Updated 21 August 2026
For many European travellers, visiting the UK now involves one additional step before departure: obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
The ETA is not a visa. It is a digital permission to travel to the UK for eligible visa-free visitors. However, carriers now check travel permission before boarding, meaning that an EU citizen who arrives at the airport without the required ETA may not be allowed to travel.
Although the ETA requirement for most EU nationals was introduced during 2025, 2026 is its first full year of operation and enforcement. This article explains what EU travellers, families, frequent visitors and UK businesses need to know.
Do EU citizens need a UK ETA in 2026?
Most EU citizens need an ETA if they:
- Are travelling on an EU passport, other than an Irish passport;
- Are visiting the UK for up to six months;
- Do not already hold UK immigration permission; and
- Do not require a visitor visa for their nationality or purpose of travel.
The ETA can generally be used for tourism, visiting family or friends, attending meetings, conducting certain business activities and other permitted short-term visits.
It also covers travel to Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. The rules for these destinations should still be checked before travelling, particularly where the journey involves different parts of the Common Travel Area.
An ETA does not give a person the right to live, work or study in the UK. A traveller intending to take employment, undertake activities outside the visitor rules or remain for longer than six months may need a visa or another form of immigration permission.
What does the ETA cost and how long does it last?
The official ETA fee is currently £20 per person.
One approved ETA normally permits multiple journeys during a period of:
- Two years; or
- The validity of the passport used for the application,
whichever comes first.
Every traveller needs their own ETA. This includes babies and children, even where they are travelling with a parent or as part of a family group.
The ETA is electronically linked to the passport used in the application. If that passport expires or is replaced, the traveller will normally need to apply for a new ETA linked to the new passport.
The fee is payable through the official GOV.UK service or the UK ETA app. Unofficial websites may charge additional service fees and can make applications appear more complicated or urgent than they are.
How do EU nationals apply?
Applications can be made online through the official GOV.UK ETA service or using the UK ETA app.
Applicants will generally need to provide:
- Their current passport;
- A recent digital photograph;
- Contact details;
- Details about their intended travel; and
- Answers to suitability and criminality questions.
Most applications receive an automated decision quickly, sometimes within minutes. However, travellers are advised to apply at least three working days before travel. An application that requires further review may take longer.
Applicants should wait for confirmation that the ETA has been granted before travelling. They should also check that the approval relates to the exact passport they intend to use.
What happens if someone travels without an ETA?
The ETA is checked digitally by airlines, ferry operators, international rail services and other carriers.
If an EU citizen requires an ETA but does not have one, the carrier may refuse boarding. This can happen before the traveller reaches the UK border. A last-minute application at the airport should not be treated as a reliable solution.
If a person manages to arrive without the required permission, they may be questioned and refused entry. An ETA also does not guarantee admission: border officials can still assess whether the visitor meets the UK’s Immigration Rules.
A refused ETA application cannot be appealed through the ETA process. A person who is refused and still wishes to travel may need to apply for a visa instead. The reason for the refusal and the proposed purpose of travel will be important when deciding what to do next.
Anyone with a previous criminal conviction, immigration breach, refusal or other potential suitability issue should avoid assuming that an ETA application is risk-free. Specialist advice may be appropriate before submitting an application.
Who is exempt from the ETA requirement?
The main exemptions relevant to EU citizens include the following.
Irish citizens
Irish citizens do not need an ETA to travel to the UK.
This reflects the Common Travel Area arrangements between the UK and Ireland. Irish citizens should nevertheless travel with appropriate identity documents and check the requirements of any carrier or destination involved in their journey.
People with UK immigration status
A person who already has permission to live, work or study in the UK generally does not need an ETA. This may include someone who holds:
- Settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme;
- A work, study, family or other UK visa;
- Indefinite leave to remain; or
- Another form of valid permission to enter or stay.
An ETA is intended for visitors who do not already have UK immigration status. It should not be used as a substitute for a visa or residence permission.
EU citizens with EUSS status
EU Settlement Scheme holders do not normally need an ETA. Instead, they should travel using the passport or travel document linked to their digital immigration status.
