Sources checked: 13 September 2026.
Searching for a UK travel visa can lead to two very different processes: a visa application or an electronic travel authorisation, known as an ETA. Some travellers need neither. The correct choice comes from your nationality, existing UK permission and purpose of travel, rather than the airline, departure airport or cheapest application advertised online.
There are three possible starting points
Begin with the government’s UK visa checker. Answer for the traveller and passport concerned. If several people are travelling together, check each person separately rather than assuming a single result covers the group.
| Result | What it means for planning |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa required | Follow the visa application process; an ETA is not a substitute. |
| ETA required | Apply through the official ETA service and receive approval before travel. |
| Neither required | Identify the applicable exemption and the documents supporting your journey. |
British and Irish passport holders, and people with permission to live, work or study in the UK, are among those who do not need an ETA. Exemption from ETA does not mean that no identity or status evidence is needed for travel.
An ETA is linked to a particular passport
The official ETA application instructions currently list a £20 fee. An ETA lasts two years or until the associated passport expires, whichever happens first. It is linked to the passport used in the application, which must be the one used for that journey.
Keep a simple record of which passport belongs to each authorisation. This is particularly useful when you renew a passport or hold more than one nationality. Do not assume an authorisation attached to an older or different passport automatically carries across to the document you now intend to present.
Group applications can receive separate decisions
Each traveller who requires an ETA needs their own, including children. Applying for everyone together does not combine their permissions. A parent receiving approval should still check the decision for each child before finalising the group’s departure arrangements.
ETA decisions usually arrive within a day, although the official guidance allows up to three working days. Wait for confirmation before travelling. Applying through another website cannot purchase a faster official ETA decision. If a message is missing, check spam folders and follow the government’s help instructions.
Your itinerary can introduce another question
For a connection through the UK, determine whether you will cross border control. Collecting luggage or changing airports can change the journey’s practical requirements. Ask the carrier to confirm the transfer arrangement, then use the appropriate government transit guidance for your nationality.
Separate this question from whether the final destination admits you. Permission for the onward country does not, by itself, answer every UK transit question. Record both checks when comparing flight options.
Confirm the route before paying
Check the website address, the traveller’s details and the type of application displayed. A third-party service charge is not the government fee. Save the confirmation and review the permission connected to your passport before departure. An ETA authorises travel for relevant purposes but does not guarantee entry; border requirements still apply.