UK Visa or ETA 2026: Which One Does Your Passport Need?
Airlines now verify digital permission to travel before boarding. If your passport does not have the correct permission attached, you may be denied at the gate before you ever reach the UK.
The answer depends entirely on your passport nationality. There are three categories: British or Irish citizens who usually need no visitor permission, non-visa nationals who usually need an ETA, and visa nationals who need a Standard Visitor visa before travel.
This page is a routing guide. It is designed to put you in the correct category quickly, then send you to the Standard Visitor visa guidance only where needed. Not sure which category your passport falls into? Check the official tool at GOV.UK before booking anything. Use our UK Entry Requirement Checker to confirm whether your passport needs a Standard Visitor visa, ETA, transit visa, or no visitor permission before booking flights. Apply for your ETA only through the official UK ETA app or at GOV.UK. Third-party ETA websites can charge extra fees for the same form and provide no faster decision or special approval advantage. The official ETA fee is £20. If you are paying more, check the site carefully before continuing. A Standard Visitor visa is immigration permission granted after an online application, evidence review and usually a biometric appointment at a VFS Global or TLScontact centre. It is required for visa nationals. An ETA, Electronic Travel Authorisation, is digital pre-travel permission for eligible non-visa nationals before they board a flight, train or ferry to the UK. It is valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. An ETA is not a visa. It is digital pre-travel permission. Travelling without one when you need it may get you denied boarding. For detailed ETA rules, see GOV.UK ETA guidance. No. US citizens do not need a Standard Visitor visa for ordinary tourism, family visits and permitted short business trips. They do need an ETA before travel. No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not normally need a Standard Visitor visa for short visits. However, the just-show-your-passport era ended for most visitors when ETA requirements came into force. If you do not hold a valid UK immigration status or exemption, you should check whether you need an ETA before boarding. Forum advice saying EU citizens simply need their passport for UK entry may be out of date. Check GOV.UK before every trip, especially after passport renewal or a change of status. Irish citizens are different because of the Common Travel Area. People with UK Settled Status or Pre-Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme generally rely on that status rather than an ETA. No. These nationals are generally non-visa nationals for ordinary short visits. They normally need an ETA, not a visitor visa, unless they already hold valid UK immigration permission or another exemption applies. Gulf nationals, including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain nationals, should apply for an ETA before travel unless exempt. Yes. If your passport is on the visa national list, you need a Standard Visitor visa before travel. ETA is not available to visa nationals. You must apply through GOV.UK and attend a biometric appointment at a VFS Global or TLScontact Visa Application Centre. Standard processing is usually around three weeks, but timing can vary. A sponsor can support the visit. They cannot carry the applicant's credibility. The applicant still needs their own evidence of work, family, property, travel history and reason to return. For the full evidence test, see our UK Visit Visa Requirements. If you are sponsoring the visit, use our free UK Visa Invitation Letter Generator to build a UKVI-aligned sponsor letter in minutes. For a breakdown of application costs, see our UK Visit Visa Fees. No. Irish citizens are not normally subject to UK visitor permission requirements. The Common Travel Area is the long-standing arrangement between the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man that allows British and Irish citizens to move freely between those jurisdictions. One narrow exception can apply where a person is subject to an exclusion order, deportation order or travel ban. That is not relevant to ordinary travel. Dual nationality creates a high risk of boarding confusion. The safe rule is to travel on the passport that reflects your legal right to enter. Do not apply for an ETA on one passport and travel on another. The ETA is digitally linked to the passport number used in the application. Transit is not decided by the word on your ticket. It is decided by whether you cross UK passport control. Airside means you never entered the UK. Landside means you did, even if only for one hour. For complex itineraries, see the GOV.UK transit visa guidance. Every child, including babies, needs their own ETA or visa linked to their own passport. A family of four submits four separate applications and pays four separate fees. If a child is travelling without both parents, carry written consent from the absent parent or guardian, contact details, UK host details and proof of relationship. Your passport nationality normally determines the UK entry requirement, not an EU residence card. Always confirm using the live GOV.UK check tool before travel because visa national lists can change. Your ETA gets you on the