{"id":5050,"date":"2026-10-22T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/?p=5050"},"modified":"2026-10-26T00:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T00:14:15","slug":"uk-eta-for-an-adopted-child-2026-documents-how-to-apply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/nl\/uk-eta-for-an-adopted-child-2026-documents-how-to-apply\/","title":{"rendered":"UK ETA voor een aangenomen kind 2026: Documenten, toestemming en hoe aan te vragen"},"content":{"rendered":"

An adopted child needs their own UK ETA, exactly like any other traveller. An adult applies for them using the child’s passport, pays the £20 fee, and carries adoption documents in case Border Force asks about the relationship at the UK border.<\/strong><\/p>\n

TL;DR:<\/strong> Every child, including an adopted one, needs an individual UK ETA (£20) linked to their own passport. There is no age exemption, so babies pay too. An adult applies for them. Carry the adoption certificate and proof of parental responsibility. An ETA is for short visits only; settling in Britain needs a visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Quick facts<\/th>\nDetail (2026)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Does a child need one?<\/td>\nYes — every child, at any age, needs an ETA of their own<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fee<\/td>\n£20<\/a> per child, no age discount<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Who applies<\/td>\nAn adult — a parent or legal guardian<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Linked to<\/td>\nThe child’s individual passport<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Key documents<\/td>\nPassport, adoption certificate, proof of parental responsibility<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
For settling in the UK?<\/td>\nNo — that needs a visa, not an ETA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Adoptive families face a few extra questions at the border, so preparation matters. For the general rules first, see our ETA for babies and children<\/a> and ETA for children and families<\/a> guides.<\/p>\n

\"Parent<\/figure>\n

Does an adopted child need a UK ETA?<\/h2>\n

Yes. An adopted son or daughter needs an ETA of their own whenever they are a visa-free visitor travelling to Britain, exactly as an adult does, because the scheme has applied to every traveller, including newborns and children, and has been fully enforced, with carriers checking it before boarding, since 25 February 2026.<\/strong> There is no family application and no shared ETA.<\/p>\n

Whether a child needs an ETA depends on the passport they hold, not on being adopted. If the child carries the passport of a visa-free country (say the United States, Australia or an EU state), they need an ETA. If they hold the passport of a country that requires a UK visa, a visa applies instead. Check the child’s nationality on our eligible countries list<\/a> or the official gov.uk visa checker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One point trips up new adoptive parents: a British child does not need an ETA at all, because British citizens are exempt. If your child has become a British citizen, they travel on a British passport and skip the ETA entirely.<\/p>\n

How much does the ETA cost, and who applies?<\/h2>\n

A child’s UK ETA costs £20, matching the adult price exactly, and a parent or legal guardian completes the form for them using the youngster’s own passport and a recent photo of the child.<\/strong> The UK ETA has no age exemption, so a baby and a teenager each pay the full £20.<\/p>\n

This differs from the EU’s upcoming ETIAS, which will exempt applicants under 18 from its €20 fee. The UK charges every applicant, so an adopted child pays the same £20 as everyone else. For a family of four, that is £80 in ETA fees, valid for two years of unlimited visits, or until each passport expires if sooner. Our family ETA questions<\/a> guide covers the wider budgeting.<\/p>\n

\n

Pro tip:<\/strong> Use a separate email and clear file name for each child’s application, and keep every approval email. With an adopted son or daughter whose surname may differ from yours, having the ETA confirmation to hand alongside the adoption papers makes the border smoother.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Adult<\/figure>\n

What documents should you carry for your adopted child?<\/h2>\n

Carry the child’s passport, the ETA approval, the adoption papers, and evidence that you hold parental responsibility, and bring a consent letter if the other parent is not travelling or if surnames differ.<\/strong> Officers can question any adult travelling with a child, and documents settle those questions quickly.<\/p>\n