The UK’s move to digital status makes this an important practical distinction. Before travelling, EUSS holders should:
- Log into their UKVI account;
- Check that their current passport is linked to their eVisa;
- Update their details if they have changed passport or personal information; and
- Carry the current passport used for travel.
A physical or expired residence card should not be assumed to be sufficient evidence of status. Our guidance on the UK’s eVisa transition explains the wider move towards digital immigration records.
For EUSS holders who cannot access their account, have a document-linking problem or need evidence to return to the UK, action should be taken well before departure.
Dual British–EU citizens
British citizens do not need an ETA. A dual British–EU citizen should generally travel using a valid British passport or appropriate evidence of a right of abode.
Using an EU passport without a properly recorded British status can create avoidable problems at check-in. Travellers with dual nationality should check the current guidance and carrier requirements before booking.
Irish residents travelling within the Common Travel Area
Some non-Irish EU citizens who are legally resident in Ireland may benefit from an exemption when travelling within the Common Travel Area. They may need to show evidence of legal residence if asked.
The exemption is fact-specific. It should not be assumed to apply to every journey involving Ireland, particularly where the traveller is arriving from outside the Common Travel Area or is travelling onward by air.
Airside transit
An eligible traveller may not need an ETA when transiting through a UK airport without passing through UK border control. At present, limited airside transit arrangements apply at certain airports, including Heathrow and Manchester.
The position can depend on the airport, terminal, itinerary and whether the passenger must pass through border control. Travellers should confirm the position with their airline rather than relying solely on a booking itinerary.
What does the digital border mean for travellers?
The ETA forms part of a wider move towards digital UK border controls. Carriers use automated checks to establish whether a passenger has permission to travel before they issue a boarding pass or allow them to board.
This means that small administrative errors can have immediate consequences. Examples include:
- Applying with an old passport;
- Entering passport details incorrectly;
- Failing to update an eVisa after receiving a new passport;
- Assuming an ETA covers employment; or
- Confusing an ETA with EUSS status or a visa.
A traveller may have a genuine reason for visiting the UK and still be prevented from boarding if the digital permission check does not produce the expected result.
What should UK businesses do?
UK employers and businesses should not treat an ETA as evidence that an EU national can work in the UK.
An EU-based customer, consultant, speaker or business visitor may be able to attend meetings or undertake permitted visitor activities with an ETA. However, the precise activity must be assessed against the visitor rules.
Businesses should consider:
- Whether the proposed activity is permitted as a business visit;
- Whether the individual will undertake hands-on work or provide services in the UK;
- Whether a visa or sponsored route is required;
- Whether multiple visits could suggest an intention to work or live in the UK; and
- Whether staff arranging travel understand the distinction between an ETA and work permission.
Frequent business travel should be planned centrally, with records of passport details, ETA expiry dates and the purpose of each visit. This reduces the risk of a traveller being stopped at check-in or entering the UK under an inappropriate immigration route.
Our separate commentary on recent EUSS travel and immigration rule changes may also be relevant to EU nationals with existing or prospective UK status.
Practical checklist for EU travellers
Before travelling to the UK in 2026:
- Check whether your nationality requires an ETA or a visa.
- Confirm whether you already hold UK immigration permission.
- Apply only through the official GOV.UK service or UK ETA app.
- Apply at least three working days before departure.
- Use the same passport for travel as for the ETA application.
- Check your email for the approval decision.
- Apply separately for every traveller, including children.
- If you hold EUSS status, check that your passport is linked to your eVisa.
- Confirm whether your planned activities are permitted under the visitor rules.
- Recheck the position if your passport, itinerary or purpose of travel changes.
How can immigration solicitors help?
The ETA application itself is designed to be straightforward. However, professional advice may be sensible where there is a previous refusal, criminality issue, immigration history concern, uncertainty about an exemption or a business activity that may fall outside the visitor rules.
Tyndel Solicitors provides advice to individuals, families and businesses on UK immigration, digital status and travel-related immigration issues. If you need support, contact our UK immigration solicitors and immigration lawyers for practical advice tailored to your circumstances.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for advice on an individual case. ETA rules and fees can change, so travellers should check the latest official guidance before making arrangements.
