UK ETA 2026: Who Needs It, the GBP 20 Fee and How to Apply

The UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA) lets visitors from visa exempt countries travel to the United Kingdom, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It is not a visa. It is a check done before you fly, so the UK knows who is coming.

The UK started with Qatar in 2023, added the other Gulf states and then most other visa exempt nationalities. Europeans from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland have needed one since 2 April 2025. Today most people who could once just show a passport need an ETA first.

An ETA does not guarantee entry. A Border Force officer still checks your passport and your reason for coming when you arrive. If you want the general idea first, read what an ETA is.

Lookalike sites charge much more than GBP 20 and some never deliver an ETA. gov.uk itself warns you to avoid sites that imitate government services.

You need an ETA if your nationality can visit the UK without a visa and you do not already have permission to be there. In practice this covers the EU, Norway, Switzerland, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, the six Gulf states and others on the UK list.

• You do not need an ETA if you have a British or Irish passport.
• You do not need one if you have UK permission to live, work or study, for example a valid visa or settled status.
• You do not need one if you already need a UK visa because of your nationality. In that case you apply for a visa, not an ETA.
• Children and babies need their own ETA. A parent or guardian can apply for them.
• Dual citizens with a British passport should travel on it. Dual citizens of two other countries should use the passport that is on the ETA list.

None of these nationalities can use the UK ETA. Citizens of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, India, Russia and Türkiye apply for a Standard Visitor visa online, give fingerprints and a photo at a visa centre, and wait for a decision. The visa also covers short business trips and family visits.

Azerbaijanis book the biometrics appointment at the UK visa application centre; gov.uk shows where when you apply. Our post on the UK visa for Azerbaijani citizens covers costs, waiting times and refusals. You can see all destinations for your passport on where Azerbaijanis can travel, travel from Pakistan or travel from India.

If you are a foreigner who lives in Azerbaijan, for example a German or a Saudi citizen working in Baku, your own passport decides. Living in Baku does not make you need a visa, and it does not let you skip the ETA.

1. 1

   Get the official app or open gov.uk

   Download the UK ETA app from the official store or go to gov.uk/eta. The app is usually faster because it reads your passport chip and takes the face photo for you.

2. 2

   Scan your passport

   Use the passport you will travel with. If you get a new passport later, you need a new ETA.

3. 3

   Take a photo of your face

   Use plain light, no glasses and a plain background. Each traveller, including a baby, needs a photo.

4. 4

   Answer the questions

   You will be asked about your address, job, criminal record and past immigration problems. Answer honestly; a false answer can lead to a ban.

5. 5

   Pay GBP 20

   Pay by card. The fee is not refunded if you are refused.

6. 6

   Wait for the email

   Most people get a decision fast, but allow up to 3 working days. Check your spam folder before you contact UK Visas and Immigration.

You need an ETA if you pass through UK border control on the way to another country, for example to collect bags, change airports or stay a night in a hotel.

If you stay airside, which means you change planes inside the airport without going through passport control, the rule can be different. Ask your airline before you fly, and read our guide on transit visas for the general rules.

Travellers who need a UK visa, such as Azerbaijani or Pakistani citizens, may need a Direct Airside Transit visa or a Visitor in Transit visa instead. Use the official visa checker on gov.uk with your exact route.

The ETA lets you come as a visitor: tourism, family visits, business meetings, conferences and other activities allowed under the UK visitor rules. It does not let you take a job, and it is not a way to move to the UK.

If you want to work, study for a long course or live in the UK, you need the right visa before you travel. Border Force can refuse entry if your plans do not match a visit.