UK ETA for Romanian Citizens: How to Apply, Cost & What It Covers (2026)

Romanian citizens visiting the UK for tourism, family visits, or short stays of up to six months must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) costing £20 before travelling, as the requirement became mandatory on 25 February 2026 and the fee rose to £20 on 8 April 2026.

If you have been visiting the UK freely for years as an EU citizen, this is a genuine change to how you plan a trip. The ETA is quick to apply for and most people receive a decision within hours, but it must be in place before you board — airlines are required to check, and those without one will be refused boarding.

This guide covers everything you need: what the ETA is, who is exempt, how to apply on the official government service, what it costs, and crucially, what it does not allow you to do. Always verify requirements directly on gov.uk before travelling.

What is the UK ETA?

The Electronic Travel Authorisation is a digital permission linked to your passport. It is not a visa — it is a pre-travel screening check that authorises you to board a flight, ferry, or Eurostar to the UK. Once approved, it allows multiple trips to the UK, each for a stay of up to six months at a time.

Think of it as the UK's equivalent of the US ESTA or Australia's Electronic Travel Authority. You apply online, receive a decision by email, and your ETA is automatically checked when you travel — you do not print anything or carry a document.

Do Romanian Citizens Need an ETA?

Yes — with important exceptions. Since the UK left the EU, Romanian nationals are no longer able to enter the UK visa-free simply by showing a passport. The ETA system replaced that arrangement for short visits.

You need an ETA if you are a Romanian citizen travelling to the UK for:

• Tourism or holidays
• Visiting family or friends
• Short business activities (meetings, conferences — not employment)
• Transit through a UK airport where you pass through border control

Who Does Not Need an ETA

You do not need an ETA if any of the following apply to you:

• You have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• You have a valid UK visa (any category)
• You have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or Right of Abode
• You hold British or Irish citizenship (including as a dual citizen — travel on your British or Irish passport)
• You live in Ireland and are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• You are transiting airside and will not pass through UK border control
• You are waiting for a decision on an EU Settlement Scheme application already submitted

How Much Does the UK ETA Cost?

The ETA costs £20 per person from 8 April 2026. Before that date it was £16. There is no group discount and no reduction for children. Each applicant pays individually.

UK ETA at a Glance

How to Apply for a UK ETA

There are two official ways to apply: the UK ETA app or the gov.uk website. Both are run by the Home Office. The app is the quickest route if you have a compatible smartphone, as it can scan your passport's biometric chip directly.

What you will need

• Your biometric Romanian passport (the one you will travel on)
• A valid email address for your decision notification
• A payment method: debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay
• A smartphone with a camera (for the app) or computer (for the website)

Step-by-step application

1. Download the official UK ETA app from the App Store (iOS 16 or later) or Google Play (Android 12 or later), or go to gov.uk/eta/apply.
2. Scan your passport using the app's NFC chip reader, or upload a photo of your passport's photo page if applying online.
3. Take a clear photo of your face — no filters, full colour, matching passport photo standards.
4. Enter your personal and contact details and answer a short set of questions on travel history and suitability.
5. Pay the £20 fee securely through the government payment system.
6. Wait for your decision by email — most applicants hear within a few hours. Allow up to 3 working days if your application requires manual review.
7. Once you receive your ETA approval email, you are ready to travel. Do not book non-refundable travel until you have approval.

What the ETA Does Not Cover

This is one of the most important sections of this guide. The ETA is specifically designed for short-term visits only. It does not give you any entitlement to live in the UK, take up employment, or study.

Specifically, an ETA does not allow you to:

• Work in the UK in any capacity, including as a contractor or self-employed person
• Study on a course longer than six months (some short-term study may be permitted as a visitor activity)
• Settle or apply for permanent residence from within the UK
• Access public funds (benefits, NHS treatment is a separate entitlement based on residency)
• Stay longer than six months in any single visit

If you want to work or study in the UK, you must apply for the relevant visa from outside the UK before travelling. Our pre-move guide for Romanians covers all available visa routes in detail.

After Your ETA Is Approved

Your ETA is linked digitally to your passport number. You do not need to print it, download it, or show anything at the border beyond your passport. Airlines check your ETA status automatically before allowing you to board.

Carry the same passport you used to apply. If you renew your passport or travel on a different passport, your ETA will not be valid — you will need to apply again on the new passport.

You can check your ETA at gov.uk/check-eta at any time. If your application is refused, you cannot appeal but may apply for a standard visitor visa if you still wish to travel.

Romanians with EU Settlement Scheme Status

If you lived in the UK before 31 December 2020 and applied for settled or pre-settled status, you are in a different position from Romanians in Romania planning a first visit. Your EUSS status means you do not need an ETA — you already have permission to be in the UK.

When you travel back to the UK, your EUSS status is verified digitally at the border. You do not carry a physical document, but it is a good idea to check your status online before a trip to make sure your biometric data is current. Check your status at gov.uk/check-immigration-status.

If you have a family member in Romania who wants to visit you in the UK, they will need an ETA unless they already hold a UK visa or other qualifying status.

Planning Your Trip

The ETA is a practical administrative step rather than a barrier. For most Romanian travellers, applying takes under 15 minutes, the decision arrives within hours, and the process is entirely digital. The main thing to get right is timing — apply before you book non-refundable travel, not after.

What the ETA does represent is a structural shift: short visits to the UK from Romania now require advance permission, just as travel to the United States or Australia has for many years. It is a normal part of how international borders work post-Brexit, and understanding it clearly is the first step to navigating it without stress.

Before you travel, confirm your requirements at gov.uk/check-uk-visa — it takes two minutes and removes any uncertainty about whether an ETA or a visa applies to your specific situation.

Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration rules change frequently. Always verify current requirements at gov.uk before you travel or make any application. Last reviewed April 2026.