Version history

UK ETA: every date, fee and country change from the 2023 launch to today

1 published version. Every version stays readable at its own address, and nothing is removed without a correction note.

Version 1Current7 October 2026, 13:48 UTC · created
Record created.
- Timeline added: Qatari nationals, the first to use the scheme, could apply from 25 October 2023.
- Timeline added: The scheme opened on 15 November 2023, when Qatari nationals began needing an ETA. It cost £10 at launch.
- Timeline added: Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan needed an ETA from 22 February 2024, with applications open from 1 February 2024.
- Timeline added: Colombia was taken off the ETA list on 26 November 2024 because Colombians now need a visa.
- Timeline added: On 16 January 2025 the Home Office laid legislation allowing the ETA fee to rise to £16.
- Timeline added: Applications opened on 5 March 2025 for nationals of EU countries other than Ireland, and of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
- Timeline added: Trinidad and Tobago nationals lost access to the ETA on 12 March 2025.
- Timeline added: European visitors have needed an ETA to travel since 2 April 2025.
- Timeline added: Botswana was removed from the ETA list on 14 October 2025.
- Timeline added: Nauruan nationals lost access to the ETA on 9 December 2025.
- Timeline added: On 3 February 2026 the embassy removed the price from its page, saying the cost will change in the future.
- Timeline added: Nationals of Nicaragua and St Lucia lost access to the ETA on 5 March 2026.
- Timeline added: Since 9 April 2026 an ETA also covers travel to Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
- Confirmed: One ETA covers multiple trips of up to six months each for two years, or until the passport it is linked to expires if that comes first.
- Confirmed: Travellers must use the passport they applied with; a new passport needs a new ETA.
- Confirmed: Every traveller needs their own ETA, babies and children included.
- Confirmed: Holders of a British or Irish passport, or of permission to live, work or study in the UK, do not need one.
- Confirmed: Passengers who pass through UK border control while changing flights need an ETA. Airside transit passengers were given a temporary exemption in January 2025.
- Confirmed: Most applications are decided automatically within minutes, but GOV.UK advises allowing three working days.
- Confirmed: Qatari nationals, the first to use the scheme, could apply from 25 October 2023.
- Confirmed: The scheme opened on 15 November 2023, when Qatari nationals began needing an ETA. It cost £10 at launch.
- Confirmed: Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan needed an ETA from 22 February 2024, with applications open from 1 February 2024.
- Confirmed: Colombia was taken off the ETA list on 26 November 2024 because Colombians now need a visa.
- Confirmed: On 16 January 2025 the Home Office laid legislation allowing the ETA fee to rise to £16.
- Confirmed: Applications opened on 5 March 2025 for nationals of EU countries other than Ireland, and of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
- Confirmed: Trinidad and Tobago nationals lost access to the ETA on 12 March 2025.
- Confirmed: On 26 June 2025 the British Embassy in Helsinki updated its ETA page to show a price of £16 instead of £10.
- Confirmed: Botswana was removed from the ETA list on 14 October 2025.
- Confirmed: Nauruan nationals lost access to the ETA on 9 December 2025.
- Confirmed: On 3 February 2026 the embassy removed the price from its page, saying the cost will change in the future.
- Confirmed: Nationals of Nicaragua and St Lucia lost access to the ETA on 5 March 2026.
- Confirmed: Since 9 April 2026 an ETA also covers travel to Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
- Confirmed: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or with an EU Settlement Scheme family permit, need neither a visa nor an ETA.
- Confirmed: The Home Office describes the ETA as part of a more digital border for the millions of people who cross it each year.
- Source added: Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK (GOV.UK)
- Source added: Finns travelling to UK need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (GOV.UK)
- Source added: Next steps for a more efficient immigration system (GOV.UK)
- Source added: UK opens electronic travel authorisation scheme (GOV.UK)
- Source added: Check if you can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) (GOV.UK)
- Source added: Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen (GOV.UK)