Is the UK ETA a visa requirement, and do I need one?
ETA stands for electronic travel authorisation and is for non-visa nationals travelling to countries where this type of permit is mandatory for border entry, such as the Australia ETA, or the Canada eTA.
From the 25th February 2026, the UK ETA will be enforced at all UK ports of entry. It’s not a visa, but the ETA is a pre-travel requirement that proves you have been granted permission to enter to the UK for tourism, business, or to visit friends and family on short-term trips.
As the UK ETA is an electronic permit, most applicants get a decision within minutes. However, be aware that:
While the UK ETA is for travellers who don’t require a visa to visit the UK for short-stays, it’s not a free permit. It costs £16 per traveller when applied for directly on the UK government website, but the good news is that it’s a fairly straightforward process, and the ETA is valid for multiple trips to the UK for two years (as long as those trips are shorter than 6 months each).
The UK ETA is not the same as ‘visa on arrival’. This doesn’t exist for the UK travel. So all non-British travellers will need some form of permission or proof of exemption to be granted entry to the UK from the 25th February 2026. Those requiring an ETA will need to ensure they have permission before entering the UK. Therefore, if you can, apply a couple of days in advance to take processing time into account, especially if your trip is during peak travel periods. It’s highly likely that visitors that require an ETA will not be allowed to board transport to the UK without showing proof of one.
(By the way, the EU will be rolling out a similar type of digital permission later in 2026, called ETIAS, or European Travel Information and Authorisation System.)
Remember, the UK ETA is linked to your passport. If you renew your passport, you'll need a new ETA.
Travelling with dual citizenship? ETA and visa requirements that dual citizens should be aware of:
A common misconception is that the UK has dual citizenship treaties with certain countries. Instead, dual nationality in the UK is not recognised based on bilateral treaties but instead, unilaterally. This means that the UK government allows its citizens to have foreign citizenship alongside being a British national without reciprocal recognition from the other country.
This comes with a whole set of perks and complications depending on whether the other country allows dual nationality with Britain (for example, you can legally be a French and British dual national, or a dual citizen of the US and Britain but technically, you can’t be a Spanish and British dual national), however, the important takeaway for travellers returning or visiting the UK is that British dual nationals are treated as British subjects.
Do I need an ETA as a British passport holder?
There are exceptions for travellers who need an ETA to travel to the UK, including:
If you’re a British or Irish citizen (including British overseas territory citizens, those living in the self-governing crown dependencies of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, or a British national living overseas).
If you already have a valid visa to work or study in the UK and are returning
If you have permission to live in the UK (such as pre-settled or settled status), or are waiting for a decision on your EU Settlement Scheme application
If you’re transiting through the UK but won’t be passing through UK passport control i.e. if your journey to the UK is for 'airside transit' purposes, for example, specific flights at London Heathrow or Manchester Airport. Check with your airline if in doubt.
Importantly, this doesn’t mean that those travelling with dual citizenship are automatically exempt from the ETA rules. If you have British citizenship and dual nationality, or you hold multiple passports including a British passport, you need to be travelling on your British passport in order to not need an ETA when travelling to the UK. It’s not enough to have it on you as a form of ID, your travel documentation will need to correspond to the details on your British passport.
Make sure you’re using your UK passport information when checking into your flight if you’re a dual national.
UK ETA need-to-knows for non-British dual nationals:
The ETA is designed as a visa alternative entry permit, so whether you need an ETA or a visa will depend on what country’s passport you choose to travel on:
Confirm if you need an ETA or a standard UK tourist visa using this tool
Do EU residents or EU passport holders need a UK ETA?
Once the UK ETA is in force, travellers who have previously not needed a visa to travel to the UK, including EU residents and passport holders, will need to make sure they are carrying this digital 2-year permission for all UK short-stay leisure or business trips.
ETA vs. standard visitor visa for dual nationals travelling to the UK
If, prior to the 25th February 2026, the passport you travel on has required a UK tourist visa, such as travellers from India, South Africa, and Nigeria, this requirement will not change once the UK ETA is rolled out, as visa nationals will not be eligible to apply for an ETA. If you’re a dual citizen holding a visa exempt passport and a passport requiring a visa, applying for a UK ETA on your visa exempt passport is considered the better option.
For example, if you’re an Argentinian and Italian passport holder travelling to the UK, passport choice matters. It’s recommended that you’d travel on your Italian passport and apply for a UK ETA on this passport. Just remember, as with British passport holders with dual nationality, you’ll need to ensure all your travel documentation corresponds to the visa-exempt passport, and you travel on that when you visit the UK.
Summary of ETA rules vs. visa requirements for dual citizens travelling to the UK
Tags: UK ETA travel EU residents Skysanner