Country Guide — North America
UK ETA for US Citizens
US passport holders travelling to the UK for tourism, family visits, permitted business activities or short-term study generally need a UK ETA before departure when the scheme applies to their journey.
Do US citizens need a UK ETA?
US citizens travelling to the United Kingdom for tourism, to visit family and friends, for permitted short-term business activities or for short-term study generally need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before departure when the scheme applies to their journey. The ETA is a digital permission linked to the US passport used to apply — it is not a visa and does not guarantee admission to the UK.
For most US travellers the ETA replaces the need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa for eligible short visits. The application is made online before travel, and the granted ETA is electronically tied to a single passport rather than stamped into it.
Independent UK ETA Application Service
ukelectronictravelauthorisation.com is an independent private application-processing service operated by Premium Global Visas, registered in the Netherlands. We are not affiliated with the UK Government, GOV.UK, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), the Home Office or any British Embassy. Travellers may apply independently through the official UK Government website without using our service.
How Premium Global Visas helps US citizens
We are an independent private application-processing service. Our package price is the total amount collected for the complete application-processing service, including payment of the applicable UK Government ETA application fee (currently £20) on your behalf. Our Standard, Priority and Super Priority options relate only to the speed of our internal review — they do not speed up or influence the UK Government’s decision.
- Application review for completeness and obvious inconsistencies before submission assistance
- Passport identity page and applicant photograph checks with clear guidance
- Family and group application assistance — add every traveller in one checkout session
- Customer support by email and WhatsApp throughout your application
Requirements
- A valid passport from your country of citizenship that you intend to travel with
- A recent digital photograph meeting applicable requirements
- A working email address for application communications
- A valid online payment method
Application process
- 1Check eligibility and select your travel purpose
- 2Enter passport details and upload the passport identity page
- 3Provide applicant information and upload a recent photo
- 4Answer the additional background questions
- 5Review everything, accept the declarations and pay securely
- 6Receive your reference, confirmation email and invoice
Fees, processing and validity
The package price is the total amount collected for the complete application-processing service, including payment of the applicable UK ETA application fee on your behalf. One applicant pays the individual price; when two or more applicants apply and pay together, the reduced family/group rate applies to every applicant. Premium Global Visas offers three options: Standard Service £60 individual (£50 per applicant family/group, processing target within 24 hours), Priority Service £80individual (£70 per applicant family/group, processing target within 4 hours) and Super Priority Service £120 individual (£100 per applicant family/group, processing target within 15 minutes). You may instead apply directly through the official UK Government service. Processing targets begin only after complete information, documents and payment are received; UK ETA decisions are made solely by the relevant UK authorities and approval and entry cannot be guaranteed. Where current rules apply, an ETA is generally valid for up to 2 years or until the linked passport expires, whichever occurs first.
Transit considerations for US citizens
US citizens connecting through a UK airport may need an ETA if their journey involves passing through UK border control — for example when leaving the airport airside area, changing airports in London, or entering the UK before a later onward flight. If you stay airside within the international transit area and do not pass through UK border control, different rules may apply. Confirm your specific itinerary against official UK Government guidance before finalising travel plans.
Dual nationals and second passports
Many US citizens hold a second nationality. If you are also a British or Irish citizen, or you hold another qualifying UK immigration permission, you may not need an ETA at all. If you hold two non-UK passports, apply using the passport you intend to carry and present at the UK border — the ETA is linked to that one passport, and you must travel on it.
Children and families
Every traveller who requires an ETA must have their own application, including US children and babies. A parent, guardian or authorised person may prepare an application for a minor where permitted. Our family flow lets you add every applicant within a single checkout session so a family can apply and pay together.
UK ETA family application guidanceCommon application mistakes to avoid
- Applying on a US passport card — only the US passport book is accepted for UK entry; the passport card is not valid for travel to the United Kingdom
- Entering a passport number, name or date of birth that does not exactly match the US passport identity page
- Applying on a passport that is close to expiry, then renewing it before travel — the ETA stays linked to the old passport and a new application may be needed
- Uploading a passport scan with glare across the machine-readable zone, or a photo with a non-plain background
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a UK ETA?
US citizens generally need a UK ETA for eligible short visits when the scheme applies to their journey. The ETA is a digital permission linked to the passport used to apply — it is not a visa and does not guarantee entry. Final decisions rest with UK authorities.
Can I use my US passport card for the UK ETA?
No. Only the US passport book is accepted for travel to the United Kingdom. The US passport card is not valid for entry to the UK, so apply using your passport book and travel with that same passport.
How long can US citizens stay in the UK with an ETA?
Where current rules apply, eligible visits are generally for up to 6 months, depending on your travel purpose and applicable UK immigration rules. An ETA does not allow living in the UK through repeated or successive visits.
I am a US and British dual national — do I need an ETA?
British citizens generally do not need an ETA to enter the UK. If you hold both US and British citizenship, you typically enter using your British passport. If you are a dual national of the US and another non-UK country, apply for the ETA on the passport you will actually travel on.
Check Your Nationality
Select your nationality and travel purpose for instant indicative guidance.
Apply directly or with support
You may apply directly through the official UK Government website without using our service, or use our independent application-processing service for professional review and support.
Start an applicationReady to apply for your UK ETA?
Check your eligibility in under a minute, then complete your application online with professional review and support.