{"id":1052,"date":"2026-04-10T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/?p=1052"},"modified":"2026-03-29T13:18:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T13:18:15","slug":"uk-eta-eligible-countries-complete-list-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/uk-eta-eligible-countries-complete-list-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"UK ETA Eligible Countries: Complete List 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"UK<\/figure>\n

Which Countries Need a UK ETA in 2026?<\/h2>\n

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is required for citizens of all visa-exempt countries who wish to visit the United Kingdom. Since 25 February 2026<\/strong>, no visa-exempt traveller can enter the UK without a valid ETA – whether arriving by air, sea, rail, or land.<\/p>\n

The ETA costs £16<\/strong>, is valid for 2 years<\/strong>, allows multiple entries<\/strong>, and each visit can last up to 6 months<\/strong>. You apply through the official UK ETA app or at gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Below is the complete list of countries whose citizens require a UK ETA, organised by region, as well as key categories of people who are exempt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

UK ETA approved confirmation<\/p>\n

European Countries Requiring a UK ETA<\/h2>\n

Since 2 April 2025, all EU and EEA citizens (except Irish citizens) need an ETA to visit the UK. This was one of the most significant expansions of the system. For a detailed guide on how this affects EU travellers, see our EU citizens ETA guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

EU Member States<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th>\nETA Required<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Austria<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Belgium<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bulgaria<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Croatia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cyprus<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Czech Republic (Czechia)<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Denmark<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Estonia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Finland<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
France<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Germany<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Greece<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hungary<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ireland<\/td>\nNo – Exempt<\/strong> (CTA)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Italy<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Latvia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lithuania<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Luxembourg<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Malta<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Netherlands<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Poland<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Portugal<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Romania<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Slovakia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Slovenia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spain<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sweden<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

EEA and Other European Countries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th>\nETA Required<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Iceland<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Liechtenstein<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Norway<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Switzerland<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Andorra<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monaco<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
San Marino<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vatican City<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Americas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th>\nETA Required<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
United States<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Canada<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mexico<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Argentina<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brazil<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chile<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Colombia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Costa Rica<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Guatemala<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Honduras<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nicaragua<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Panama<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Paraguay<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Peru<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uruguay<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Antigua and Barbuda<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bahamas<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Barbados<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Belize<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dominica<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grenada<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Guyana<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saint Kitts and Nevis<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saint Lucia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trinidad and Tobago<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Asia-Pacific<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th>\nETA Required<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Australia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New Zealand<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Japan<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
South Korea<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Singapore<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Malaysia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hong Kong (SAR)<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Macao (SAR)<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Taiwan<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brunei<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fiji<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kiribati<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marshall Islands<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Micronesia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nauru<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Palau<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Papua New Guinea<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Samoa<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Solomon Islands<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Timor-Leste<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tonga<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tuvalu<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vanuatu<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maldives<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Middle East<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th>\nETA Required<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
United Arab Emirates<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saudi Arabia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Qatar<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kuwait<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bahrain<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oman<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Israel<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jordan<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th>\nETA Required<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
South Africa<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Botswana<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mauritius<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Namibia<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seychelles<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

UK ETA requirements checklist for eligible countries<\/p>\n

Countries That Need a Visa (Not ETA)<\/h2>\n

Citizens of the following countries (among others) are not<\/strong> visa-exempt and therefore need a Standard Visitor Visa<\/strong> to enter the UK. They cannot use the ETA system:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/th>\nRequirement<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
India<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pakistan<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bangladesh<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nigeria<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ghana<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kenya<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Philippines<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Indonesia<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vietnam<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thailand<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
China<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Russia<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turkey<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Egypt<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Iran<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Iraq<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sri Lanka<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nepal<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Morocco<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Algeria<\/td>\nVisa required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

This is not an exhaustive list. If your country is not listed in the ETA-eligible tables above, you most likely need a visa. Check the UK government website<\/a> for your specific nationality.<\/p>\n

Who Is Exempt From the UK ETA?<\/h2>\n

Even if your nationality normally requires an ETA, you are exempt<\/strong> if you fall into any of these categories:<\/p>\n

British Citizens<\/h3>\n

British citizens (including those with British Citizen passports) do not need an ETA to enter their own country.<\/p>\n

Irish Citizens<\/h3>\n

Irish citizens are exempt under the Common Travel Area agreement between the UK and Ireland. No ETA is needed regardless of how they enter the UK.<\/p>\n

Existing UK Visa Holders<\/h3>\n

If you already hold a valid UK visa of any type (visitor, work, study, etc.), you do not need a separate ETA. Your visa serves as your travel authorisation.<\/p>\n

Settled Status and Pre-Settled Status<\/h3>\n

People with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), settled status, or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are exempt from the ETA requirement.<\/p>\n

Frontier Workers<\/h3>\n

People with a valid Frontier Worker permit are exempt when travelling to the UK for work purposes.<\/p>\n

Service Personnel<\/h3>\n

Members of visiting armed forces and NATO personnel travelling on official duty are exempt.<\/p>\n

Transit Without Clearing Immigration<\/h3>\n

In very limited circumstances, some travellers transiting through the UK without passing through immigration control may be exempt. However, most transit passengers do clear UK immigration and therefore need an ETA. See our transit rules guide<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n

\"UK<\/figure>\n

How to Apply for a UK ETA<\/h2>\n

The application process is the same regardless of your nationality:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Download the UK ETA app<\/strong> (iOS or Android) or visit gov.uk<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Provide your passport details<\/strong> and a photo of your face<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Answer eligibility questions<\/strong> (criminal history, immigration history, etc.)<\/li>\n
  4. Pay the £16 fee<\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. Receive your decision – most are approved within minutes<\/strong>, but allow up to 72 hours<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For a full walkthrough with screenshots, see our step-by-step UK ETA application guide<\/a>. For photo tips, check our UK ETA photo requirements guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    What If Your Country Is Not Listed?<\/h2>\n

    If you cannot find your country in the tables above, there are two possibilities:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. You need a visa<\/strong> – your country is not visa-exempt, and you must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa (or another appropriate visa type) through a UK visa application centre.<\/li>\n
    2. You hold a special passport<\/strong> – some countries have different requirements depending on the type of passport you hold (ordinary vs. diplomatic vs. service passport). Check the UK government website for your specific passport type.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      ETA vs. Visa: Key Differences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Feature<\/th>\nUK ETA<\/th>\nStandard Visitor Visa<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Cost<\/td>\n£16<\/td>\n£115+<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Processing time<\/td>\nMinutes to 72 hours<\/td>\n3–6 weeks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Validity<\/td>\n2 years<\/td>\nUp to 6 months (longer available)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Application method<\/td>\nApp or online<\/td>\nOnline + visa centre visit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Biometrics<\/td>\nPhoto via app<\/td>\nFingerprints at visa centre<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Multiple entries<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Maximum stay per visit<\/td>\n6 months<\/td>\n6 months<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Work permitted<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo (visitor only)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      Important Notes for 2026<\/h2>\n