UK ETA & Entry Requirements (2026)
The UK is not in the EU or the Schengen Area, so its entry rules are its own. Around 90 nationalities (the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, all EU/EEA countries, the Gulf states, Malaysia, most of Latin America, and more) don't need a visa for a tourist stay of up to 6 months, but as of 2025–2026 do need to apply in advance for a paid Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), currently £20 (about $26), valid for 2 years or until your passport expires. British and Irish citizens are exempt from the ETA entirely — but plenty of major nationalities (India, China, South Africa, and several Southeast Asian countries among them) aren't ETA-eligible at all and need a full UK visitor visa instead.
This is the one part of a UK trip that changed meaningfully in the last couple of years, and it's worth getting right — since early 2025, a growing list of nationalities that never needed a UK visa now need a separate paid authorisation before they fly, and airlines are required to enforce it at check-in.
ETA vs. visa — these are not the same thing
A visa is permission to travel that typically requires a fuller application, often with an interview or biometrics. An ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is a lighter-weight, faster pre-authorization for people who don't need a visa at all — it doesn't grant permission to work or study, only to visit, and most applications are approved within minutes to a few days. Confusingly, 'you don't need a visa' and 'you don't need any advance authorisation' are no longer the same statement for the UK — most visa-exempt travelers now need the ETA specifically.
Who needs a UK ETA
| Passport | Do you need an ETA? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States, Canada | Yes | Apply online or via the UK ETA app before you travel; approval is usually within minutes, occasionally up to 3 business days. |
| Australia, New Zealand | Yes | Same process and cost as US/Canada. |
| EU / EEA / Switzerland | Yes, since 2 April 2025 | European nationals were the last major group added to the scheme; British and Irish citizens remain exempt. |
| Ireland | No | Irish citizens do not need an ETA to visit the UK, reflecting the long-standing Common Travel Area between the two countries. |
| United Kingdom / British citizens | No | British passport holders (including dual nationals — must travel on the UK passport) never need an ETA to enter their own country. |
| India | No — a full UK visitor visa is required instead | India isn't on the ETA-eligible list, so this is a proper Standard Visitor visa (not the lighter ETA): apply online in advance, expect a fee of roughly £115 for up to 6 months, and budget about 3 weeks for a decision. |
| China | No — a full UK visitor visa is required instead | Same as India — China isn't ETA-eligible, so apply for a Standard Visitor visa well ahead of your trip, not an ETA. |
| Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain) | Yes | All six Gulf Cooperation Council nationalities are on the ETA-eligible list — same quick online process and cost as US/Canada/Australia. |
| South Africa | No — a full UK visitor visa is required instead | South Africa isn't ETA-eligible; apply for a Standard Visitor visa in advance rather than expecting the faster ETA process. |
| Brazil, most of Latin America | Yes, for most — Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala among others | Check your specific country — the ETA-eligible list covers most of the region, but a few (Colombia, for instance, moved to needing a full visa in November 2024) don't qualify and need a Standard Visitor visa instead. |
| Southeast Asia (Malaysia yes; Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam no) | Mixed | Malaysia (and Singapore, Brunei) are ETA-eligible. Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam passport holders need a full UK Standard Visitor visa instead — there's no single answer for the region. |
| Most other visa-exempt nationalities (~90 countries total) | Yes, for most | Check the current UK ETA eligible-country list for your specific passport; a smaller number of nationalities need a full visa instead of an ETA. |
From 25 February 2026, enforcement became strict: airlines, ferry operators, and rail companies (for Eurostar) are required to check ETA status before you can board, not just at UK border control. If you don't have a valid ETA, you'll be denied boarding at check-in, not turned away at the airport on arrival. Apply well before your trip — don't assume you can sort it out at the gate.
How to apply and what it costs
Apply online at the official gov.uk site or through the UK ETA mobile app — it takes about 5–10 minutes, requires a valid passport and a digital photo, and currently costs £20 (about $26) per person, including children and babies. The fee rose from £10 at launch to £16, then to £20 on 8 April 2026, so double-check the current figure before you pay a third-party site's marked-up 'service fee' for what is a simple government form.
| Detail | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Cost | £20 (~$26) per person, including infants |
| Validity | 2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first |
| Stay allowed per visit | Up to 6 months for tourism, on each entry |
| Processing time | Usually minutes; occasionally up to 3 business days |
| Where to apply | gov.uk official site, or the UK ETA app — avoid third-party sites charging extra 'processing fees' |
Automated ePassport gates
Regardless of ETA status, many nationalities (including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, alongside UK/Irish/EU passport holders) can use the automated ePassport gates at UK border control instead of queuing for a staffed desk, which speeds up arrival noticeably at busy airports like Heathrow.
Other entry basics
- Your ETA is tied to your passport — if you get a new passport before you travel, you'll need a new ETA to match it.
- The ETA does not guarantee entry; a border officer can still ask questions on arrival, same as any other visa-exempt system.
- Long-term stays, work, or study require a proper UK visa, applied for separately and well in advance — the ETA only covers short tourist/business visits.