UK ETA for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

Do Europeans need an ETA?

Yes. Since 2 April 2025, citizens of every EU country except Ireland, of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and of Switzerland have needed an ETA to visit the UK. Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are on the ETA list too.

Since 25 February 2026 the requirement has been fully enforced. Airlines, ferry companies and rail operators, including cross-Channel services, check for a valid ETA before you board and can refuse travel without one.

Irish citizens

Irish citizens don't need an ETA to travel to the UK.

People of other nationalities who live legally in Ireland don't need one either when they travel to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. If they travel from anywhere else, say from France or Spain, the usual rules apply.

ID cards: why you'll need a passport

Most EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can no longer use a national identity card to enter the UK. You need a passport, and you need one to apply for an ETA in the first place.

This rule came in before the ETA, in October 2021, but it still catches people out, particularly those who used to visit on an ID card.

There are exceptions. People with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme can still use a national ID card, as can some others with protected rights. If you think you're in that group, check the details on GOV.UK before relying on an ID card.

If you have settled or pre-settled status

Settled and pre-settled status are permission to live in the UK, so if you have either, you don't need an ETA.

Family and friends visiting you are a separate matter. Each of them needs their own permission to travel: an ETA if their nationality is on the list, or a visa if it isn't.

Families and children

Children from EU, EEA and Swiss countries need their own ETA and, in most cases, their own passport, whatever their age. A child who has only ever travelled on an ID card will need a passport before you can apply. Our guide to ETAs for children and families covers photos, group trips and mixed-nationality families.

Coming by train, ferry or car

The ETA applies however you travel. If you're coming by Eurostar or a Channel ferry, including with a car, the operator checks for an ETA before you board, just as an airline does. Make sure everyone on the booking has an ETA linked to the passport they're carrying.

What changed in 2025 and 2026

The higher fee applies to applications made from 8 April 2026. An ETA granted before then stays valid for its full term, so there's nothing extra to pay.

What an ETA covers for European visitors

An ETA covers holidays, visiting family and friends, business activities, short courses of study and transit, for up to six months on each visit. It lasts two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, so a regular visitor applies once and travels as often as needed in that time.

It doesn't give you the right to live or work in the UK. For that you need a visa, unless you already have status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

As for everyone else, an ETA doesn't guarantee entry. A Border Force officer makes the final decision when you arrive.

How to apply

Apply in the UK ETA app or at GOV.UK for £20 per person, using the passport you'll travel on. If you hold another nationality as well, check it against the GOV.UK eligibility list and apply with the passport you'll actually use.

If you'd like help, our specialists can check your application before it's submitted. See our prices or start an application.