plane. It does not get you through the door. Eligible travellers with biometric passports may use eGates, where facial recognition checks the passport chip. Others will see a Border Force officer, who may ask about purpose of visit, length of stay, accommodation, funds and return travel. The genuine visitor test applies at the border, not just in the visa application. Even with a valid ETA or visa, Border Force can refuse entry if they are not satisfied that you meet the visitor rules. For the full requirements test, see our UK Visit Visa Requirements. If your entry was refused, see our UK Visit Visa Refusal Guide. If you have dual nationality, a previous refusal, a criminal record, a transit routing question, or a child travelling without both parents, KQ Solicitors can review your travel permission before you book. No. US citizens do not need a Standard Visitor visa for tourism, family visits, or permitted business trips. They do need an ETA, which costs £20 and must be applied for through GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app before travel. Apply at least three working days before departure. No. An ETA is digital pre-travel permission for non-visa nationals. A visa is immigration permission granted after a full application, evidence review and, usually, biometrics. Neither guarantees entry at the UK border. Yes. Every child, including babies, needs their own ETA or visa linked to their own passport. There are no group applications and no included-on-parent's-passport exemptions. Parents or guardians apply on behalf of young children. No. If you already hold a valid Standard Visitor visa or another valid UK immigration permission, you do not need an ETA. Carry the passport linked to that permission when you travel. It depends on whether you remain airside or pass through UK border control and on your nationality. Non-visa nationals passing through UK border control need an ETA. Visa nationals may need a Direct Airside Transit Visa or Visitor in Transit visa unless an exemption applies. Always check GOV.UK and confirm the routing with your airline. You may be denied boarding. Airlines and other carriers check digital permission before travel and can refuse to carry passengers who do not hold the required ETA, visa or exemption. Yes. An ETA allows you to travel to the UK, but it does not guarantee entry. Border Force can still refuse entry if they are not satisfied that you meet the visitor rules, including funds, purpose of visit and intention to leave. No. Irish citizens are not normally subject to UK visitor permission requirements under the Common Travel Area. They do not need a visa or ETA for ordinary travel to the UK. The UK border is not the place to discover you needed an ETA. The rules are practical: visa nationals apply for a Standard Visitor visa, most non-visa nationals apply for an ETA, and British or Irish citizens travel on their British or Irish passport. The question is not “Do I need a visa?” The question is: what kind of permission does this specific passport require? If your situation involves dual nationality, previous refusal, criminal history, transit routing, or children travelling without both parents, take advice before committing to flights. Additional Official Sources Always verify the live position on GOV.UK before travel, as ETA coverage, visa national lists and transit rules may change.Quick Answer, Visa, ETA, or Nothing?
Passport type What you need before travel Maximum stay British or Irish passport No visitor visa or ETA required for ordinary travel Not subject to ordinary visitor permission Non-visa national, USA, EU, Canada, Australia, Gulf states and others ETA required before boarding unless exempt or already holding valid UK immigration permission Up to 6 months per visit Visa national, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China, Bangladesh and others Standard Visitor visa required before travel Up to 6 months standard Three-step decision tree
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Visa ETA Who needs it Visa nationals Non-visa nationals Cost From £135 £20 How to apply GOV.UK plus biometric appointment at VFS or TLScontact UK ETA app or GOV.UK Processing Usually around 3 weeks for standard processing Usually minutes, up to 3 working days Guarantees entry No No The 5 Mistakes That Get You Denied at the Gate
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Dual citizenship What to use What you need British plus any other nationality British passport No ETA or visitor visa for ordinary travel Irish plus any other nationality Irish passport CTA exemption, no ETA or visitor visa US plus Canadian with no UK or Irish citizenship Whichever passport you present ETA linked to that passport Two non-UK, non-Irish passports Whichever passport you travel with ETA or visa based on that passport nationality Transit, airside vs landside
Transit type Non-visa national Visa national Typical cost Airside, remain in international zone Check current ETA/transit position and airline routing DATV may be required unless exempt DATV £41.50 Landside, pass through UK border control ETA required unless exempt Visitor in Transit visa or Standard Visitor visa may be required Visitor in Transit £74.50 Already hold a valid UK visa Covered by existing permission Covered by existing permission No additional ETA Children and babies
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