If you are flying to London from the US, there is one form to sort out before you pack: the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA. It is not a visa. It is a digital permission linked to your passport, and you apply for it on your phone or online before you travel. This guide walks through what the ETA is, who needs one, and how to apply, quoting the official GOV.UK pages word for word so you know exactly what the rules say.
Checked October 2026 against GOV.UK. Rules can change, so always confirm on the official GOV.UK ETA page before you book.
What Is the UK ETA?
GOV.UK describes it like this: An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) lets you travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months.
It covers ordinary trips. In GOV.UK’s words, You can get an ETA for tourism, visiting family or for certain other reasons.
One more line matters: An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
You still go through border control when you land.
Do US Citizens Need an ETA?
For most American visitors, yes. GOV.UK says: You usually need an ETA rather than a visa if you’re from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries.
What you need depends on your nationality and the reason for your trip, so run the official GOV.UK visa and ETA checker for your own case.
Travelling as a family
Every traveller needs their own. GOV.UK: Each person travelling needs an ETA, including babies and children.
The good news is that You can apply for other people.
Changing planes at Heathrow
If you connect through a UK airport on the way somewhere else, the rule depends on whether you pass through passport control. GOV.UK: You need an ETA if you’re passing through border control at a UK airport before continuing your onward journey.
If you stay airside, you do not need one. GOV.UK suggests checking with your airline if you are not sure.
Who Does Not Need an ETA
The GOV.UK exemptions page lists everyone who is exempt. The ones most likely to matter to our readers:
- British citizens, including dual US-British citizens. GOV.UK:
If you’re a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you cannot get an ETA.
You travel on your British passport (or one of the other proofs GOV.UK lists) instead. - People who already have a UK visa, or permission to live, work or study in the UK.
- Travellers who stay airside when changing planes, as above.
If you think you may already be a British citizen through a parent, GOV.UK has a tool to check if you have British citizenship.
What You Can and Cannot Do on an ETA
From the GOV.UK page on what you can and cannot do, you can come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, on a business trip or for short-term study
.
You cannot:
stay in the UK for longer than 6 months
do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person
(GOV.UK lists a few narrow exceptions)claim public funds (benefits)
live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership
, which needs a Marriage Visitor visa
Planning a wedding in England? That is a different route, so read GOV.UK before you book anything.
How to Apply for a UK ETA
You apply through the GOV.UK ETA application page, either online or in the official UK ETA app. GOV.UK lists what you need:
the passport you’ll travel with
an email address
a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
You will also take or upload a photo of your face. In the app, GOV.UK says You’ll need to use your phone’s camera to scan your passport and your face.
The app is listed on GOV.UK for the App Store and Google Play. Applying for someone who is not with you? GOV.UK says you must do that one online.
Use the official site only
GOV.UK warns: Other websites may charge more to apply. Avoid websites that imitate government services.
It also says You cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app.
Start from gov.uk/eta.
Cost and how long it takes
We don’t print the fee or the waiting time here, because both can change. The current fee and decision time are on the GOV.UK apply page. Two rules from that page worth knowing: You cannot get a refund after you apply
, and You must wait until you get an email confirming you have an ETA before you travel to the UK.
So apply well before your flight, not at the gate.
After You Get Your ETA
- Nothing to print.
Your ETA will be linked to the passport you applied with. You only need to show your passport when you travel to the UK.
- It covers more than one trip.
An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can travel to the UK as many times as you want while you have an ETA.
- Travel on the same passport. Because the ETA is tied to the passport you applied with, use that passport for your trip. If you renew it, check GOV.UK before you fly.
- Check it any time. GOV.UK has a check your ETA service that shows if you have one and when it expires.
Questions? GOV.UK offers an ETA webchat, and notes that UK Visas and Immigration cannot help with ETA enquiries over the phone.
Next Steps for Your Trip
With the ETA sorted, the rest is the fun part. Our guide to getting from Heathrow to central London covers the trains and the Tube from the airport, and our first-time London planning guide helps you shape the days.
UK ETA: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UK ETA a visa?
No. GOV.UK says most visitors need an ETA or a visa
, and US citizens usually need an ETA rather than a visa. It is a digital permission linked to your passport.
Do children need their own ETA?
Yes. GOV.UK: Each person travelling needs an ETA, including babies and children.
A parent can apply for them.
How long can I stay in the UK with an ETA?
Up to 6 months per visit, for tourism, family visits, business trips or short-term study, according to GOV.UK.
How long is a UK ETA valid?
GOV.UK: An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner.
You can make as many trips as you like in that time.
Where do I apply?
Only on GOV.UK or in the official UK ETA app. The fee and decision time are listed there.