Who needs travel permission (ETA)

What Is the UK ETA?

The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a digital travel permission that you must obtain before visiting the UK. It was introduced as part of the UK's move to a fully digital border system. For full details, see our ETA complete guide.

The ETA is not a visa. It is a permission granted before travel to people whose nationality does not need a visa for a short visit. It covers travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. GOV.UK says it does not guarantee entry: a border officer still decides.

You Need an ETA If...

You need a UK ETA if all of the following apply:

• You are a national of a country on the ETA countries list
• You are visiting the UK for tourism, visiting family, business, or short-term study — or transiting through the UK in a way that takes you through border control
• You do not have a UK visa, settlement, or EU Settlement Scheme status
• You are not a British or Irish citizen

The GOV.UK ETA page has the official eligibility checker.

You Do NOT Need an ETA If...

• British citizen. You have the right to enter the UK freely.
• Irish citizen. Under the Common Travel Area, Irish citizens do not need permission to enter the UK.
• You have a UK visa. If you hold any valid UK visa (visitor, student, work), you do not need an ETA.
• You have ILR or settled status. Permanent residents do not need an ETA.
• You have pre-settled status. Under the EU Settlement Scheme, pre-settled status holders do not need an ETA.
• You are travelling on a British overseas territories citizen or British national (overseas) passport. GOV.UK lists both passports as not needing one.
• You have right of abode in the UK. GOV.UK groups this with permission to live, work or study here.
• You have permission to live, work or study in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
• You live in Ireland and are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
• You are transiting airside, without passing through UK border control. See the transit section below.
• You have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and are waiting for a decision.
• You are exempt from immigration control. GOV.UK also lists people who do not need permission to enter.
• You need a visa to visit the UK. If your nationality requires a visitor visa, you apply for a visitor visa instead. The two are alternatives, not a pair.

GOV.UK also notes that someone who is a British or Irish citizen as well as a national of another country cannot get an electronic travel authorisation, and travels on their British or Irish documents instead.

Common Countries That Need an ETA

Nationals of these countries, among many others, need one:

• United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
• All EU and EEA countries (France, Germany, Spain, Italy, etc.)
• Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia
• Brazil, Argentina, Mexico
• United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar

For the complete list, see our ETA countries list. If your country is not on the list, you may need a visitor visa instead.

Transit Through the UK

Transit depends on one thing: whether you pass through UK border control. GOV.UK says you do not need an electronic travel authorisation if you are transiting through a UK airport without passing through border control — airside. If your connection takes you through border control, for example to collect and re-check baggage or to change airport, you need one. GOV.UK says to check with your airline, because an airside route is not available at every airport or on every connection. See our ETA for UK transit guide and the transit requirements guide.

How to Get an ETA

The ETA application process runs through the UK ETA app or online at GOV.UK. It costs £20 and lasts 2 years, or until your passport expires if that is sooner. You can travel to the UK as many times as you want while you hold one, for visits of up to 6 months each. GOV.UK says a decision usually arrives by email within a day and can take up to 3 working days.

What If My ETA Is Refused?

If an application is refused, that authorisation does not exist and travel to the UK needs a visa instead. The route then is a visitor visa.

Next Steps

If you need one, apply through the official GOV.UK ETA service. Other websites charge more for the same thing.

Related guides:

• ETA application process
• ETA cost and validity
• ETA countries list
• Border control: what to expect

Questions and answers