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United Kingdom: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Wondering if a UK ETA site is the official one? The real portal is GOV.UK, run by the Home Office. The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is digital permission to travel. It is not a visa, and it is linked electronically to your passport.

Official site

Fee£20Rose from £16 to £20 in April 2026

Open www.gov.uk/eta

Source: UK Home Office ETA guidance, as relayed by university and embassy pages. Last checked 28 September 2026.

No visa or ETA needed forBritish and Irish citizens, and anyone who already holds UK immigration status, do not need an ETA.

Who needs it

Visitors who do not need a visa for short stays, including tourists, business visitors and people transiting. British and Irish citizens and people with UK visas or status do not need one.

Key facts

Valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner, with multiple visits of up to six months.
Apply on GOV.UK or in the UK ETA app. Most app users get a decision within minutes, but officials ask you to allow up to three working days.
You must travel on the same passport you used to apply.
Airlines and ferry operators can refuse boarding without one.

Watch out for

Reviewers on Trustpilot and consumer sites have reported unofficial UK ETA sites charging roughly 5 to 8 times the government fee, and some copy the crown icon used on GOV.UK to look official. If a site does not show gov.uk in the address, or the price is not clear before you enter payment details, stop and check GOV.UK directly.

Before you pay

Check that the address matches the link above, confirm the amount on the portal, and never pay a site that adds a large service fee. Our guide to spotting fake visa websites explains the warning signs, and the FAQ covers common questions.

This page is a summary for general information and can go out of date, and exemptions depend on your own nationality, so always confirm on the official portal. See our disclaimer.