Title says it all. Headed to Heathrow from Logan in about a week. Have a nice valid USA passport. Will be staying for a few days doing touristy things (Watching Ireland play Wales in a Six Nations Rugby match in Cardiff).
Do I need the ETA?
Thanks,
Hoppy
Yes, you need an ETA:
Specifically:
Who does not need an ETA
You do not need an ETA if any of these apply to you:
- you have a visa
- you have 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 travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
- you live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
I was just in England last week and it only took me a few minutes to fill out. I was approved in about a minute, but they say it can take a few days.
I just went through the same process @Ruken describes. Painless except for the GBP10 ~= USD13 fee at the end.
Your ETA is good for an unlimited number of visits to the UK over the next IIRC 3 years. That doesn’t mean you could go there and stay all 3 years. Just that you only need to get the ETA once for any all travel into the UK during that time.
You didn’t ask, but the EU is starting a very similar thing called the ETIAS that was supposed to go into effect on Jan 1 2025 but is presently delayed until May 1 2025. The UK ETA is similar and it did go into effect on time on Jan 1 2025.
Beautiful! Thank you, folks, for confirming. Will apply for the ETA shortly!
If you haven’t already, I wasn’t able to scan my passport’s chip/RFID/whatit with my phone. Rather than trying three times like I did, you can just enter the info.
They really want you to use their app rather than the website.
I just used the app to apply for the ETA for the three members of my family. Each was approved one minute after I submitted them.
Thank you for the replies. ETA approved and attached to my passport no problem; trip completed no problem!