UK ETA for US Citizens (2026): Cost, How to Apply and How Long It Lasts

Entry Permits·Updated October 2026·6 min read

Woman at a British Airways check-in desk holding a phone with an approval email while the agent checks her U.S. passport, with a small sign on the desk reading UK ETA required — Americans flying to the UK now need an ETA before they board.

Yes: US citizens need a UK ETA to visit the United Kingdom. It costs £20, is valid for 2 years (or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner), and the decision usually comes within a day. Airlines have refused boarding without one since 25 February 2026.

💡

In one line: apply in the official UK ETA app or at gov.uk/eta/apply, pay £20, and fly on the same passport you applied with.

£20

fee per person

2 years

validity, or until the passport expires

3 days

working days at most for a decision

6 months

longest stay per visit

🙋 Do Americans need a UK ETA?

Since 25 February 2026, travelers who do not need a visa for short UK visits (the Home Office calls them non-visa nationals) cannot enter without an ETA. Airlines will prevent you from boarding without an ETA, an eVisa or another valid document. Americans are in that group.

You need an ETA if you are:

A US citizen visiting for tourism, family or certain other short-stay reasons
A passport holder from one of the 85 non-visa nationalities, such as Americans, Canadians or French citizens
A child: every traveler needs their own ETA

You do not need an ETA if you are:

A British or Irish citizen, including a dual citizen
Someone with permission to live, work or study in the UK
Someone traveling on a UK visa or eVisa instead
In some cases, a resident of Ireland (listed on gov.uk)

Young woman hugging her grandmother in an airport arrivals hall while the grandmother holds a handwritten cardboard sign reading Welcome Maya, stay up to 6 months — Visiting family is one of the reasons an ETA covers, for up to 6 months.

One ETA covers the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It allows stays of up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and certain other reasons.

💷 What the UK ETA costs

£20per person, paid online or in the app. It is not refunded after you apply, even if you are refused.

gov.uk and the Home Office’s April 2026 factsheet both say £20. An earlier gov.uk news item still showed £16, so check the price on the application page before you pay.

⏳ How long it lasts

An ETA is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner, and covers multiple trips. The bars show why a passport near expiry shortens it.

Passport valid 5+ more years: your ETA lasts 2 years

Passport expires in 1 year: your ETA ends in 1 year, with the passport

It is linked to the passport you applied with. A new passport means a new ETA.

📱 App or website?

Both are official and cost the same. Pick by what you have in your pocket.

	📱 UK ETA app	💻 gov.uk website
Device	iPhone 7 or later on iOS 16+, or Android 12+ with NFC	Any phone or computer
Passport	Scans the chip in a biometric passport	You upload a passport photo page
Face photo	Taken in the app	Uploaded, following the digital photo rules
Payment	Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay	Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
Fee	£20	£20

Over-the-shoulder view of a woman at a kitchen table holding her phone against an open U.S. passport while the phone screen shows a scan your passport message — The app reads the chip in your passport. No photo upload needed.

You also need an email address and the passport you will travel on.

📝 Step by step

ApplyIn the UK ETA app or at gov.uk/eta/apply, with the passport you will travel on.
Pay £20By card, or with Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Wait for the decisionUsually within a day, up to 3 working days.
Get your emailIt carries a 16-digit ETA reference linked to your passport. You do not print anything.
Fly with the passportThe airline checks the ETA before you board.

The decision usually comes within a day, but gov.uk says it can take up to 3 working days, so apply before you book non-refundable extras. You travel with your passport only: the ETA is stored against it.

✈️ What happens at check-in and the border

🛫

The airline checks first. No valid ETA, eVisa or other document means no boarding pass.

🛂

An ETA does not guarantee entry. Border officers can still refuse a traveler on arrival.

📄

Keep the approval email. You will not be asked to print it, but it holds your ETA reference if anything goes wrong.

🚫 If your ETA is refused

There is no appeal. gov.uk says you can apply for a visa instead. The £20 is not refunded.

⚠️ One more thing: no site is faster

gov.uk states that you cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app. Third-party sites charge extra for the same form, so use only the official app or gov.uk/eta/apply.

❓ Quick answers

Do US citizens need a UK ETA?

Yes. Since 25 February 2026 Americans need an ETA to visit the UK, and airlines will not let you board without one.

How much is the UK ETA?

£20 per person, non-refundable once you apply.

How long is a UK ETA valid?

Two years, or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can make multiple trips.

How long does the application take?

Usually within a day. gov.uk says a decision can take up to 3 working days.

Is there a UK ETA app?

Yes, the official UK ETA app, for iPhone 7 and later on iOS 16+ and Android 12+ phones with NFC. You can also apply online at gov.uk/eta/apply.

How long can I stay with a UK ETA?

Up to 6 months per visit, for tourism, visiting family and certain other reasons.

Does an ETA cover Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Yes. One ETA covers the whole United Kingdom, plus Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Do I need to print my ETA?

No. It is linked to your passport. You receive an email with a 16-digit reference.

Checked October 2026 on gov.uk and the Home Office. Fees and rules can change, so confirm the price and eligibility on the official application page before you apply.

🔗 Official source

GOV.UK — Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)GOV.UK — Apply for an ETA GOV.UK — Using the UK ETA app GOV.UK — UK enforces digital permission to travel Home Office — ETA factsheet (April 2026)