Last verified: April 2026
For decades, Americans could fly to London with just a US passport and walk through passport control. That changed with the full rollout of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation — the ETA. Starting in 2025, US citizens have needed an approved ETA before boarding any flight to the United Kingdom for a short visit. This guide covers what the ETA is, what it costs now, who needs it, and how to apply on the official UK government portal without falling into one of the many copycat sites.
Do US Citizens Need a UK ETA?
Yes, in almost every case. If you hold a US passport and are flying to the United Kingdom for tourism, a short business trip, a conference, a wedding, or transit via a UK airport, you need an approved ETA before you fly. The ETA rule applies to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
You don’t need an ETA if you already hold a UK visa, British or Irish citizenship, permission to live or work in the UK, or if you are landing at a Dublin airport and crossing into Northern Ireland without a separate UK immigration check. Children of any age on a US passport need their own ETA.
UK ETA at a Glance
- Fee: £16 as of the most recent Home Office schedule. Fees are reviewed periodically, so check the official page before paying.
- Validity: 2 years, or until your passport expires.
- Stays permitted: Up to 6 months per visit for tourism, visiting family, short business trips, and short study.
- Entries: Multiple entries within the 2-year validity.
- Processing time: Most approvals in 1–3 business days. Same-day approvals are common but not guaranteed.
- Where to apply: The official UK government portal, gov.uk, or the official “UK ETA” app. Only these two channels are official.
How to Apply for a UK ETA
- Download the official UK ETA app from the App Store or Google Play — the only mobile app that is genuinely official is the one published by the UK Home Office. Or go to gov.uk on a laptop.
- Scan or enter your passport details. The app can read the passport chip via NFC, which is the fastest and least error-prone route.
- Take a selfie as prompted by the app for biometric matching.
- Answer the background questions — criminal convictions, immigration history, and security-related questions. Be truthful; discrepancies trigger refusals that are hard to reverse.
- Pay the £16 fee by card in the app.
- Wait for the email decision. Usually within hours, occasionally up to 3 business days. Apply at least a week before your flight.
Required Documents
- A US passport valid for the full length of your planned stay.
- A credit or debit card to pay £16.
- A working email address.
- A smartphone with a camera if applying via the app (easiest option); otherwise a laptop with a webcam for the web portal.
Processing Time
Most applications are approved within minutes to a few hours. The Home Office says it can take up to 3 business days. Applications that require manual review — security flags, mismatched records — can take longer, with no strict upper limit but typically resolved within a week. Apply at least a week before travel to avoid boarding-denial anxiety.
Common Reasons Applications Are Refused
- Undisclosed criminal history. Even old or minor convictions must be declared honestly. Failure to disclose is usually worse than the conviction itself.
- Prior UK overstays. If you previously stayed beyond your leave, an ETA may be refused and a proper visitor visa required instead.
- Using the wrong website. Several “UK ETA” services charge $80–$150 for a £16 service — some are legitimate resellers and some are scams. Neither is necessary.
- Poor-quality selfie. Poor lighting or glasses can cause the biometric match to fail and the application to be paused.
- Mismatches between passport and stated details. Even a hyphen in the wrong place matters.
When You Need a UK Visa Instead
The ETA is only for short visits — up to 6 months for tourism, short business, short study, or family visits. You need a full UK visa if you plan to: work in the UK (Skilled Worker or similar), study for more than 6 months (Student visa), live with family long term (Family visa), or settle permanently. UK visas apply at the UK’s visa application centers in the United States and typically take 3–8 weeks.
Practical Tips for Americans
- The ETA is linked to your passport electronically. If you renew your passport, you’ll need a new ETA on the new passport.
- Transit counts. Even if you’re only changing planes at Heathrow and not leaving airside, some itineraries require an ETA — check with your airline.
- Bring a printed copy of the ETA approval to the airport. Airline staff sometimes ask for it at check-in.
- Enroll in STEP at step.state.gov before you travel.
- For British-style paperwork precision, double-check the spelling of every field against your passport before submitting.
FAQ
Is the UK ETA the same as ETIAS?
No. ETIAS is an EU/Schengen authorization. The UK is not in the EU or Schengen and uses its own ETA system. You need both only if you’re visiting the UK and Schengen on the same trip.
Can I use the ETA to visit Ireland?
No. Ireland has its own rules — Americans don’t currently need an ETA or visa for short tourist visits to Ireland. If you’re crossing between the UK and Ireland, remember that the UK requires the ETA and Ireland has its own border checks.
Do I need a UK ETA if I already have a UK visa?
No. An existing UK visa — Visitor, Skilled Worker, Family, Student — already covers your entry. The ETA is only for people travelling to the UK without any other form of authorization.
Can I appeal a refused ETA?
There is no formal appeal, but you can re-apply and address the reason given, or apply for a Standard Visitor visa through the UK visa application center in the US, which has a formal review process.
Bottom line
A £16 fee, a short online application, and one accurate selfie is all the UK ETA really is. Apply early on the gov.uk site, check the URL carefully, and you’re in. The only way Americans get caught out is by leaving it to the airport or paying a reseller too much for a service they could have done themselves in ten minutes.