UK ETA 2026: Mandatory Since February, and You Will Not Board Without It

This is the rule most travellers have not caught up with: the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) became mandatory for all eligible nationalities on 25 February 2026. Without one, the airline stops you at the check-in desk. It is also a completely separate system from Schengen's ETIAS, so a trip combining London and continental Europe needs both handled. This guide covers the application, the cost, the validity and the point people most often get wrong.

Information checked July 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm on the UK government website before you travel.

What is the UK ETA, and why it became mandatory this year

The ETA is the UK's electronic travel authorisation, functionally similar to the US ESTA: it is not a visa, but without it you cannot board. The UK phased it in through 2025 and, from 25 February 2026, it applies to all eligible nationalities.

• 💰 Cost: GBP 16 per application
• 📅 Validity: two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first
• 🔁 Multiple entries within that period, each stay up to six months
• ✈️ Usually needed for transit through the UK as well - check if your route connects there

So this is not something to redo every trip. One application covers two years, which makes it easy to absorb if you visit once or twice a year - but first-time visitors absolutely cannot skip it.

UK ETA vs Schengen ETIAS: do you need both?

This is the most common confusion. The UK is no longer in the Schengen Area or the EU, so ETIAS does not apply to the UK. The two are handled entirely separately:

If your itinerary is London plus Paris, both need attention. The ETA is already mandatory; ETIAS is still in its lead-in period, but next year both will be required.

How to apply for the UK ETA

Important: the ETA is tied to your passport. If you renew your passport during the two years, you need to apply again.

One card for the UK and continental Europe

UK trips are rarely UK-only - in via London, out via Paris or Amsterdam is a common shape. A single-country card means swapping repeatedly.

The 42-country Europe eSIM includes the UK and switches to the local network automatically at borders, so London to Paris needs no change. Plenty of arrival moments need data:

• 🚇 Tube and Elizabeth Line routing, contactless entry and exit
• 🗺️ Finding your hotel and restaurants
• 🎫 Showing the ETA decision, hotel bookings and e-tickets
• 🚄 Live platform and delay information for Eurostar and cross-border trains

If this trip is UK-only, the single-country UK eSIM is also an option.

Pre-departure checklist

• ✅ ETA approved, and tied to the passport you are actually travelling with
• ✅ Passport valid for the whole trip
• ✅ If the itinerary includes Schengen countries, check the current ETIAS status
• ✅ Data plan installed (the Europe card covers the UK and the continent)
• ✅ ETA decision and booking confirmations screenshotted to your phone

UK entry FAQ

Do I need a UK ETA in 2026?

Yes. The UK ETA became mandatory for all eligible nationalities on 25 February 2026. Without it, the airline will stop you at the check-in desk.

How much is the UK ETA and how long does it last?

It costs GBP 16 and is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Within that period it allows multiple entries of up to six months each.

If I have ETIAS, do I still need a UK ETA?

Yes. The UK is not in the Schengen Area or the EU, so ETIAS does not cover it. A London plus Paris itinerary means handling UK and Schengen requirements separately.

Is my ETA still valid after renewing my passport?

No. The ETA is tied to your passport, so if you renew it within the validity period you need to apply for a new ETA.

Do I need an ETA just to transit through the UK?

Transit through the UK usually requires one, depending on how you connect. If your route transits the UK, check the specifics and apply in advance.

Bottom line

UK trips now have one extra step: apply for an ETA, GBP 16, valid two years, mandatory since February 2026. The good news is that one application covers multiple visits over two years, so it works out well if you visit the UK regularly. Sort the ETA and your data plan before you fly and you can walk off the plane and straight onto the Tube.

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