ETA UK countries: test your passport before you book

The three-question test

Which countries need ETA for UK entry? The reasoning is identical for every traveller. Ask yourself, in this order:

1. Does my passport let me visit without a visa? If yes, the ETA takes the place of that visa. If no, you need a visa, not an ETA.
2. Am I exempt? British and Irish citizens, visa or permit holders and strict transit passengers have nothing to request.
3. Is my trip a short one? Tourism, visiting relatives, a business meeting or a short course, for 6 months at most.

Answer yes, no, yes and, among all ETA UK countries, yours requires the authorisation, so you must hold an ETA. The government tool Check if you need a UK visa confirms the result for your exact passport.

ETA UK countries: the rule instead of a list

Which countries need ETA for UK trips? The ETA UK countries are those whose citizens already enter the United Kingdom without a visa for a short stay. That includes, for example, travellers from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, the United States, Canada and Australia. Everyone needs a personal authorisation, children and babies included.

Nationalities that already need a visa to visit stay under the visa rules, and an ETA does not replace it. Rules can change, so run the government check before every booking rather than trusting a list copied from somewhere else.

ETA UK eligible countries: what eligibility means in practice

Which countries need ETA for UK arrivals is one question; entry is another. Coming from one of the ETA UK eligible countries is not a promise of entry. This is what happens next:

Even an approved ETA does not guarantee entry, because the border officer makes the final call.

Three situations that catch travellers out

Two passports. A family holding French and Canadian passports cannot pick at random: the ETA is linked to one passport, the one shown when boarding. Swap passports between the application and the trip and you have to apply again.

A British parent. A dual British citizen does not apply for an ETA, but travels on a British passport or a certificate of entitlement. Dual Irish citizens are exempt too.

A plain layover. Changing planes at Heathrow or Manchester without leaving the international zone or passing border control requires no ETA. Once you cross the border, even for a few hours, the answer changes: read the page on ETA UK transit.

People legally resident in Ireland who travel within the Common Travel Area are exempt as well, as are holders of a valid UK visa or permit.

When your passport falls outside the standard case

Which countries need ETA for UK entry is not the whole story: three situations deserve a closer look before you pay anything: a stay beyond 6 months, long-term work or study, and a nationality that needs a visa. In all three, the ETA is not enough. Families can read the rules for children, and travellers from America the page for US citizens.

A rejected application is not the end of the trip either: ETA UK rejected explains the next move.

Applying: with assistance or directly

Once you know your passport is among the ETA UK eligible countries, there are two routes. The assistance service is optional: it costs £83 per traveller, including the £20 government fee, and its team reviews the file before it is sent. You can also apply yourself at gov.uk/eta/apply for £20 (the fee rose from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026).

Either way, apply at least 3 working days before departure. To use the service, open the application form. Questions first? Write to support@e-visa.online. The general rules stay available on gov.uk/eta.