# Traveling to the UK from USA. Do I need the Electronic Travel Authorization? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [February 12, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-the-uk-from-usa-do-i-need-the-electronic-travel-authorization/1014245 "2025-02-12T19:34:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-the-uk-from-usa-do-i-need-the-electronic-travel-authorization/1014245/1 "2025-02-12T19:34:44Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-the-uk-from-usa-do-i-need-the-electronic-travel-authorization/1014245/2 "2025-02-12T20:04:49Z")
Yes, you need an ETA: > **[Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta)** > > Information on who can get an ETA and how to apply before coming to the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-the-uk-from-usa-do-i-need-the-electronic-travel-authorization/1014245/3 "2025-02-12T20:28:21Z")
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](https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families) or [right of abode](https://www.gov.uk/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](https://gov.uk/guidance/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta-residents-of-ireland) 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. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-the-uk-from-usa-do-i-need-the-electronic-travel-authorization/1014245/4 "2025-02-12T22:01:10Z")
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. > **[ETIAS Requirements for American Citizens | ETIAS Countries](https://www.etiaseu.com/us-citizens)** > > Essential information about ETIAS requirements for U.S. citizens. Find out which European countries require ETIAS and what you need to apply online from America ---
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-the-uk-from-usa-do-i-need-the-electronic-travel-authorization/1014245/5 "2025-02-12T22:33:25Z")
Beautiful! Thank you, folks, for confirming. Will apply for the ETA shortly! ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-the-uk-from-usa-do-i-need-the-electronic-travel-authorization/1014245/6 "2025-02-12T23:17:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-the-uk-from-usa-do-i-need-the-electronic-travel-authorization/1014245/7 "2025-03-02T23:16:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-the-uk-from-usa-do-i-need-the-electronic-travel-authorization/1014245/8 "2025-03-03T22:15:47Z")
Thank you for the replies. ETA approved and attached to my passport no problem; trip completed no problem!