UK ETA for US Citizens (2026): Do Americans Need an ETA to Visit the UK?
From 2026, most Americans must have a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before boarding travel to the UK. This guide explains who needs an ETA, who is exempt, how to apply, what it costs, how long it lasts, and what activities are permitted on ETA entry.
Updated 07/01/2026
If you’re an American planning a trip to the United Kingdom in 2026 — whether for a long weekend in London, a family visit, a conference, or a stopover en route to somewhere else — you will almost certainly need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before you travel.
This is one of the most important entry changes for US citizens in recent years, and it catches people out precisely because it feels deceptively simple. The ETA is not a visa. It does not change what Americans are allowed to do as visitors. But it does change the practical reality of travel: in 2026, arriving at the airport without the right digital permission can mean being denied boarding before you even start your journey.
This guide explains the UK ETA requirements for US citizens in 2026 in plain English: who needs it, who does not, how the application works, what it costs, how long it lasts, and what you can (and cannot) do when you arrive.
>> Read more about How to Move to the UK from the USA in 2026: Complete Visa, ETA & Relocation Guide
What is the UK ETA?
A UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a digital permission to travel to the UK for people who do not need a visa for short stays. Think of it as the UK’s version of a pre-travel authorisation system: you apply online (or via the official app), your details are checked, and the permission is linked electronically to the passport you will use to travel.
Two points matter here.
First, an ETA is not a visa, and it does not guarantee entry. You still go through standard border checks on arrival, and UK Border Force can refuse entry if you do not meet visitor rules.
Second, the ETA is about permission to travel, which means airlines and carriers can (and do) check for it before boarding. In other words, it is not something to “sort out later”.
Do US citizens need an ETA to visit the UK in 2026?
For most travel scenarios, yes: US citizens generally need an ETA to visit the UK as a tourist or short-term visitor in 2026.
The UK has been rolling the ETA system out in phases. The practical position for 2026 is simple: if you are an American travelling to the UK for a short stay and you do not already hold a UK visa or UK immigration status, an ETA is typically required.
A useful way to think about it is this:
If you previously could visit the UK as an American without applying for a visa in advance, you can still visit under the same visitor rules — but you now need to complete the ETA step before travel.
When does the UK enforce ETA checks in 2026?
By 2026, ETA checks are not “optional” or “experimental.” The UK has confirmed that from 25 February 2026, eligible visitors without an ETA will not be able to board transport to the UK and cannot legally travel.
If you’re travelling in early 2026, treat this date as the line in the sand. The safest approach is to assume that ETA checks may be applied across carriers and routes, and to ensure you have your ETA approved well before you travel.
How much does a UK ETA cost for Americans?
In late 2025 guidance, the UK ETA fee is £16 per person.
This fee is paid per application. Every traveller needs their own ETA — including children and babies — even if they are travelling on the same itinerary as parents.
A practical note: unofficial sites may advertise “ETA help” and charge far more. The simplest way to avoid overpaying is to apply using the official UK ETA process (app or official online application).
How long is a UK ETA valid?
For US citizens, a UK ETA is typically valid for two years, or until your passport expires — whichever happens first.
During the validity period, the ETA allows multiple journeys to the UK. Each time you enter as a visitor, you can normally stay up to six months per visit (provided you continue to meet visitor rules).
There is one rule that matters more than it sounds: your ETA is linked to the specific passport you used to apply. If you renew your passport, replace it, or travel on a different passport, you will need a new ETA.
What can Americans do in the UK with an ETA?
An ETA supports travel to the UK for the kinds of things Americans have long done on visitor status, including:
Tourism, holidays, city breaks, and leisure travel. Visiting friends and family. Short trips for business meetings, conferences, site visits, and other permitted business activities. Short-term study within visitor rules. Transit through a UK airport in situations where you pass through border control.
The phrase “permitted activities” matters. The UK draws a sharp line between visiting for business activities and taking employment. You can attend meetings, conferences, negotiate deals, and handle certain short-term professional tasks — but you cannot fill a role for a UK organisation.
If your reason for travel is even slightly unusual — for example, you are coming for a paid event, performance, or professional engagement — it’s important to check whether you fall under the UK’s permitted paid engagement rules or whether you need a different visa.
>> Read more about Documents Americans Need to Enter the UK in 2026
What Americans cannot do with an ETA
The ETA does not turn a visit into a work or residence route. Under ETA-supported visitor entry, you cannot:
Stay in the UK longer than six months per visit. Work for a UK company or as a self-employed person in the UK (paid or unpaid), except in specific narrowly defined circumstances such as certain permitted paid engagements or creative concessions. Claim public funds (benefits). Live in the UK through frequent or successive visits as a way to “reside” without the correct visa. Marry, register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage/civil partnership without the correct marriage visitor permission.
This is the point where many travellers accidentally drift into risk. It’s easy to assume that remote work “doesn’t count” if you’re paid by a US employer, or that helping out a UK-based client for a few days is harmless. In practice, the UK’s visitor rules are designed to prevent work that looks like you are filling a UK role or providing services in the UK labour market.
If you are travelling with any intention to work, even temporarily, you should step back and confirm the right route.
