Traveling to the United Kingdom? You’ll Need an ETA

The United Kingdom has added a new step to its immigration process, which requires an application and a small fee. So if your upcoming travel plans include England, Scotland, Wales, and/or Northern Ireland, this will likely impact you. While this may sound intimidating, it’s simply a straightforward online task. Here’s what you need to know.

All travelers heading to the United Kingdom need an Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA. Think of this as a digital stamp of approval, which is required to board your flight. Anyone who is not traveling on a visa will need to obtain an ETA — so whether you’re hopping across the pond for business, catching up with friends, or just there to see Big Ben and have a chippy wally, that means you.

An ETA costs £16 (about $21) per person, including children. Once you’re approved, it’s valid for any trips to the UK within a two-year period. If your passport expires — or when the two-year period concludes — you must apply for another.

Authorities promise that the application process is short and simple, and should yield quick results. You can apply on the UK’s official ETA website — but the best experience is through the UK ETA app. Be prepared to scan your passport, take a passport-style photo of yourself (have a blank wall nearby), provide contact information, answer a series of background questions, and pay the fee (by credit card). They expect to deliver your approval by email within three business days.

Once approved, your ETA is digitally linked to your passport, meaning you shouldn’t have to show anything else before boarding your flight. (But keep your confirmation handy just in case.) When you arrive in the UK, you’ll still have to go through border control: Your ETA does not grant you admission into the country, just approval to travel to the country.

Transferring is a special case. As of now, if you’re flying to a destination in continental Europe — like France or Germany — and connecting through London Heathrow or Manchester, you likely won’t need an ETA. These large airports act as international hubs, and have airside terminals where passengers can transit without going through immigration. But if you’re transferring at a smaller airport like Glasgow or London Stansted — or if your final destination is Ireland (see below) — there’s a chance you’ll go through UK immigration before your connection, meaning you’ll need an ETA.

Ireland is unique because it’s part of a common travel agreement with Britain and there are no routine passport checks between the two. This means flights from, say, London to Dublin are treated similarly to domestic routes — so if you’re transferring in Heathrow or Manchester, you might go through immigration before making your connection. On top of that, the island of Ireland is shared by the Republic (in the EU) and Northern Ireland (in the UK). If you’re just traveling in Ireland, you won’t need an ETA…but if you cross into the North — even though there are no border checks and things operate on an “honor system” — you technically need one.

If either of the above scenarios applies to you, it’s safest just to get an ETA. There’s no harm done if you don’t use it, and you’ll travel worry-free.

For more detailed information, the UK has created a pair of quick and helpful videos that dive deeper into introducing the ETA and how to apply for an ETA. While the vast majority of applications are accepted, it’s smart to apply before booking your travel — just in case the approval doesn’t come through, and you’re stuck with useless plane tickets.

While this might feel “new” to many American travelers — maybe even needlessly complicated and greedy — it’s far from unprecedented. The United Kingdom is emulating the United States, which already has a nearly identical system (the ESTA) for non-visa travelers. Other nations (like Australia and New Zealand) also have similar digital stamps, and the European Union plans to introduce their version, called ETIAS, soon (likely sometime in 2026…stay tuned).

These new systems are all part of a larger effort to streamline immigration processes through digital methods, which already includes advancements like E-Gates at borders and online passport renewals. Soon, getting online preapproval will be commonplace for all Europe-bound travelers.

 

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Update: This article was updated on February 17, 2026.

 

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