UK ETA for Mexican Citizens 2026: Requirements and How to Apply

Mexican citizens need a UK ETA to enter Britain in 2026 — a £20 online authorisation linked to your passport that you must get before you travel. Mexicans travel to the UK without a full visa for short stays, yet the ETA is now required before you board. Below: who needs one, what it costs, how to apply from Mexico, and what happens on arrival.

TL;DR: A UK ETA for Mexican citizens is mandatory for visits of up to six months. It costs £20, stays valid for two years or until your passport expires, and covers unlimited trips. Approval is usually instant, but allow three working days to be safe.

Quick facts for Mexican travellers	Detail (2026)
Do you need it?	Yes, before boarding to the UK
Fee	£20 per person (about MXN 460)
Validity	2 years or until passport expires
Max stay	6 months per visit
Passport needed	Valid Mexican passport (a chip is not required)
Decision time	Usually minutes; allow 3 working days

Key facts at a glance:

• The UK ETA is required for Mexican passport holders visiting for tourism, family or business (gov.uk/eta).
• The fee rose to £20 on 8 April 2026, up from £16.
• One approval allows unlimited entries for two years, with each stay capped at six months.
• Everyone needs their own ETA, including babies and children.
• You apply online or through the official UK ETA app, never on arrival.

Not sure your trip qualifies for the ETA rather than a visa? The UK entry requirements checklist covers the basics, and the gov.uk visa checker confirms your route in under a minute.

Do Mexican citizens need a UK ETA?

Yes. A UK ETA for Mexican citizens is compulsory for short trips, because Mexico is a non-visa country whose passport holders enter Britain without a full visa. Before the scheme launched, Mexicans arrived and were checked at the desk. Since 8 January 2025 they have also needed an ETA, an online check done in advance and linked to your passport, but the check on arrival still applies.

The ETA covers holidays, visiting family, and short business meetings for up to six months. It does not cover paid work or long courses — those need a proper visa. Hold two passports? Read which passport to use if you hold two before you apply.

Transit matters too. A Mexican traveller connecting through Heathrow to a third country usually still needs an ETA if they pass through UK border control, so check UK ETA transit rules before booking a layover. Getting this wrong at the last minute is one of the most common reasons flights are missed.

How much does a UK ETA cost for Mexican travellers?

The UK ETA costs £20 for each Mexican traveller, a single charge covering two years of trips — roughly MXN 460 at mid-2026 rates. The price went up from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026, so ignore older figures. There is no family discount: two parents and two children pay £80 in total.

For the full detail, see the £20 UK ETA fee, a full cost breakdown and accepted payment methods. Any site charging far above £20 should raise a flag — check how to spot a fake ETA website.

Group	ETAs needed	Total cost
Solo traveller	1	£20
Couple	2	£40
Family of four	4	£80

How to apply for a UK ETA from Mexico

Apply online or in the official UK ETA app in about 10 minutes, using your Mexican passport and a payment card. The form asks for passport details, a photo, and short background questions. Most people from Mexico get an email decision within minutes; the Home Office still recommends allowing three working days.

Here is the process step by step:

1. Check your passport. It must be the Mexican passport you will travel on, valid for your whole stay (a chip is not required) — check your passport is valid first.
2. Get ready. Have a payment card, an email address, and the items in documents you need to apply.
3. Fill in the form. Enter your details, upload a photo, answer the questions and pay £20.
4. Wait for approval. Track it via check your ETA application status; it links to your passport automatically.

Would you rather not deal with the form? We can check your answers and submit the application for you, which can help if you are applying on behalf of older relatives who prefer not to use the online form. You stay in charge of the plans; we catch the small mistakes that slow things down.

What Mexican passport holders should know at the UK border

At the border, Mexican citizens see a Border Force officer, because holding an ETA does not on its own entitle you to use the eGates. Your ETA is checked electronically against your passport, so you only show your passport and there is no paper form to complete.

Carry proof of your return flight and where you are staying. An officer may also ask about the purpose and length of your stay, your finances and your plans to leave, as an ETA does not guarantee entry. Before you fly, the gov.uk travel advice for Mexico is worth a quick read.

Pro tip: Book your ETA before your flights. Approval is usually instant, but a manual check can take up to three working days — and holding off on non-refundable tickets until you are approved removes the only real risk.

For example, a family of four flying from Mexico City to London needs four separate ETAs, one linked to each passport, at £20 each (£80 in total). Most applications get a decision within minutes, but allow up to three working days. At Heathrow the family goes to a Border Force desk and shows their passports — there is no paper form, as the ETAs are checked electronically.

Practical tips for Mexican travellers heading to the UK

Apply early, stick to the official service, and give every family member their own ETA — those three steps prevent nearly every problem Mexican travellers run into. The rules do not change whether you land in London, Manchester or Edinburgh.

One extra habit helps on a first trip: save a screenshot of your approval email. The ETA is digital and tied to your passport, so you rarely show anything on arrival — but having the confirmation ready answers any check-in question in seconds.

• Time it well. Approval is quick, yet when to apply for your ETA explains why leaving a buffer matters.
• New passport soon? The ETA is linked to your current one, so a renewal means reapplying — start with renewing your ETA.
• Travelling with kids? Each child needs one: ETAs for babies and children.
• Heading north? The same ETA works everywhere — see visiting Scotland with an ETA and travelling to Wales.
• Turned down before? Read what to do if your ETA is refused.

We are an independent assistance service, not a government body. You can apply directly on gov.uk (£20), or use our checking and support service.

Want a second opinion before you pay? Our team can review your answers and submit your ETA for you — useful when you are arranging travel for older relatives who would rather skip the online form.

Frequently asked questions: UK ETA for Mexican citizens

Do Mexican citizens need a UK ETA in 2026?

Yes. A UK ETA for Mexican citizens is required before boarding for stays of up to six months. It is an online permission linked to your passport, and the usual check on arrival still applies.

How much is the UK ETA for Mexican passport holders?

It costs £20 per person and lasts two years. The fee rose from £16 on 8 April 2026, and there is no family discount (gov.uk/eta).

Can Mexicans work in the UK with an ETA?

No. The ETA covers tourism, family visits and short business trips. Paid work or study over six months needs the correct visa, which the gov.uk visa checker will confirm.

How long does the UK ETA take for Mexican applicants?

Most Mexican applicants are approved within minutes. The Home Office advises allowing up to three working days in case your case needs manual checks.

Do Mexican children need their own ETA?

Yes. Every child, babies included, needs an individual ETA. Parents apply on each child’s behalf using the child’s own passport.

Is the UK ETA a visa for Mexican citizens?

No. The ETA is a lighter travel authorisation for short visits, not a visa. Mexicans use it because their passport already allows visa-free entry for up to six months.

Can Mexicans use the eGates at UK airports?

No. Holding an ETA does not on its own entitle you to use the eGates. Mexican nationals see a Border Force officer and only need to show their passport, as the ETA is checked electronically.

What if a Mexican traveller reaches the airport without an ETA?

Since 25 February 2026, airlines check your ETA electronically before departure and can refuse boarding under the “no permission, no travel” rule. Always apply before leaving home rather than trying to sort it at the gate.

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Last updated: 2026-10-10 — sources: GOV.UK ETA guidance (gov.uk/eta) and the fee schedule in force from 8 October 2026.