As of April 2, 2025, all US and EU citizens are required to apply for permission to enter the United Kingdom through a new scheme known as Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

US citizens visiting the UK have been required to have an ETA since January 8, 2025. Now, in the “last major step” of the new system’s rollout, the requirement has been extended to European visitors as well. “Expanding ETA worldwide cements our commitment to enhance security through technology and innovation,” Seema Malhotra, the UK’s Minister for Migration and Citizenship, said in a statement.

Travelers with trips planned to the UK can now apply via the UK ETA mobile app or website. While most applications are approved the same day, it can take take up to 72 hours—so don’t risk leaving it to the last minute. Starting on April 9, 2025, the ETA fee will increase from 10 pounds (about $13) to 16 pounds (about $20).

The UK ETA system is similar to how the US’s own ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) system works. An ETA “permits multiple journeys, and lasts for two years or until the holder’s passport expires—whichever is sooner,” the UK government explained in a news release. “Once granted, ETAs are digitally linked to a traveler’s passport and allow for stays of up to six months at a time—including both short trips and more extended stays. An ETA is not a visa, it is a digital permission to travel.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the new UK ETA requirements.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publication date.

Who needs a UK ETA?

The ETA requirements went into full effect on April 2, 2025, meaning all visitors who do not have British or Irish citizenship now need an ETA to visit the UK.

As the US Embassy to the UK explained in a worldwide travel alert earlier this year, the new ETA requirement “applies to all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland.” This means you will need an ETA if you are traveling to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

You do not need an ETA if you are traveling to any of the 14 UK Overseas Territories including Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, and the Cayman Islands, a UK home office spokesperson told Condé Nast Traveler on January 29, 2025.

To confirm if your trip requires an ETA, check here.

Will I need a visa to enter the UK?

The ETA is not technically a visa—the ETA system will grant travelers digital authorization to enter the country. However, you will still need to apply for an ETA prior to arrival. If you haven’t received permission to travel before arrival, you may be fined or denied boarding.

Do I need an ETA if my layover is in the UK?

The UK previously said it would require fliers transiting through UK airports to apply for an ETA. However, the Home Office has now changed its course, per a January 2025 press release: “Following feedback from the aviation industry, the government has agreed a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside, and therefore do not pass through UK border control, from needing an ETA.” The decision will remain under review and is subject to change in the future.