All travelers who do not need a visa to visit the United Kingdom (UK) must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The UK ETA costs £10 per application and is valid for two years or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first. During that period, travelers are allowed multiple short stays of up to six months in the UK.
This includes visiting the UK for leisure, permitted business activities, and short-term study. Landside transit travelers and temporary creative workers staying in the UK for up to three months under the Creative Worker visa concession must also have a UK ETA.
Still unsure if you need a UK ETA? Here are more details on who requires an ETA or is exempt and whether one needs a visa instead.
Which travellers can currently apply?
Travellers with a passport from the following countries can apply:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Qatar
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Taiwan
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
- Uruguay
Note – eTA is only required for travellers arriving on or after 8th January 2025, except Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates who require eTA to visit the UK now.
Starting 5 March 2025, Europeans can apply for an ETA for travel from 2 April 2025 onwards, when it will be enforced.
Who can travel to the UK without a visa?
Non-visa travelers include citizens of countries with visa waiver status with the UK. This includes European Union (EU) citizens and citizens of other countries, such as the United States of America (USA), Canada, Australia, and more.
By April 2025, travelers from nearly 90 countries worldwide must apply for and receive a valid UK ETA before traveling to the UK.
The UK Home Office is gradually rolling out the ETA on a nationality basis to ensure a smooth transition.
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
Who does not need an ETA to travel to the UK?
Once the system is fully operational, the UK government expects 30 million ETA applications annually. Still, some individuals are not required to present an ETA when traveling to the UK. These include:
British passport holders
Travelers with British passports do not need an ETA to travel to the UK. All British nationals with a valid British passport are exempt from the ETA scheme.
British Overseas Territories Citizen passport holders
The updated guidance for ETA exemptions now includes those with British Overseas Territory Citizen passports.
Irish passport holders
Travelers with Irish passports do not need a UK ETA due to the Common Travel Area (CTA) Arrangement between the UK, the Republic of Ireland, and the Crown Dependencies Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isla of Man.
Select legal residents of Ireland
Legal residents of the Republic of Ireland are exempt from the ETA system only if they meet all three conditions. These are:
- They are legal residents of the Republic of Ireland.
- They are non-visa nationals or do not need a visa to visit the UK.
- They are coming to the UK via The Republic of Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man.
All travelers aged 17 and over must show original and valid proof-of-residency documents issued by the Irish government. These include:
- Irish driving license
- Irish learner permit
- Medical card
- GP visit card
- European Health Insurance Card
- Irish Residence Permit
- Permanent Residence Certificate
- National Age Card
Travelers with UK visas
Citizens of countries who are required to obtain a visa for short trips to the UK for up to six months do not need an ETA. Individuals who need a UK visa to work, live, or stay in the country for more than six months are also exempt from the scheme.
Travelers with UK immigration statuses
Those with immigration status in the UK, such as those with the right to work and study in the country, are exempt from the ETA system. This also includes those settled and pre-settled under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
Proof of a UK immigration status includes a digital record or an eVisa linked to the travelers’ passports.
Physical evidence, such as biometric residence permits (BRP), passport wet ink stamps, or vignette stickers, will remain valid until March 2025.
To avoid travel complications, those who still carry BRPs, passport wet-ink stamps, and passport vignette stickers must secure an eVisa as soon as possible.
Airside transit travelers
Travelers transiting through the UK at Heathrow and Manchester airports no longer need an ETA if remaining airside or not going through border control.
Do you need a UK ETA or a UK visa?
Regardless of the country that issued your passport, if you plan to work, live, or stay in the UK for more than six months, you must apply for an appropriate UK visa.
While it’s rare that non-visa travelers are denied an ETA, those who have been refused must also apply for a UK visa to be allowed to visit the UK.