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As of October 25, 2023, new regulations regarding entry into the United Kingdom have been implemented, requiring U.S. citizens to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling.
Option Trip – This new requirement streamlines the travel process for American tourists and provides essential information on who can apply, the application process, and what travelers can and cannot do with an ETA.
Who Can Apply for an ETA?
Eligibility for applying for an ETA depends on:
- The date of your travel.
- Your nationality as stated in your passport.
U.S. citizens should check their eligibility through the official UK government website to confirm they can apply for an ETA.
Who Does Not Need an ETA?
You do not need an ETA if:
- You already have a valid visa for the UK.
- You possess permission to live, work, or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode).
- You are a British or Irish citizen.
- You are traveling with a British overseas territories citizen passport.
- You live in Ireland and are traveling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man.
If you have dual citizenship with British or Irish nationality, you are exempt from the ETA requirement and can prove your right to travel using your British or Irish passport or another passport containing a certificate of entitlement.
What You Can Do with an ETA
An ETA allows you to:
- Visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting friends and family, business, or short-term study.
- Stay in the UK for up to 3 months under the Creative Worker visa concession.
- Engage in permitted paid engagements.
- Transit through the UK, even if you are not passing through UK border control.
If your purpose for traveling to the UK is different, verify if you require a visa instead.
What You Cannot Do with an ETA
With an ETA, you are not permitted to:
- Stay in the UK for more than 6 months.
- Work, whether paid or unpaid, for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless it’s for a permitted paid engagement or under the Creative Worker visa concession.
- Claim public funds or benefits.
- Reside in the UK via frequent or successive visits.
- Get married or register a civil partnership without applying for a Marriage Visitor visa.
How Much Does It Cost?
The application fee for an ETA is