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After the end of a transition phase, entering the United Kingdom has no longer been possible without a digital entry permit (ETA) since Wednesday. From now on, anyone who has not purchased the authorization online in advance for £16 (around €19) will be denied boarding by airlines and ferry operators.
Citizens of all ages from 85 countries — including EU member states, the United States, and Canada — must present the permit in order to enter the UK, the British Home Office explained. A separate entry permit must be obtained for every accompanying family member. Travelers who are only transiting through the UK, for example at London Heathrow Airport, and who do not leave the airport’s transit area, also require an ETA. The regulation had already come into force in April 2025, but border officials had been allowed to show leniency until now.
How to apply for the ETA — with caution
The fastest way to apply for the ETA is through the official app of the UK Home Office. The download link for the app can be found here.
Alternatively, travelers can submit the application via the Home Office website.
Applicants should be cautious of dubious online providers. Already last year, the new entry rules for the UK attracted numerous scammers. With fake websites, they lure unsuspecting tourists by promising a digital visa. These offers are often absurdly expensive — and in some cases, the visa never arrives. How to avoid these traps is explained here.
The ETA system is modeled on the U.S. ESTA system. With the authorization, travelers may stay in the UK for up to six months. It remains valid for two years and allows unlimited entries.
According to the Home Office, the vast majority of applications are processed automatically within minutes.
The UK first introduced the ETA in 2023 for Qatar, later expanding it to five other Gulf states. According to the British government, the system is intended to strengthen border security.
Concise news-style English version
UK now requires digital entry permit (ETA) for all eligible travelers
The UK has ended its transition period for the new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). As of Wednesday, travelers from 85 countries — including all EU states, the U.S., and Canada — must obtain the £16 permit online before departure. Airlines and ferry operators will refuse boarding without it.
Each traveler, including children, needs their own ETA. Even passengers transiting through UK airports without leaving the international zone must apply. Although the rule has been in effect since April 2025, border officials had previously been allowed to show flexibility.
The ETA can be requested via the official Home Office app or website. Authorities warn against fraudulent third‑party sites charging excessive fees or failing to deliver the permit.
Modeled after the U.S. ESTA system, the ETA allows stays of up to six months and is valid for two years with multiple entries. Most applications are approved automatically within minutes. The UK first rolled out the system in 2023 for Qatar and later expanded it to other Gulf states as part of efforts to enhance border security.
Smooth, reader‑friendly rewrite
UK tightens entry rules: Digital travel permit now mandatory
Anyone traveling to the UK from the EU, the U.S., Canada, or one of 85 eligible countries must now secure a digital entry permit (ETA) before their trip. The transition period has officially ended, and airlines as well as ferry companies will no longer allow passengers to board without the £16 authorization.
Every traveler — including children — needs their own ETA. Even those simply changing planes in the UK without leaving the transit area must apply. Although the system technically launched in April 2025, border officers had been applying it with flexibility until now.
The quickest way to obtain the ETA is through the official Home Office app, though the application can also be completed on the government website. Officials warn travelers to avoid unofficial websites that mimic the real service, charge inflated fees, or fail to deliver the permit at all.
The ETA works similarly to the U.S. ESTA: it allows stays of up to six months and remains valid for two years with unlimited entries. Most applications are approved within minutes. The UK first introduced the system in 2023 for Qatar and later expanded it to other Gulf countries as part of a broader effort to strengthen border security.
- Hector Pascua with reports from spiegel.de/picture: pixabay.com
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