Single trip travel insurance 2026 — Costs, Requirements & FAQ

If you’re looking for everything you need to know about single trip travel insurance, this 2026 guide gives you the concrete numbers, the official process, and the practical checks travellers actually need. We’ve structured it around the typical questions readers ask: what it is, who needs it, how much it costs, how long it takes, and what to watch out for. By the end, you should be able to plan your application or trip with full confidence and zero ambiguity.

TL;DR: single trip travel insurance is not the same as the UK ETA. In 2026 most ETA applicants get a decision within one working day (it can take up to three working days); the ETA costs GBP 20 per applicant, and stays valid for two years or until your passport expires. Most travellers can apply entirely online from a phone, and biometric data is taken via the app camera.

Quick Facts	2026
Fee	GBP 20 per applicant
Validity	2 years or passport expiry
Processing time	Usually 1 working day (up to 3)
Max stay	6 months per visit

What is single trip travel insurance?

Single trip travel insurance is not the same as the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – the digital travel permission scheme operated by the UK Home Office for visitors from eligible countries. This guide focuses on the ETA, which eligible visitors need whether or not they have insurance. It replaces the older paper landing-card process for short visits and is enforced at the carrier level — meaning your airline checks that you have a valid authorisation before allowing you to board.

Crucially, it is not a visa. It is a pre-travel authorisation that lets the UK government screen visitors before they reach the border. If you hold a passport from one of the visa-national countries, you still need a full visit visa instead. The ETA only applies to travellers from the eligible list (US, Canada, Australia, EU member states, and a handful of others).

For the full official scope, see the UK Government ETA guidance page. You will also find the live country eligibility list there, which the Home Office updates periodically.

Who needs this — single trip travel insurance

You will need this authorisation if you hold a passport from an eligible country and want to visit the UK for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study for up to six months. For transit, you only need it if you will pass through UK border control; passengers transiting airside are currently exempt. Children and infants need their own individual ETA (GBP 20 each) — there is no family group application. For more on the children’s process, see our UK ETA application 2026 guide.

You do not need this authorisation if you are a British or Irish citizen, or if you already have permission to be in the UK, such as settled status or a UK visa. If you are unsure of your category, use the ‘Check if you need a UK visa’ tool on GOV.UK.

Pro tip: Save your reference number and decision email in a cloud folder accessible from your phone. You will need the 16-digit reference number if you contact UKVI via webchat.

Costs and fees for single trip travel insurance

The standard government fee is GBP 20 per applicant since 8 April 2026. There is no extra processing fee if you apply directly via GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app. Each member of a travelling group needs their own paid application, including children. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.

Third-party websites may charge more than the official GBP 20 fee, so check who you are paying before you apply. For a full breakdown, see UK ETA cost 2026 guide and eligible countries 2026 guide.

If your application is refused, the GBP 20 fee is non-refundable. That is one practical reason to read the eligibility checks carefully before submitting.

Processing time and what to expect from single trip travel insurance

Most applications receive a decision within one working day, although it can take up to three working days. You receive the outcome by email, with the authorisation digitally linked to your passport — there is no sticker or paper certificate to print.

The Home Office recommends applying at least three working days before your scheduled departure. Applying a week or so ahead gives you a comfortable buffer, but there is no official guidance that processing slows down in peak travel periods. See our processing time guide for more detail.

A small number of applications are flagged for further review and take longer than usual — which is why the Home Office recommends applying at least three working days before you travel. Decisions are made on the information in your application and Home Office records.

How to apply for single trip travel insurance — step by step

The application is fully online through either the official mobile app or the gov.uk website. You will need the passport you will travel with, a photo of your face, a credit or debit card (or Apple Pay or Google Pay) for the GBP 20 fee, and an email address for the decision notice.

1. Step 1 — Download the app or open the portal. Search for “UK ETA” in the App Store or Google Play, or go directly to gov.uk/eta. Both accept the same passport types.
2. Step 2 — Scan your passport. The app uses NFC to read your passport chip; on the web portal, you upload a photo of the passport bio page. Resolution requirements are listed on screen.
3. Step 3 — Take a face photo. Plain background, neutral expression, no glasses with reflection. The system will reject blurry shots and ask you to retake.
4. Step 4 — Answer the suitability questions. You will be asked about your address, your job and any criminal convictions, and about any involvement in war crimes, terrorism or extremism. Honesty is critical — false answers are grounds for refusal and future visa difficulty.
5. Step 5 — Pay the GBP 20 fee. Card payment processed by GOV.UK Pay. You receive a confirmation email within minutes containing your reference number.
6. Step 6 — Wait for the decision. Usually within one working day, but it can take up to three working days. The decision arrives by email; you cannot track a pending application in the app or online.

