If you’re a U.S. citizen traveling to the UK in 2025, you’ll need to apply for an ETA before departure. Here’s exactly how we did it, what it cost, and what to expect.
As of January 8, 2025, U.S. citizens traveling to the United Kingdom for short visits—whether for tourism, business, family, or short-term study—must now obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before departure. This requirement also applies if you’re transiting through the UK and will pass through border control.
Our family recently traveled to the UK and obtained our ETAs—and for us, it was super easy!
What is an ETA?
I had this question too. According to the UK government, an ETA:
Is not a visa
Is not a travel tax
Is digital permission to travel to the UK
It’s designed to improve border security and track who’s entering. The ETA allows visits of up to 6 months for tourism, business, or family.
How Much Does a UK ETA Cost?
When I applied back in January, the fee was £10. Fast forward a few months, and as of April 9, 2025, the price has increased to £16 (nonrefundable). I guess we got a bargain!
Fun fact: This isn’t just a “UK thing”—the USA has required visitors to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) for years, and as of 2022, that cost was $21, if approved.
Can I Use My ETA for Multiple Visits?
Yes! The ETA is valid for 2 years, or until your passport expires—whichever comes first. You can use it for multiple short stays during that time.
Is There a Family ETA?
Nope. Each traveler, including babies and children, needs their own individual ETA.
Where to Apply for an ETA?
Please apply only through official channels:
The UK.gov App (Apple Store or Google Play)
The UK.gov website
Beware of third-party websites that charge unnecessary extra fees!
We used the UK ETA app through Google Play—and I applied for our whole family from my sofa.
What Do I Need to Apply for an ETA?
As I mentioned in the intro, applying was super easy for me. I applied for 5 people, one after another. I had to submit one application per person. The application required:
- a credit card
- a valid passport
- a photo of the person applying, taken during the process so you’ll need them nearby.
Real Tip: When using the app, you’ll need to scan your ePassport chip by holding your passport up to your phone. The App will walk you through the process from beginning to end, including this step.
Look for the small ePassport logo on the front of your passport (a rectangle with a circle in the middle). That means it has the chip embedded.
This was the trickiest part for me.
Sometimes the app asked me to hold the passport to the front of my phone, sometimes the back when it was having difficulty reading it. I had to try multiple times with some family members before it finally read the chip. It can feel like it’s not going to work—but stay patient, and it usually does after a few tries (at least I eventually got it to work for the five applications I made).
How Fast Was My UK ETA Approved?
I was a little nervous about applying for the ETA. I had just booked my airline tickets with British Airways when I remembered reading earlier in the month that an ETA was now required for travel to the UK. So after purchasing the tickets, I immediately applied for the ETAs (during the 24-hour free cancellation window for our airline tickets).
In our case, approval was super fast. I was getting the approval for one person, while completing the application for the next person. Within a few minutes of submitting all applications, I had received email approvals for all 5 of us. The approval emails came from UK Visas and Immigration Home Office’s email address:
uk.visas.and.immigration.home.office@notifications.service.gov.uk.
However, the official answer is that most people get a decision within three working days. Only a few folks will have to wait longer.
Applying through another method DOES NOT speed this up, no matter how much more you pay.
What About Last Minute Travel to the UK?
You must apply before traveling. But—you can travel to the UK while your application is pending.
I haven’t tested what happens if it’s denied en route (and I hope I never do). But since the UK government allows travel during processing, I assume denial is rare.
Do I Need to Bring My ETA With Me?
Honestly? I forgot I even applied.
No one at the gate mentioned it. That’s because the ETA is digitally linked to your passport. You don’t need to show anything—but I’d still keep the approval email, just in case.
Who Doesn't Need the UK ETA?
Besides not traveling to the UK, here are exceptions:
British or Irish citizens (like Bramley the Fox 🦊)
Dual citizens with a valid UK or Irish passport
Visa holders or those with permission to live/work/study in the UK
Transit passengers who do not pass through border control (double check with your airline!)
There are some other exceptions too. Always check the UK.gov website for current exceptions.
Visa Waivers are the New Norm
The UK’s ETA program isn’t unique. Many countries now require electronic travel authorizations—including the U.S. with ESTA.
Coming soon: the European Union’s ETIAS system. Travelers to Europe will need to apply for authorization before visiting EU countries, too.
Planning travel in 2025 and beyond will include juggling these requirements—so get used to adding visa waivers to your checklist!
