UK ETA For US Citizens: Cost, How To Apply And How Long It Lasts

Americans used to fly to London with nothing more than a passport. That has changed. The UK ETA for US citizens, short for Electronic Travel Authorisation, is now a standard part of trip planning for anyone visiting England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland as a tourist, to see family or for certain other short visits.

The good news is that it is cheap, quick and done entirely on your phone or laptop. The bad news is that lookalike websites charge more than the official price for the same thing. This guide uses only the official GOV.UK pages, checked in October 2026, to explain what the ETA costs, how to apply, how long it lasts, when you need one for a layover, and how to avoid paying a middleman.

What Is The UK ETA?

An ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK. It is not a visa. Instead of applying at a consulate, you answer a short set of questions online, pay a fee and receive a decision by email. The ETA is linked electronically to the passport you used to apply, and GOV.UK says that passport is all you need to show when you travel.

According to GOV.UK’s ETA page, an ETA lets you come to the UK for up to six months for tourism, to visit family or for certain other reasons. It covers travel to the UK as well as Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. The same page is clear that an ETA does not guarantee entry, so you can still be questioned on arrival.

Do US Citizens Need A UK ETA?

Yes. GOV.UK states that you usually need an ETA rather than a visa if you are from the USA, Europe, Australia, Canada or certain other countries. When you run a US passport through the official Check if you need a UK visa tool with tourism as the reason, the result says you must apply for either an ETA or a Standard Visitor visa.

GOV.UK lists a few groups who do not need one:

• Dual US and British citizens, or dual US and Irish citizens, traveling on their British or Irish passport
• People who already have permission to live, work or study in the UK

The visa checker suggests applying for a Standard Visitor visa instead of an ETA if you have a criminal record or have been refused entry to the UK before. If either applies to you, start that process well ahead of your trip.

The UK is only one of several places that have added pre-travel permissions for Americans in recent years, so if your trip continues to mainland Europe or beyond, the country-by-country entry rules for American travelers are worth checking for each stop.

Babies And Children Need One Too

Every traveler needs their own ETA, including babies and children. You can apply on behalf of other people, so one parent can complete applications for the whole family. GOV.UK notes that decisions for people you applied for together may arrive at different times, so do not panic if one email lands before the others.

UK ETA Cost: How Much Does It Cost?

The official UK ETA cost is £20 per person. GOV.UK lists the same £20 whether you apply through the UK ETA app or online. You can pay with a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Two points about the fee matter:

• It is not refundable. GOV.UK says you cannot get a refund after you apply. If your application is refused, or you made a mistake and need to change the details, you must apply again and pay again.
• It is per person. A family of four pays £80, including any infants.

Because the fee is in pounds, your bank converts it to dollars, and some US cards add a foreign transaction fee. That is the only legitimate extra cost.

Beware Of Unofficial Websites That Charge More

Search “UK ETA” and you may see paid ads for sites with official-sounding names that charge more than the £20 fee, often as a “processing” or “assistance” service. GOV.UK warns on its ETA page that other websites may charge more to apply, and its application page states that using another website or app will not get you a faster decision.

To stay on the official route:

1. Start from gov.uk/eta and follow the link from there, or download the app called “UK ETA” from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
2. Do not start from a search ad; click through from the GOV.UK page itself before you enter any passport details.
3. Confirm the fee shown at checkout is £20 per person.
4. If a site asks for a “service fee”, “expedite fee” or “review fee”, close it.

If you have already paid a third-party site, check whether it actually submitted an application to the UK government. You can see whether you hold a valid ETA through GOV.UK’s official check service, linked from the ETA page.

How To Apply For A UK ETA

The official GOV.UK application page gives you two ways to apply: the UK ETA app or the online form. The app is the faster route for most people, because it uses your phone’s camera to scan your passport and your face.

What You Need Before You Start

• The passport you will travel with
• An email address you can check
• A credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
• Your phone camera (for the app) or a photo of your face and a photo of your passport (for the online form)

Step By Step

1. Download the UK ETA app from the App Store or Google Play. If you cannot use the app, use the online form on GOV.UK instead.
2. Scan your passport. The app reads your passport details using your phone camera. Online, you upload a photo of the passport.
3. Scan or upload a photo of your face. Online photos must meet UKVI’s digital photo rules; GOV.UK warns that poor photos can cause delays or a refusal.
4. Answer the application questions and check every detail against your passport before you submit.
5. Pay the £20 fee.
6. Wait for the decision email. It contains your 16-digit ETA reference number.

