The UK ETA: a £20 travel authorisation, explained
Visitors who do not need a visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation: £20, valid for two years, usually decided in minutes. British and Irish citizens and holders of UK status are exempt.
If you have visitors coming — parents, friends, a business partner — they will probably need an ETA. It is an electronic travel authorisation for people who do not need a visa to come to the United Kingdom. The scheme has run since October 2023, and by the end of 2025 some 24.8 million authorisations had been issued.
Cost and validity
The fee is £20. The authorisation permits multiple journeys, each for a stay of up to six months, and is valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. It is tied to the passport: a new passport means a new application.
Who needs one, and who does not
Needed by: visitors without a visa coming for up to six months who hold no UK immigration status.
Not needed by: British and Irish citizens, dual nationals included, and anyone with a valid UK visa or settled status. Legal residents of Ireland of certain nationalities can qualify for an exemption when travelling within the Common Travel Area, with proof of residency.
Transiting through a UK airport
The rule turns on passport control. Passengers who pass through UK passport control need an ETA. Those transiting Heathrow or Manchester without going through passport control do not currently need one. Check the itinerary carefully: changing terminals or reclaiming baggage usually means clearing control.
Applying, and when
The quickest route is the UK ETA app, and most applicants get an automatic decision within minutes. Even so, the Home Office advises applying at least three working days before travel, because some applications go for further review.
Warn your visitors about intermediaries. Paid "application services" often rank above the official site and charge a mark-up for the same form. The only official routes are GOV.UK and the Home Office app.
What the border still asks
An ETA is permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry. A Border Force officer decides, and may ask about the purpose of the visit, its length, the address and the money available for it. A host is well advised to prepare a short letter with the address and the dates; the visitor should carry a return ticket and a booking confirmation.
We do not give individual immigration advice. Check requirements and fees on GOV.UK: they change, and a decision is taken under the rules in force on the day the application is made.
