U.S. citizens traveling to the United Kingdom are facing a new entry requirement that started on January 8, 2025. This change applies not only to tourists and business travellers, but also to passengers transiting through U.K. airports.

The January 8 date is also applicable to almost 50 additional countries including Canada, Mexico, Australia or Brazil.

What is the UK ETA?

The Electronic Travel Authorization functions as a digital pre-clearance system, similar to the U.S. ESTA program used for visa-waiver travellers entering the United States.

U.S. passport holders must obtain an ETA before traveling to any part of the U.K., including England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the U.K.’s British Overseas Territories.

The ETA, once approved, is valid for two years (or until the traveller’s passport expires, whichever comes first) and for multiple trips. It costs £16 (about $22) for each passenger, adults and children alike.

Who needs an ETA and who doesn’t

U.S. citizens must apply for an ETA if they are traveling to or transiting through the U.K. and do not already hold a U.K. visa, a British or Irish passport or legal residency in the U.K. or the Republic of Ireland.

Travelers who already require a visa to enter the U.K. under existing rules will continue to need a visa and should not apply for an ETA.

The rules clearly state that travellers do not need an ETA if they are transiting through a U.K. airport and will not pass through border control. However, if they pass through border control, they need the ETA.

According to U.K. government guidance, travellers will pass through U.K. border control if they leave the main airport building, need to collect and recheck bags, or if an onward flight departs on a different calendar day, or if there is no option to remain overnight on the airport, such as in a transit hotel.

The new requirement ends decades of visa-free spontaneity for Americans flying to or through the U.K.

Travelers who show up at the airport without an approved ETA risk being denied boarding, even if they are only connecting through a U.K. hub.

The U.K. government allows a "grace period" until February 25, 2026, but travellers with upcoming trips or last-minute bookings are advised to apply as soon as possible.

After February 25, 2026, airlines and other carriers will verify that travellers have an approved ETA before departure. This means passengers without an ETA will be denied boarding.

Applications must be submitted online through the U.K. government’s official website or via the U.K. ETA app, available on Google Play and the App Store.

In an official statement, the U.K. government notes that most people currently receive a decision automatically within minutes. However, they still recommended allowing three working days to be on the safe side.

Australia’s and New Zealand's long-running ETA for U.S. citizens has been in place for years.

Brazil recently reinstated the electronic visa requirement for citizens of the United States (and Australia and Canada), effective April 10, 2025, while South Korea, on the contrary, waived its K-ETA requirement for U.S. citizens until December 31, 2026.

The European Union is also working on its own system, the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), which is expected to launch in late 2026.

Therefore, the U.K.’s ETA only marks another step in a global shift toward pre-screened international travel. But will these systems measurably speed up arrivals and improve security without creating new friction? Travelers clearly need to adopt a new habit in 2026 to check and apply for pre-authorization before their trips. (Adapted from a report by Forbes)

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