UK ETA.

Everything you need to know for your trip to Great Britain

From our Global Mobility Team at visumPOINT. For over 15 years, more than 80 experts have been supporting visa and entry projects for airlines, tour operators, and private travelers, including the development of the visumPOINT Visa Check.

Since 2025, a simple national ID card or passport is no longer sufficient for most short trips to Great Britain. Anyone wishing to enter from one of the many visa-exempt countries—including all EU member states, Switzerland, the USA, Canada, Australia, and many others—additionally requires an ETA, the Electronic Travel Authorisation. Without it, you can no longer board a plane, ferry, or the Eurostar.

At visumPOINT, we see every day that this is exactly where most questions arise: Is a passport really no longer enough, and what are the rules for transiting through a British airport? This guide summarizes everything you need to know about the ETA and is continuously updated as fees, deadlines, or rules change.

Years valid

Travel to the United Kingdom as often as you like over a period of 2 years.

Months stay

Stay in the country for up to 6 months at a time with the ETA. A visa is required for longer stays.

Hours until receipt

As a rule, the ETA is fully processed and ready to use within 3 days.

99.8%

Success guarantee

Through expertise and experience, we get you to your destination safely and stress-free.

What is the UK ETA?

The Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA for short, is a digital entry permit for the United Kingdom. It works on a similar principle to the American ESTA: the application process is entirely online, travelers provide passport details and a current photo, and generally receive a response within a few days.

Legally, the ETA is not a visa, but a form of pre-screening. British authorities use it to check for any fundamental concerns regarding entry before you even depart. The final decision on entry is still always made by the border officer on-site, so the ETA does not guarantee admission.

Important for your travel planning: As of February 25, 2026, airlines, ferry operators, and the Eurostar are legally required to deny boarding to any travelers without a valid ETA. It is no longer possible to provide it later at the gate or check-in counter.

What the UK ETA covers

Tourism, visiting family and friends
Business appointments, conferences, trade fair visits
Short-term study stays
Certain business activities such as meetings, negotiations, and after-sales service
Multiple entries within the two-year validity period
Important note regarding business activities: The ETA does not permit regular employment in the UK. Only standard visitor activities are allowed, such as meetings, conferences, or after-sales support for products already sold; paid or unpaid employment with a British company is not permitted. Anyone wishing to work there requires a work visa.

What the UK ETA does not cover

Employment for longer than six months
Full-time study at a British university
Family reunification
Permanent residency
In these cases, a traditional visa is required. We explain what you need to consider in our separate guide to the UK visa.

Who needs an ETA?

In principle, the ETA requirement applies to all nationals of visa-exempt countries who are permitted to enter the UK for short stays without a traditional visa. This includes all EU member states except Ireland, as well as a long list of other countries, including Andorra, Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, the Seychelles, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates, the USA, Uruguay, and Vatican City.

This list changes regularly; for example, Botswana, Nauru, Nicaragua, and St. Lucia were recently removed from the list of ETA-eligible countries between October 2025 and March 2026. If you are unsure, it is worth checking our Visa Check, which displays the current regulations for every nationality in real time.

EU member states (excluding Ireland)

Belgium

Bulgaria

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Finland

France

Greece

Italy

Croatia

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Sweden

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Czech Republic

Hungary

Cyprus

Europe (Non-EU)

Andorra

Iceland

Liechtenstein

Monaco

Norway

San Marino

Switzerland

Vatican City

Asia

Bahrain

Brunei

Hong Kong

Israel

Japan

Qatar

Kuwait

Macau

Malaysia

Maldives

Oman

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Korea

Taiwan

United Arab Emirates

North America and the Caribbean

Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Costa Rica

Grenada

Guatemala

Canada

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Lucia

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

USA

South America

Argentina

Brazil

Chile

Guyana

Paraguay

Peru

Uruguay

Africa

Botswana

Mauritius

Seychelles

Oceania

Australia

Kiribati

Marshall Islands

Micronesia

Nauru

New Zealand

Palau

Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands

Samoa

Tonga

Tuvalu

Irish citizens are an exception. They require neither a visa nor an ETA, as Ireland enjoys a special status under the Common Travel Area agreement. Also exempt are British citizens and individuals who already hold a residence permit for the United Kingdom.

