UK ETA 2027: Who Needs One, How Much It Costs and How to Apply

If you hold a passport from the EU, the US, Canada, Australia, the Gulf states or one of several dozen other visa-free countries, you can no longer just turn up at a UK airport. You need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before you travel, and since 25 February 2026 airlines have been refusing boarding to people without one.

This guide covers who needs a UK ETA, what it costs, how long it lasts, how transit works, how to apply and what to do if you are refused. It also covers the countries that have lost visa-free access since 2024 and now need a full visitor visa instead.

The short answer: if you are a visa-free visitor and not British or Irish, apply for an ETA through the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK, pay £20, and do it at least three working days before you fly.

Who needs a UK ETA

You need an ETA if you are a national of a country that doesn't need a visa for short UK visits, and you don't already have UK immigration permission. In practice, that covers:

• Europe: all EU countries except Ireland, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City
• North America: the United States and Canada
• Latin America and the Caribbean: including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Belize, the Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Gulf and Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel
• Asia-Pacific: including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, the Maldives and several Pacific island states
• Africa: Mauritius and Seychelles

This list changes. Use GOV.UK's check if you need a UK visa tool with your exact nationality and purpose of travel before booking.

Who doesn't need one

You don't need an ETA if you:

• are a British or Irish citizen (including dual nationals, who should travel on their British or Irish passport)
• already hold a UK visa, eVisa or other permission to live, work or study in the UK
• are legally resident in Ireland and travelling to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• are transiting airside without passing through UK border control (see the transit section)

Dual nationals travelling on a non-British passport have been caught out more than anyone else. The Home Office has allowed some to board with an expired British passport alongside a valid foreign one, but carriers can still refuse, so renew your British passport or get a certificate of entitlement.

Countries that lost visa-free access

The UK has moved several countries from the ETA list to the visa list since 2024, usually citing asylum claims or abuse of visitor routes:

• Jordan (September 2024)
• Colombia (November 2024)
• Trinidad and Tobago (2025)
• Botswana (October 2025)
• Nauru (December 2025)
• Nicaragua and St Lucia (March 2026)

Nationals of these countries need a Standard Visitor visa, which costs £135 for up to six months and involves biometrics and a much longer wait. Most of Africa, South Asia and the Philippines have always needed a visa. If you need one, start early; our guides to travel insurance for visa applications and proof of funds cover the paperwork.

How much the ETA costs

The fee is per person, including babies and children, and is non-refundable even if you are refused. Unofficial websites charge £50, £80 or more for the same application, sometimes while looking very like a government site. The only official channels are GOV.UK and the UK ETA app published by the Home Office.

How long it lasts and what it covers

An ETA allows multiple trips over two years, or until the passport you used expires, whichever is sooner. Each visit can last up to six months.

It covers the same activities as visa-free entry: tourism, visiting family and friends, business meetings, short courses of study up to six months, permitted paid engagements and transit. It doesn't let you work for a UK employer, live in the UK or get married without the right visa.

The ETA is linked digitally to your passport. If you get a new passport, you need a new ETA. An ETA is permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry; Border Force can still question and refuse you on arrival.

Transit through UK airports

The rules depend on whether you pass through UK border control:

• Landside transit (you go through passport control, perhaps to change airports or collect bags): you need an ETA.
• Airside transit (you stay in the international transfer area and fly out the same day): you are currently exempt.

The airside exemption was introduced in January 2025 as a temporary measure and remains under review. Changing from Heathrow to Gatwick, collecting checked bags or staying overnight all count as landside. When in doubt, apply; £20 is cheaper than a missed connection.

How to apply: app or website

The app is the fastest route because it scans your passport chip and checks your face automatically.

1. Download the UK ETA app from the App Store or Google Play, or use the ETA page on GOV.UK.
2. Scan the photo page of your passport and, in the app, the passport chip.
3. Take a photo of your face (the app checks it against your passport), or upload a passport-style photo on the website.
4. Answer questions about criminal convictions and immigration history. Be truthful; inconsistencies cause refusals.
5. Add your email address and contact details.
6. Pay £20 by debit or credit card, or a digital wallet where offered.
7. Wait for the email decision. Many people hear back much sooner, but allow three working days.

You can apply for family members or friends in the same session, but each person needs their own application. Keep the reference number. Your airline checks the ETA electronically, so you don't need a printout.

Enforcement: no ETA, no travel

The ETA scheme rolled out in stages from late 2023, and for months some passengers boarded without one. That ended on 25 February 2026, when the Home Office moved to full enforcement. Airlines, ferry operators and Eurostar now check permission before boarding and refuse anyone without an ETA, visa or other permission. Carriers face penalties if they let unauthorised passengers travel, so check-in staff have little discretion.

If you are travelling with a short connection or booking last minute, you can apply at the airport, but a decision isn't guaranteed in time. Apply as soon as your trip is likely.

If your ETA is refused

Refusals are rare but do happen. Common reasons include:

• a criminal conviction with a prison sentence of 12 months or more
• previous breaches of UK immigration law, such as overstaying
• a previous refusal of entry or deportation
• incorrect or inconsistent information in the application

There is no appeal. You can apply again if your circumstances have changed or you made a genuine mistake, but a repeat application with the same facts will usually get the same answer. The better option is to apply for a Standard Visitor visa, which allows you to explain your circumstances and provide evidence. An immigration solicitor or adviser registered with the Immigration Advice Authority can help if your history is complicated.

ETA or visitor visa: which do you need?

If you also plan to travel to mainland Europe, note that the EU is introducing its own entry requirements. See our guide to the EU Entry/Exit System and ETIAS.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a UK ETA cost in 2027?

At the time of writing it costs £20 per person, after rising from £16 on 8 April 2026. Fees are reviewed regularly, so check GOV.UK before you apply. Anything above £20 means you are on an unofficial site.

How long is a UK ETA valid?

Two years, or until your passport expires, whichever is earlier. You can make multiple visits in that time, each lasting up to six months.

Do I need a UK ETA for a connecting flight?

Only if you pass through UK border control. Airside transit, where you stay in the international area and fly out the same day, is currently exempt, but this exemption is temporary and under review.

Do children need a UK ETA?

Yes. Every traveller who isn't exempt needs their own ETA, including babies. A parent or guardian can apply on their behalf.

Can I appeal if my UK ETA is refused?

No. You can reapply if something has changed, or apply for a Standard Visitor visa, where you can supply evidence and explain your circumstances.

Final Thoughts

For most travellers, the ETA is a five-minute job and a £20 charge. The problems come from leaving it to the airport, using a lookalike site, or forgetting that a new passport needs a new ETA.

If your nationality has recently moved to the visa list, don't assume an old ETA or a past visa-free trip helps you now. Check GOV.UK's visa tool, apply for the correct permission, and give yourself several weeks.

Keep a note of your ETA's expiry date alongside your passport expiry. If either is close, sort it out before you book flights.