For the children’s version of this process, see UK ETA children 2026 guide.

Common mistakes to avoid when applying for single trip travel insurance

The most expensive mistake travellers make is leaving the application until the last 48 hours before departure. Most decisions arrive within a day, but some take up to three working days, and you cannot travel until your ETA is granted. If you miss your flight, the airline will not reschedule you for free.

The second most common mistake is using a passport that expires soon. The official guidance only requires your passport to be valid for the whole of your stay, but your ETA also ends when that passport expires, so check the dates before you apply. See our passport requirements guide for details.

Third: misreporting criminal history. The questions are deliberately broad. If you have any doubt about whether a past conviction counts, declare it rather than hide it — the consequences of discovery are far worse than the chance of a delayed review.

Tips and best practices for single trip travel insurance

Apply on a desktop or tablet if you can. The mobile app is convenient but the larger screen makes proofreading the passport scan and answer summaries much easier. Errors at submission cannot be edited — only resubmitted with a new fee.

Save your reference number and the decision email in your travel folder. Your ETA is linked digitally to your passport and airlines check it electronically, so you only need to show your passport when you travel — no printed copy or screenshot is required.

If you travel to the UK frequently, your existing authorisation remains valid for two years, or until your passport expires if sooner, across multiple trips. Renewal is straightforward but only available after the current one expires — there is no early-renewal option. See our validity guide and multiple entries guide.

Arriving by ferry, Eurostar or via Ireland

The ETA and passport rules are the same whether you arrive by air, ferry, Eurostar or coach, and wherever you enter the UK. Carriers check your permission to travel before every journey, not just the first. So your ETA needs to be valid each time you travel during its two-year validity.

The same rules apply if you travel from Ireland into Northern Ireland. There are no routine checks on the land border, but if you need an ETA you must still have one. Nationals of visa-exempt countries who live legally in Ireland don’t need an ETA, but they should carry proof that they live there.

Passport, photo and arrival checks

Your passport does not have to be biometric, and you don’t need a working chip for an ETA. In the app, you photograph the photo page and then place your phone on the passport to read the chip. If the chip can’t be read, the app takes your details from the photo instead.

For the face photo, use a plain, light-coloured background, with no shadows on your face or behind you and nothing covering your face. Head coverings worn for religious or medical reasons are allowed. Children under 6 don’t have to look directly at the camera, and babies under one don’t need to have their eyes open.

When you arrive, your nationality decides whether you can use the eGates, not your ETA. You must be aged 8 or over and have a biometric passport and a valid digital status such as an ETA. You must also be a British or Irish citizen, a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA, or a member of the Registered Traveller Service. Most other travellers go to a Border Force officer. An ETA is permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry.

If you have a criminal record or have been refused entry before, GOV.UK suggests applying for a Standard Visitor visa instead of an ETA. A six-month visa costs £135, and a decision usually takes up to three weeks. You also have to go to a visa application centre to give your biometrics.

Frequently Asked Questions about single trip travel insurance

How long does single trip travel insurance take to process in 2026?

Most applications receive a decision within one working day. The Home Office asks applicants to allow up to three working days.

How much does single trip travel insurance cost in 2026?

GBP 20 per applicant via the official portal. There are no extra government charges, but third-party agencies often inflate the price to GBP 60-100.

How long is single trip travel insurance valid?

Two years from issue, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. Each visit during validity can be up to 6 months.

Can I apply for single trip travel insurance for my children separately?

Children and infants need individual authorisations — there is no family group option. Parents complete each application using the child’s passport. See our children’s guide.

What if my single trip travel insurance is refused?

The GBP 20 is non-refundable. You can reapply immediately, but it is strongly advised to address whatever caused the refusal first — for example, inaccurate or incomplete answers to the criminal-history questions.

Does single trip travel insurance replace a UK visa?

No. It is a separate authorisation for short-stay visitors from eligible countries. If your country is not on the eligibility list, you still need a visit visa.

How do I update my passport details after getting single trip travel insurance?

The authorisation is digitally linked to the passport you used during application. If you renew your passport, you must reapply for a new authorization tied to the new document.