“No permission, no travel” (No authorization, no trip). The message from the British Home Office is now unequivocal. Since February 25, 2026, The United Kingdom applies a strict border control policy. It is no longer possible to embark for the UK, without having obtained an electronic travel authorization approved by the authorities.
What is the British ETA?
The ETA is the British equivalent of the American ESTA or the future European ETIAS. It is not a visa, but a electronic travel authorization digitally linked to your passport.
Gradually deployed since 2023 for Gulf countries, then extended in 2025 to non-European travelers (Americans, Canadians, Australians...) and Europeans, the system reaches its full repressive application in February 2026. The aim? To secure borders by checking the biographical, biometric and judicial backgrounds of every visitor, even before he or she boards a plane or Eurostar.
Who should apply for an ETA for the UK?
The rule is simple: all international travellers exempt from traditional visa requirements must obtain an ETA. This includes dozens of nationalities around the world.
✅ You need an ETA if:
- You are a European Union national (French, Belgian, Swiss, etc.).
- You come from a visa-exempt country (USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.).
- You are staying for a specific reason (Tourism, Business, Conference, Visit to acquaintances, Medical, Event) or for a simple stopover (transit) at a British airport.
- Travelling with minors or babies (each person must have his or her own ETA).
❌ You do NOT need an ETA if:
- You are a British or Irish citizen.
- You have dual nationality (e.g. Franco-British), provided you travel with your British passport.
- You already hold a valid visa for the UK (work, long-term study, family reunion).
- You are legally resident in Ireland and traveling within the Common Travel Area (CTA).
How to obtain your ETA step by step
The official application “UK ETA” (available on iOS and Android) or the web portal GOV.UK are the official forms. Bring your valid passport (the one you'll be using for travel), a credit card and an email address. You'll need to upload a copy of your passport and add a passport photo or live selfie for biometric recognition. You will be asked a series of questions about your personal details and security history. The consular fee to be paid after completing the form is 16 £. A tariff evolution could be applied in the coming months, and the price of ETA raised to 20 £.
Our agency's advice : Although the UK government advertises an automated response “within minutes” for the majority of cases, manual checks are sometimes necessary. We strongly recommend that all our customers do the following at least 3 working days (72 hours) before departure. Don't play with delays at the airport! We draw your attention to the document quality to be added to your application. To ensure that your ETA application is approved, we recommend that you provide a copy of your passport and a clear, glare-free passport/selfie photo. Authorities can be demanding about the clarity of documents sent, and this can affect the response to your application.
Our agency specializes in helping you obtain your British ETA. 👉 Visit our website visamundi.co/destinations/united-kingdom !
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