Since Brexit the rules for entering the United Kingdom have changed. For a tourist trip, citizens of the European Union do not need a visa, but they must have a passport and, since 2 April 2025, an electronic authorisation called an ETA, Electronic Travel Authorisation. Here is what to know before you go.
Passport
Since 1 October 2021 EU national identity cards are no longer accepted for entry to the UK: you need a passport, valid for the whole length of your stay. The only exceptions are EU citizens who have obtained settled or pre-settled status in the UK, under specific rules. Children also need their own passport. Adults and young people aged 10 and over, accompanied by an adult, can use the automatic eGates at airports and Eurostar stations, which makes checks much quicker.
What the ETA is
The ETA is a digital permission similar to the American ESTA, linked electronically to your passport. It is compulsory for all visitors who do not need a visa, including babies and children, and also for those transiting through some airports who pass through border control.
- Cost: £20 since 8 April 2026 (it was £10 at launch and then £16).
- Validity: two years, or until your passport expires if sooner.
- Use: it allows multiple entries, with stays of up to six months each, for tourism, family visits, business and short courses of study.
- Timing: a decision usually arrives within three working days, often much sooner. Apply in good time rather than at the last minute.
How to apply
You apply on the official UK ETA app or on the British government website, GOV.UK. You need your passport, a photo of your face taken with your phone, an email address and a payment card; you must also answer some questions, for example about any criminal convictions. Beware of unofficial websites, which charge much more for the same service. If you renew your passport, you must apply for a new ETA. There is no need to print anything: at border control your passport is enough.
Who does not need an ETA
British and Irish citizens, those who already hold a UK visa or residence permit, and those with settled status do not need one. Irish citizens, thanks to the Common Travel Area, can live and work freely in the UK. For travel to Northern Ireland via the Republic of Ireland, non-Irish European citizens still need an ETA, even though there are no checks at the border.
Work and study
You cannot work with an ETA. Anyone who wants to work or study for more than six months must apply for a visa under the points-based system introduced after Brexit: to work you generally need a job offer from a licensed employer and a minimum salary, to study a place on a recognised course; you also pay a visa fee and a healthcare surcharge. Short English courses of up to six months are allowed with an ETA. The European Union and the UK are negotiating a youth mobility scheme. For details see working in Britain and moving to the UK.
Customs
Since Brexit the limits for non-EU countries apply: duty free you can bring up to 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of wine and 4 litres of spirits, 200 cigarettes and other goods worth £390. Cash over £10,000 must be declared. Meat, milk and dairy products from the European Union are banned for personal use.
Rules can change: always check the official GOV.UK website before travelling. See also getting there and Brexit.