If someone you are applying for is with you, you can do their application on the app. If they are not with you, apply online and upload a photo of their passport and their face.

How Long Does It Take To Get A UK ETA?

GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision by email within one working day, but it can take up to three working days. If nothing has arrived after three working days, check your spam or junk folder, then contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

GOV.UK says you must wait for the email confirming your ETA before you travel, so a pending application is not enough. Apply as soon as your trip is booked rather than the night before. UKVI handles ETA questions by webchat; it does not answer ETA enquiries by phone.

How Long Is A UK ETA Valid For?

A UK ETA is valid for two years or until the passport you used to apply expires, whichever comes first. While it is valid, you can travel to the UK as many times as you like, and each visit can last up to six months.

That passport link is the detail people forget. If your US passport expires in eight months, your ETA expires with it. When you renew your passport, plan to apply for a new ETA on the new passport. You can check the status and expiry date of an existing ETA on GOV.UK.

Do You Need A UK ETA For A Layover?

Many Americans pass through Heathrow or Manchester on the way to Europe, Africa or Asia. Whether you need an ETA depends on whether you pass through UK border control.

For a US national in transit, the GOV.UK visa checker says you need an ETA to pass through UK border control. If you stay airside, you do not need one. You always go through border control if you:

• Leave the main airport building for any reason
• Need to collect your bags and check them in again for your next flight
• Have an onward flight on a different calendar day and there is nowhere to stay overnight inside the airport, such as a transit hotel

If none of these apply, you generally will not pass through border control. Separate tickets on different airlines often mean collecting and re-checking bags, so check with your airline if you are unsure. For airside connections, GOV.UK says you should carry proof of your onward journey, such as a ticket to your final destination.

What To Carry When You Arrive In The UK

Your ETA is linked to your passport, so you only need to show that passport at the border. The visa checker result for American tourists also notes that you may be asked to show that you are visiting for tourism, can support yourself, have somewhere to stay, can pay for your return or onward travel and will leave at the end of your visit. Your passport should be valid for your whole stay.

In practice, keep your accommodation details and your return or onward booking on your phone. If you are still deciding how you will leave the UK, perhaps continuing to Ireland or the continent once you know your plans, some travelers carry a flight itinerary for the next leg so they can explain their route. Fast Onward Tickets emails a customized PDF itinerary based on real flight details for $12 per passenger. It shows a plan, not a paid airline ticket, so be honest if an officer asks.

Once you are through, the rules for what you can do are simple: tourism, visiting friends and family, and the other permitted visitor activities listed on GOV.UK. You cannot work for a UK company, paid or unpaid, or live in the UK through back-to-back visits. That still leaves plenty of room for the trip itself, from London’s museums to the places on a literary lover’s tour of the UK.

UK ETA Mistakes To Avoid

• Paying a third-party site that charges more than £20
• Booking a flight for tomorrow and only then applying
• Applying on an old passport you are about to renew
• Forgetting the children’s applications
• Assuming you need nothing for a Heathrow connection when you have to re-check bags
• Typing your passport number wrong (there is no refund, so you would pay again)

The ETA sits alongside the other documents Americans need abroad, and if you travel often it helps to keep a single checklist of entry requirements for US citizens so that nothing expires the week you fly.

FAQ

How much is the UK ETA for US citizens?

£20 per person on the official GOV.UK website or UK ETA app. Any site charging more is not the official service.

How long is a UK ETA valid for?

Two years, or until the passport you applied with expires, whichever is sooner. You can make multiple trips of up to six months each during that time.

How long does a UK ETA take to process?

Usually within one working day, though GOV.UK says it can take up to three working days. Do not travel until you have the approval email.

Do I need a UK ETA if I am only changing planes at Heathrow?

Only if you pass through UK border control, for example to collect and re-check bags or to leave the airport. If you stay airside, you do not need one.

Does my child need a UK ETA?

Yes. Every traveler needs their own ETA, including babies and children. A parent can apply on their behalf.

Do I need a new ETA if I get a new passport?

Your ETA is linked to the passport you applied with and ends when that passport expires. If you replace your passport, check your ETA status on GOV.UK and apply again on the new passport if needed.

Final Thoughts

For most Americans, the UK ETA is a £20 online application that can cover two years of trips. Apply through the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK only, do it as soon as your flights are booked, tie it to a passport that is not about to expire, and work out in advance whether your layover takes you through border control. Do that, and the only thing left to plan is what you will do once you land.