UK ETA: Who Needs One, the £20 Fee and How to Apply

Who needs a UK ETA

The ETA is for nationals who do not need a visit visa. GOV.UK publishes the list of nationalities that can apply (last updated 9 April 2026, checked 9 October 2026). It covers every EU country except Ireland, plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City. It also covers the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Israel and the Gulf states, among others. Taiwan passport holders qualify if the passport includes their Taiwan identification card number.

The list changes. Nicaragua and St Lucia were removed in March 2026, Nauru in December 2025 and Botswana in October 2025, and those nationals now need a visa. If your nationality is not on the list, you cannot get an ETA and must use GOV.UK's Check if you need a UK visa tool instead.

Europeans were added last. The GOV.UK guide for EU, EEA and Swiss visitors records that they need an ETA from 2 April 2025, and the ETA caseworker guidance confirms applications opened on 5 March 2025.

Since 9 April 2026 the same ETA also covers Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Who does not need one

GOV.UK's list of exemptions (checked 9 October 2026) includes:

• British and Irish citizens, including dual nationals. A dual British or Irish citizen cannot get an ETA; GOV.UK says to prove citizenship with a valid British or Irish passport, or another passport with a certificate of entitlement.
• Anyone with a UK visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK, including settled or pre-settled status.
• Passengers who transit airside without passing UK border control.
• Holders of British overseas territories citizen or British National (Overseas) passports.
• People who live in Ireland and travel from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. From age 16 they must carry an Irish government document such as an Irish Residence Permit or Irish driving licence as proof.
• Children named on a France-UK school trip travel information form.

The Home Office's enforcement announcement of 24 February 2026 says dual British citizens should carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement, because airlines now check permission to travel before boarding.

What it costs and how long it lasts

The fee is £20 per applicant. The Home Office fees table for 8 April 2026 shows the ETA rising from £16 to £20 on that date, and the 8 October 2026 table keeps it at £20 (both checked 9 October 2026). Older articles and some Home Office press releases from before April 2026 still quote £16.

There is no refund after you apply, including if the application is rejected. Other websites may charge more, and GOV.UK says applying through them does not get you a faster decision.

An ETA lasts 2 years or until the passport you applied with expires, whichever comes first. You can travel as many times as you like in that period, staying up to 6 months each time. It covers tourism, visiting family and friends, business visits, short-term study and a few other visitor activities. It does not allow work for a UK company, living in the UK through repeated visits, or marriage.

App or website: how to apply

Both routes cost the same and lead to the same decision. Choose by device and by who is travelling.

The GOV.UK app guide (updated 9 April 2026, checked 9 October 2026) lists the steps:

If the chip scan does not work, the app takes your details from the passport photo instead; check them carefully, because GOV.UK says details that do not match your passport will delay or reject the application. If the app will not install or keeps failing, apply online instead.

When to apply

GOV.UK says most decisions arrive by email within a day, but they can take up to 3 working days, and family members may get their decisions at different times. The Home Office says the "vast majority" are automatic within minutes, yet it still advises allowing 3 working days.

Working days are Monday to Friday. For a Monday flight, applying by the previous Tuesday leaves three full working days before departure. Do not fly until the approval email arrives. There is nothing to print: the ETA is linked digitally to your passport, and you can confirm it with GOV.UK's Check your ETA service.

Transiting through London airports

Whether you need an ETA for a connection depends on whether you pass through UK border control.

• Airside transit (you stay in the international area, usually with bags checked through): no ETA needed. The ETA caseworker guidance (version 9.0, published 3 August 2026) calls this exemption temporary and under review.
• Landside transit (you go through passport control, for example to change airports or recheck bags): you need an ETA, even for a few hours.

Visa nationals use a different system. The GOV.UK transit visa page points them to a Direct Airside Transit visa or a Visitor in Transit visa, unless they already hold certain documents. Your airline can tell you whether your connection is airside. For which airport you are actually using, see which London airport you landed at.

If your ETA is rejected or refused

The Home Office caseworker guidance separates two outcomes. If an application is rejected, for example because the photo or passport details could not verify your identity, you can apply again, paying another £20. A refusal follows a suitability check. The caseworker guidance says there is no appeal or administrative review against an ETA decision. A refused applicant needs a Standard Visitor visa, which costs £135 for up to 6 months (8 October 2026 fees table).

The guidance also says an ETA must be refused if you were previously refused a UK visitor visa or entry as a visitor, unless you were later granted permission with that refusal known. GOV.UK suggests people with a criminal record or a previous UK refusal consider applying for a Standard Visitor visa from the start, so there is time to get a decision before travelling.

An ETA lets you travel; it does not guarantee entry. A Border Force officer still decides at arrival. Once through, the Heathrow to central London guide covers the next step.