{"id":3557,"date":"2026-10-28T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/?p=3557"},"modified":"2026-10-26T16:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T16:06:39","slug":"uk-eta-ferry-passengers-2026-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/vi\/uk-eta-ferry-passengers-2026-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"UK ETA for Ferry Passengers 2026: Do You Need One?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yes. Ferry passengers from visa-free countries need a UK ETA to arrive by sea, exactly as they would by air.<\/strong> The \u00a320 authorisation is tied to your passport and your nationality, not to the type of vessel or port. Whether you sail into Dover, Portsmouth or Hull, the rule is the same.<\/p>\n

TL;DR:<\/strong> A UK ETA costs \u00a320, lasts two years and covers unlimited entries. Foot passengers and car passengers on cross-Channel and North Sea ferries need one if they hold a visa-free passport. British and Irish travellers are exempt, and arrivals from Ireland within the Common Travel Area follow special rules. Apply at gov.uk\/eta<\/a> before you sail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Quick Facts for Ferry Travel<\/th>\nChi ti\u1ebft (2026)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ph\u00ed UK ETA<\/td>\n\u00a320 per person, non-refundable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00c1p d\u1ee5ng cho<\/td>\nFoot and car passengers on international ferries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th\u1eddi h\u1ea1n hi\u1ec7u l\u1ef1c<\/td>\n2 years or until the passport expires<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stay<\/td>\nUnlimited entries, up to 6 months per visit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mi\u1ec5n tr\u1eeb<\/td>\nC\u00f4ng d\u00e2n Anh v\u00e0 Ireland<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Below you will find which ferry routes require an ETA, how it works for families in a car, the Ireland exception, and how to apply before you get to the terminal. See also ai c\u1ea7n UK ETA<\/a> v\u00e0 c\u1ee7a ch\u00fang t\u00f4i exemptions list<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Large
Ferry passengers need a UK ETA just like air travellers. Photo: Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Do ferry passengers need a UK ETA?<\/h2>\n

Yes. A visa-free traveller arriving in the UK by ferry needs a UK ETA before boarding, because the scheme applies to sea crossings just as it does to flights.<\/strong> Every visa-free visitor, including EU nationals, must have permission to travel before they set off (Home Office ETA factsheet, April 2026<\/a>). The ferry operator can check for a valid authorisation before you sail, so turning up at Calais without one risks being turned away at the desk.<\/p>\n

The routes this covers are the familiar ones:<\/p>\n