UK ETA 2026: official guide, fee and tools

Since 2 April 2025, visitors from most visa-exempt countries, including the EU, need a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for a short trip to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Here you will find the fee, validity and steps, checked against the official UK government website.

Cum să solicitați o ETA pentru Regatul Unit
Do I need an ETA? Check in 1 minute

Last updated: 28 October 2026 · Source: gov.uk/eta

£20 official fee per person since 8 April 2026 (Home Office)

2 ani validity, or until your passport expires if that is sooner

6 luni maximum stay per visit, with multiple trips allowed

3 zile lucrătoare apply at least this long before you travel; often you hear back sooner

Your passport the ETA is linked to the passport you travel with

Every traveller children and babies need their own ETA

Useful tools

Do I need an ETA?

Answer a few questions and see at once whether an exemption applies.

UK ETA planner

Work out when to apply and how long your ETA stays valid.

UK ETA news

Every change to the UK ETA rules on one timeline, with sources.

Your ETA in 3 steps

  1. Fill in the form online. Use the official UK ETA app or gov.uk. Have the passport you will travel with and a payment card ready.
  2. Plătiți și trimiteți. The government fee is £20 per person. It is not refunded if the application is refused.
  3. Get the decision by email. Often within a day, sometimes up to 3 working days. Only travel once you have the approval.

Want to go through the form step by step? Read our complete guide to applying. To plan your dates use the UK ETA planner.

Why an ETA? What changed for visitors

Visitors from visa-exempt countries can still enter the UK without a visa for short stays. Since 2 April 2025, however, they must hold a digital authorisation in advance: the ETA, linked to the passport used for the trip. Airlines, rail and ferry operators check for a valid ETA before boarding.

Who needs an ETA?

  • Citizens of visa-exempt countries visiting the UK for up to 6 months, including EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and travellers from the USA, Canada, Australia and the Gulf states.
  • Visitors travelling for tourism, family visits, business or a short course of study, and many people in transit.
  • Each traveller separately, including children and babies.

You do not need an ETA if you are a British or Irish citizen, already hold a UK visa or a residence status such as EUSS, or live in Ireland and travel from there. Not sure? Use the ETA check or read the list of exemptions și cine are nevoie de UK ETA.

Help with your application

You can apply for the ETA yourself with the UK government. If you would like someone to review your details before you submit, private application services exist; they charge a service fee on top of the £20 government fee.

Beware of copycat websites

Only the UK government and its official app issue the ETA. The ETA is linked to the passport you travel with, so if you get a new passport you need a new ETA. Read how to recognise fake ETA websites before you pay anyone (gov.uk/eta).

Întrebări frecvente

Cât costă UK ETA în 2026?

The official fee is £20 per person, in the app and on gov.uk. It rose from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026 and is not refunded if the application is refused. More in our ghidul de prețuri UK ETA.

Trebuie să-mi printez ETA?

No. The ETA is digital and linked to your passport, so there is nothing to print. Keep the approval email anyway.

Is the ETA valid for Ireland?

No. The ETA is a UK authorisation. Ireland has its own entry rules, and people who live in Ireland and travel from there to the UK do not need an ETA.

Copiii au nevoie de propria lor ETA?

Yes. Every traveller, including babies, needs an ETA linked to their own passport.

How long does it take to get an ETA?

Often less than a day, but it can take up to 3 working days. Apply at least 3 working days before you travel. See how early to apply.

Ce se întâmplă dacă ETA mea este refuzată?

You cannot appeal, but you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa. The email you receive gives the reason for the refusal.

More questions and answers in our ETA documents checklist și approval timeline guide.

Travel tips for the UK

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Airport transfers, trains and how to pay for transport.

Where to stay

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Paying and budgeting

How to pay for your ETA and what travel costs in the UK.

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etavisauk.org is an independent information website and not an official UK government site. The official application is made at gov.uk/eta/apply or in the UK ETA app.