to obtain an ETA. To enter the UK, they must present either a British passport or a digital certificate of entitlement to attach to their non-British passport.
Without one of these documents, dual nationals risk being denied entry to the UK. Neither British passports nor certificates of entitlement are automatically issued upon acquiring citizenship, meaning some dual nationals have never applied for them, even after residing in the UK for many years.
Obtaining these documents takes several weeks and involves costs: approximately £100 for an adult British passport and £589 for a certificate of entitlement.
Previously, dual nationals could leave and return to the UK using their non-British passport. Several British dual nationals have reported difficulties obtaining British passports to comply with the new rules. Some have been outside the UK since the rule change was announced and feel they have had insufficient time to adjust.
A Home Office spokesperson previously told the BBC that "public information advising dual nationals to carry the correct documents has been available since October 2024 and a substantive communications campaign about the introduction of ETA has been running since 2023".
Which other countries use ETAs?
The concept of an ETA is not unique to the UK. Countries such as Canada and the US have similar systems in place.
A Canadian ETA costs 7 Canadian dollars (approximately £3.78), while the US equivalent costs $40.27 (approximately £29.75).