If you are from another country, you generally do not need an ETA, but rather a standard visa. If you are unsure, it is worth doing a quick check via our Visa Check, which displays the current regulations for every nationality in seconds.

How much does the UK ETA cost?

Since April 9, 2026, the ETA costs 20 pounds per person, which is approximately 23 euros. Previously, the fee was 16 pounds; the British government increased it in the spring of 2026. The amount applies per traveler and application, regardless of age.

When using the visumPOINT Visa Check, our service fee of 39 euros net per person is added to this government fee. In return, we handle the complete review of your information, the application process, and provide support if anything doesn't go as planned. If you are in a hurry, you can optionally add express processing for an extra 40 euros or priority processing for an extra 80 euros.

Amount per person

Government fee

approx. 23 euros

Service fee

39 euros

Total

approx. 62 euros

Währungsrechner: Pfund in Euro

Britische Pfund

GBP

Euro

EUR

Kurs wird geladen …

How does the application process work?

The original English-language form provided by the British authorities is often the biggest hurdle. We frequently see applications fail due to a misunderstood question or a photo that does not meet the strict British requirements, such as shadows on the face or a non-neutral background. We catch these exact sources of error in advance. If something is rejected anyway, you can simply contact us instead of struggling with an English-language support system. After successful payment, you will receive a confirmation email with a reference number. It is recommended to print this email or have a screenshot ready, as airlines and border officials may ask for it. The application process via the visumPOINT Visa Check takes just a few steps:

Online questionnaire

You complete a form in one of five languages (DE, ENG, ES, IT, FR) with your travel and passport details

Preliminary check

We check your information for common errors before submission

We take care of it

We submit the application to the British authorities on your behalf and handle all communication.

Done.

You will receive a confirmation email including your ETA as soon as it has been approved.

Frequently Asked Questions.

When do I need a visa?

A visa is required if there is no reciprocal agreement for visa-free entry between your home country and the destination country. The specific regulations depend on your nationality, destination, and purpose of travel. You can get a quick and reliable check from the respective embassy. Or simply check your specific case using our Quick Visa tool at the top of the page. There, you are guaranteed to receive reliable information and can embark on your journey with confidence.

Can my visa be extended?

Whether a visa can be extended depends on the regulations of the respective country, as well as the type of visa and the purpose of the stay. An extension is generally possible in many cases, but usually subject to specific conditions. Reasons for an extension may include medical emergencies, family circumstances, unforeseen events, or a continuing purpose of stay. Tourist visas often have stricter regulations; in some cases, an extension is not possible. The application for an extension should generally be submitted to the competent authority before the current visa expires. Failure to extend in time can lead to legal consequences for an unauthorized stay. The entry and residence regulations of the respective country are always decisive. Reliable information can be obtained from the competent authorities, foreign representations, or directly from us.

How much does a visa cost through your service?

The total cost for a visa consists of the official fees of the respective embassy or consulate, as well as our service fee. Government fees are determined by the destination country, purpose of travel, and processing time. Our service fees for assistance with the application process (e.g., consultation, document review, and application handling) can be found in our current price list. A complete overview of costs is also available upon request for your specific trip.

Do I need a visa for a layover?

Whether a visa is required for a layover depends on the specific transit country, the traveler's nationality, the duration of the stay, and whether the international transit area of the airport will be exited. In many cases, no additional visa is required, provided the transit area is not left and the onward journey occurs promptly. However, some countries, including the USA, do not have a classic international transit area. In such cases, an appropriate visa is required even for a mere layover. Since regulations vary by country, the entry and transit requirements of the respective transit country should be carefully checked before traveling. Competent embassies, consulates, or airlines can provide binding information on this, or upon request.

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