The UK has introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation to visitors from the EU on 2nd April 2025

The UK has introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation for EU citizens. This is similar to the USA's ESTA and the Schengen area's proposed ETIAS and costs £16 (price as of February 2026).

During the implementation phase, application of the need to hold an ETA has not necessarily been strict so some travellers have been able to travel to the UK without one. The ETA scheme will be mandated from 25 Febtruary 2026.

It is strongly recommended that you apply for an ETA ONLY through the gov.uk official website https://www.gov.uk/eta/apply. Other options may be suggested in a Google search but these are usually either premium service providers who charge a fee over and above the cost of the ETA, or are potentially even fraudulent sites. Some of them even imply they are the official site - they are not so please don't be trapped.

The ETA should be applied for at least three days before travel to allow time for processing. An ETA is required for all non-British or Irish passport holders including babies and children who come from a "visa waiver" country. The ETA is NOT required for:

- holders of a current (ie non-expired) British passport

- holders of an Irish passport

- those who live in Ireland and are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

- travellers coming from a country for which a visa is required and who hold a valid visa

- those who have right to remain (the UK's equivalent of the WARP card)

- for children travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form

- where the entry into a UK airport is for transit to another destination only AND the traveller remains "airside" (i.e. does not pass through passport control).

Although this will not affect British citizens resident in the EU if they travel into the UK on their current British passport, it will affect those EU-resident Britons who have spouses or children who do not have British nationality or a British passport.  

For dual nationals, the UK government advice is as follows (source: British Embassy Paris)

If you’re a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you cannot get an ETA. When you travel to the UK you can prove your citizenship using:

• a valid British passport
• a valid Irish passport
• another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement

You may have British citizenship automatically if you either:

• were born in the UK
• have a parent with British citizenship

Check if you have British citizenship.

You can chat to UKVI using webchat if you’re a dual citizen and need help. For further information we suggest you contact the Embassy via this link which gives updated information GOV.UK - Help for British people abroad.

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The certificate of entitlement mentioned above costs £589 (price in February 2026) so it will almost certainly be cheaper to apply for a British or Irish passport instead. To find out more about application for a certificate of entitlement, visit the GOV.uk website https://www.gov.uk/right-of-abode/apply-for-a-certificate-of-entitlement.

If you have dual nationality and do not have a current British (or Irish) passport, advice is available through the following links:

Renewing a British passport from abroad

Dual citizenship - GOV.UK

Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: When you do not need an ETA - GOV.UK

Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: Overview - GOV.UK

To find out more about how the ETA application applies, go to the GOV.UK website.

In the other direction of travel, the Schengen area, covering most EU countries, has introduced the Entry/Exit System and also will be introducing the ETIAS travel authorisation, expected in the last quarter of 2026. These will affect all British nationals (other than double nationals and those with EU residency) by introducing additional formalities when entering the Schengen area.

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