Like most Americans, I often take my passport privilege for granted. With the ability to travel visa-free to over 150 countries around the world, I found myself having to set a calendar alert (and multiple iPhone alarms) to remind myself to apply for the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before an upcoming trip to London.
If you’re only just catching up, as of April 2, 2025, all US and EU citizens are required to complete a quick online form before entering the UK. Unless you have a past history of criminal convictions, customs violations, or terrorism, the user-friendly process goes quickly. The application took me 10 minutes to fill out on the UK ETA app and it was approved 10 minutes later.
Below, everything you need to know about the new UK ETA requirements, including frequently asked questions and exactly what the application entails.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publication date.
What is the UK ETA?
As of April 2, 2025, all US and EU citizens are required to apply for permission to enter the United Kingdom through a new scheme known as Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
US citizens visiting the UK have been required to have an ETA since January 8, 2025. Now, in the “last major step” of the new system's rollout, the requirement has been extended to European visitors as well. "Expanding ETA worldwide cements our commitment to enhance security through technology and innovation,” Seema Malhotra, the UK's Minister for Migration and Citizenship, said in a statement.
Travelers with trips planned to the UK can now apply via the UK ETA mobile app or website. While most applications are approved the same day, it can take take up to 72 hours—so don't risk leaving it to the last minute. Starting on April 9, 2025, the ETA fee will increase from 10 pounds (about $13) to 16 pounds (about $20).
The UK ETA system is similar to how the US's own ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) system works. An ETA "permits multiple journeys, and lasts for two years or until the holder’s passport expires—whichever is sooner," the UK government explained in a news release. “Once granted, ETAs are digitally linked to a traveler’s passport and allow for stays of up to six months at a time—including both short trips and more extended stays. An ETA is not a visa, it is a digital permission to travel.”
Will I need a visa to enter the UK?
The ETA is not technically a visa—the ETA system will grant travelers digital authorization to enter the country. However, you will still need to apply for an ETA prior to your trip. If you haven't received permission to travel before your flight's departure, you may be fined or denied boarding.
Who needs a UK ETA?
The ETA requirements went into full effect on April 2, 2025, meaning all visitors who do not have British or Irish citizenship now need an ETA to visit the UK.
As the US Embassy to the UK explained in a worldwide travel alert earlier this year, the new ETA requirement “applies to all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland." This means you will need an ETA if you are traveling to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
You do not need an ETA if you are traveling to any of the 14 UK Overseas Territories including Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, and the Cayman Islands, a UK home office spokesperson told Condé Nast Traveler on January 29, 2025.
To confirm if your trip requires an ETA, check here.
Who does not need an ETA?
According to the US embassy to the UK, travelers do not need to apply for an ETA "if they already have a visa, an exempt vignette, or have a British or Irish passport. Other nationalities that ordinarily require a visa to visit the UK will continue to do so and should not obtain an ETA."
Do I need an ETA if my layover is in the UK?
The UK previously said it would require fliers transiting through UK airports to apply for an ETA. However, the Home Office has now changed its course, per a January 2025 press release: “Following feedback from the aviation industry, the government has agreed a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside, and therefore do not pass through UK border control, from needing an ETA." The decision will remain under review and is subject to change in the future.
How long does it take to get an ETA?
Travelers are advised to apply for an ETA at least a few days before their journey. Approval should be granted within a few hours of applying but can take up to 72 hours to process.
“Most applicants get an automatic decision in minutes when applying through the UK ETA app, which means spontaneous trips to the UK are still possible,” the UK government said in a statement.
How long does the UK ETA last?
After your ETA has been approved, visitors will be granted permission to stay in the UK for up to six months, whether for business or tourism reasons.
The ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires (whichever comes first)—meaning there's no need to apply for a new one every time you visit within the valid time period.
How much does the UK ETA cost?
Starting on April 9, 2025, the ETA fee will cost 16 pounds (about $20).
The EU is launching a similar authorization system in 2025, which will cost 7 euro (about $8). A US ESTA, meanwhile, costs $21.
What will I need to apply for the UK ETA?
You'll need a valid passport (a physical copy, not a photo copy or digital version), access to an email address, and a valid debit or credit card to pay the application fees (Apple Pay or Google Pay are also available). The application requires you take digital photos of the face and passport of the person applying. For this reason, it's easier to apply via the mobile app using your phone camera than on the UK ETA website.
What does the UK ETA application entail?
The easiest way to apply for the UK ETA is on the app. Upon opening the app, you will be prompted to enter your email address, to which it will send a confirmation code. After entering the six-digit security code and providing your cell phone number, you’ll then need to take a photo of your passport—so make sure you have the physical document on hand. You’ll then use the app to scan your passport’s biometric chip (all US passports issued since August 2007 have a RFID chip embedded in the back cover).
Next, you’ll be prompted to take a selfie of yourself to confirm your identity. The photo must meet the following requirements: a plain, light-colored background with even lighting and no shadows or objects behind you. The app will notify you instantaneously if the photo is accepted or not, and allow you to retake it. I personally took my photo with wet hair, in my pajamas, in front of a white wall—suffice to say it’s not nearly as strict as taking a passport photo.
After entering your home address and phone number, you’ll be asked to answer the following questions:
- Do you have any other nationalities other than United States of America? Include any nationalities you have had in the past.
- Do you have a job? This includes if you are self-employed.
- Have you ever had a criminal conviction? Include convictions from any country.
- Have you ever been involved in, or suspected of, any of the following?
- War crimes, genocide, or crimes against humanity
- Terrorism including support for, or membership of, terrorist groups
- Supporting extremist groups or
- Expressing extremist views
If you provide false information for any of the above, “your application can be refused, you may be prosecuted, [and] you may be banned from the UK,” the application warns. After completion, you simply confirm your answers, pay the fee, and await an email with your approval.
The ETA automatically attaches to your passport—meaning there is no need to print out or screenshot the confirmation email. The good news is that, once approved, you don't have to apply again (or set that calendar reminder) for another two years, unless your passport expires sooner than that.
If this inspires you to check more items off your to-do list, here are six things to do to make travel less stressful in 2025, including everything you need to know ahead of the looming Real ID deadline.
To keep up to date with the latest information on the UK ETA, check the official website for more details as they become available.
A version of this article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller UK
