Traveling to the U.K.? You Might Need to Apply and Pay a Fee First.
2 min read
Most Europeans are now required to have an electronic travel authorization, joining visitors from visa-exempt countries including the U.S. and Canada.
This article was updated on April 2, 2025, with information about pricing and who needs to apply for the travel authorization.
Travelers from the United States, Canada and most European countries who do not require visas to enter the United Kingdom will now need to apply for digital authorization in order to visit or, in some cases, transit through the country.
The electronic travel authorization, called ETA and linked to a traveler’s passport, lasts two years. The requirement was introduced in late 2023 for nationals of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and four other Gulf nations and now extends to all visa-exempt travelers visiting the United Kingdom, including those from the European Union.
Some travelers connecting through airports in the United Kingdom will also need to apply for the ETA, but only if they pass through border control.
The ETA system is part of a mission to “deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system” that will enhance border security, according to a news release from the British Home Office.
Here’s what you need to know about the ETA and the process to apply.
It’s not a visa.
The ETA is for short-term visits under six months and only for visa-exempt travelers; the full list of applicable nationalities is available online. The ETA does not replace existing visa policies, which require citizens of dozens of countries and territories to apply for and receive a visa to enter the United Kingdom.