>> Read more about UK Work Visas for US Citizens
Who does not need a UK ETA?
Not everyone needs an ETA. In general, you do not need an ETA if you already have a UK immigration status that grants entry permission (for example, you hold a valid UK visa, or you have permission to live/work/study in the UK).
There are also specific passport-based and route-based exemptions. For example, British and Irish citizens do not use an ETA system. Dual nationals can fall into special rules depending on the passport they travel with. There are also specific scenarios involving travel from Ireland and the Common Travel Area where the ETA requirement may not apply in the same way.
Because exemption categories are precise, Americans who suspect they might be exempt should confirm it based on their exact situation — especially dual citizens and families travelling on mixed passports.
Do US citizens need an ETA to transit through the UK?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no — it depends on whether you pass through UK border control.
If your transit requires you to go through border control (for example, collecting luggage, changing terminals in a way that involves entering the UK, or staying overnight landside), you should assume you need an ETA.
If you remain airside and do not go through border control, certain UK airports and routes may not require an ETA for transit — but this is exactly the kind of situation where travellers get tripped up by airline processes. When in doubt, it is usually safer to have an ETA approved than to gamble on a transit exemption and risk being denied boarding.
How to apply for a UK ETA as an American
The UK has intentionally designed the application to be quick and smartphone-friendly. There are two main ways to apply:
You can apply through the official UK ETA app, which uses your phone camera to scan your passport and capture a face scan/photo. Or you can apply online through the official application page if you cannot use the app or are applying for someone not with you.
Most applicants receive a decision quickly when applying through the app, but not all applications are instant. That’s why official guidance recommends applying at least three working days before travel — not because most people need that long, but because a small number of applications require extra review.
What you typically need
In practice, most US applicants will need: the passport they will travel with (not a copy), an email address, and a method of payment such as a credit or debit card, or a mobile wallet payment option.
You will also be asked to provide contact details and answer a set of suitability questions. This is normal for travel authorisation systems; it does not mean you are applying for a visa, but it does mean accuracy matters. Mistakes — particularly passport number errors — can cause delays.
How long does a UK ETA take to get approved?
Many Americans receive an ETA decision quickly, often within minutes when applying through the app. But the safest planning assumption is: apply at least three working days before you travel.
This protects you if your application is selected for additional checks, if you make a small error that must be corrected, or if you’re applying during heavy travel periods when processing volumes rise.
If you are travelling for a wedding, a cruise departure, a time-sensitive business trip, or a family emergency, treat the ETA as something you do immediately — not as a “night before the flight” task.
Common mistakes Americans make with the UK ETA
The most common errors are simple, but they carry real consequences.
One is applying with the wrong passport details, then travelling on a different passport. Because the ETA is linked to the passport, this can look like “no ETA” at boarding.
Another is leaving the application too late. Even if most decisions arrive quickly, travel systems are built for compliance, not sympathy. If your ETA is pending, an airline may refuse boarding.
A third is misunderstanding what visitors are allowed to do. Many Americans assume that because they are not paid by a UK company, they can “work from the UK” freely. Visitor rules are not written to accommodate every modern work arrangement, and if your travel is business-heavy, the difference between permitted business activity and work can matter.
If you’re unsure, the safest approach is to clarify your purpose of travel before you arrive at the airport.
If you’re planning to move, not visit, the ETA is not your route
This is where the ETA creates confusion: it makes visiting feel more formal, so people assume it also applies to moving. It doesn’t.
If you want to live in the UK — to work, study long-term, join a partner, or settle — you need the correct visa. The ETA is for short stays and transit. It does not lead to residency, cannot be extended into long-term status, and does not permit the kinds of activities that relocation usually requires.
If your long-term plan is relocation, you should treat the ETA as a travel tool for short visits — useful for scouting neighbourhoods, attending interviews, or visiting family — but not as a pathway.
>> Read more about How to Move to the UK from the USA in 2026: Complete Visa, ETA & Relocation Guide
>> Read more about UK Visa Types for Americans: Complete 2026 Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
-
In most cases, no. By 2026, Americans travelling as visitors generally need an ETA unless they fall under a specific exemption or already hold UK immigration status.
-
No. An ETA is permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry. You must still meet visitor requirements on arrival.
-
Not in the way most people mean “work.” You cannot take employment or provide services as a worker in the UK under visitor rules, except for narrowly defined permitted scenarios. If you plan to work, you should explore the correct visa route.
-
A visitor entry is typically up to six months per visit, provided you continue to meet visitor rules. The ETA itself is usually valid for two years (or until your passport expires), allowing multiple trips.
-
Yes. Each traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and children.
-
Yes. The ETA is linked to the passport used in the application.
-
It depends on whether you pass through UK border control. If you do, you should assume you need an ETA. If you stay airside, some routes may not require it — but it’s best to confirm based on your exact airport and itinerary.
For US citizens, the UK ETA is not difficult — but it is non-negotiable. In 2026, the winning approach is simple: apply early, apply accurately, and travel with a clear understanding of what visitor status allows.
If your trip is a short visit, the ETA is your new baseline requirement. If your goal is long-term life in Britain, the ETA is not the route — your planning should shift immediately toward visas, documentation, and a structured relocation strategy.
