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ESTA and the UK ETA: which one you need, what they cost and how long they take

Flying UK to US you need an ESTA; flying US to UK you need an ETA. What each costs, how long it lasts, when to apply and how to avoid copycat sites.

By The Wallet Flights teamPublished 5 min read

An open passport with entry stamps on its pages
In this guide
  1. Which one do you need?
  2. The UK ETA for American travellers
  3. The ESTA for British travellers
  4. Connecting flights: do you need one to change planes?
  5. How to apply, step by step
  6. Avoid copycat websites
  7. Before you fly
  8. Questions people ask

The short answer

  • British visitors to the US need an ESTA (or a visa); American visitors to the UK need a UK ETA. Each traveller needs their own, children included.
  • The UK ETA costs £20, lasts 2 years or until your passport expires, and usually gets a decision within a day (up to 3 working days).
  • The ESTA costs $40.62 for applications from 16 October 2026 and lasts 2 years or until your passport expires.
  • You need one even just to change planes, if you pass through UK border control or transit the US.
  • Apply only on GOV.UK or the official ESTA website. Other sites charge more for the same thing.

Which one do you need?

They’re two different permissions that do the same job: they let visitors who don’t need a visa travel to a country. Which one you need depends on where you’re going, not where you’re from.

ESTA and UK ETA compared, from the official websites, checked 16 October 2026
UK ETA (to visit the UK)ESTA (to visit the US)
Who needs itVisitors who don’t need a visa, including US, Canadian, Australian and most European citizensCitizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including British citizens, unless they have a US visa
Cost£20$40.62 (for applications from 16 October 2026)
How long it lasts2 years, or until your passport expires2 years, or until your passport expires
Decision timeUsually within a day; up to 3 working daysApply as soon as you start planning
Needed for transit?Yes, if you pass through UK border controlYes, for any transit through the US
Where to applyGOV.UK or the UK ETA appThe official ESTA website

The UK ETA for American travellers

GOV.UK says you usually need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) rather than a visa if you’re from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries. British and Irish citizens don’t need one. Every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and children.

An ETA costs £20 and lets you visit the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months at a time. It lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and you can travel as many times as you like while it’s valid.

You can apply online or through the UK ETA app, which scans your passport and your face with your phone’s camera. You’ll need the passport you’re travelling with, an email address and a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. GOV.UK says you’ll usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days, and you must wait for the confirmation email before you travel. The fee isn’t refundable once you’ve applied.

The ESTA for British travellers

GOV.UK says British visitors to the US must have either an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) or a visa, and that travellers on the Visa Waiver Program need an approved ESTA whether they arrive by air, land or sea. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says you need an e-passport to use the Visa Waiver Program, and GOV.UK says your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay.

The official ESTA website says the fee is $40.62 for applications completed after its system update on 16 October 2026. Unless it’s revoked, an ESTA is valid for two years from the date it’s approved, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

The US Department of Homeland Security recommends applying when you make your travel plans, and CBP suggests doing it before you buy your tickets. An approved ESTA lets you board a flight to the US, but it doesn’t guarantee entry: a CBP officer decides that when you arrive.

Connecting flights: do you need one to change planes?

Yes, in many cases. GOV.UK says you need an ETA if you’re passing through border control at a UK airport before continuing your journey, which is common on separate tickets. The official ESTA website says Visa Waiver Program travellers need an ESTA or a visa even to transit the United States, and should answer yes to the transit question on the application.

This catches people out on trips such as London to Mexico City via a US airport, or a self-transfer through Heathrow. Our guide to self-transfer flights explains when you go through border control.

How to apply, step by step

The process is similar for both.

  1. Check your passport: the one you’ll travel with, valid for your whole trip (an e-passport for the US)
  2. Go to the official site: GOV.UK or the UK ETA app for the ETA; the official ESTA website for the US
  3. Fill in the application for each traveller separately, children included
  4. Pay the official fee: £20 for the ETA, $40.62 for the ESTA
  5. Wait for the approval email before you travel, and keep a copy of it
  6. Check the name and passport number match your booking exactly

Avoid copycat websites

Search for either permission and you’ll find websites that look official and charge far more for the same application. GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more and to avoid websites that imitate government services. Use only these:

Before you fly

With your ETA or ESTA approved, check the rest of the trip: our guide to the 24-hour cancellation rule covers changes after booking, and our London and New York destination guides cover airports and the best time to go. Flight times and fares are on the London to New York and New York to London route pages.

Questions people ask

Do US citizens need an ETA to visit the UK?

Yes. GOV.UK says visitors from the USA usually need an electronic travel authorisation rather than a visa. It costs £20 and lasts 2 years or until your passport expires.

Do I need an ESTA to travel to the USA from the UK?

Yes, unless you have a US visa. British citizens travel under the Visa Waiver Program, which needs an approved ESTA for arrivals by air, land or sea.

How long does a UK ETA take?

GOV.UK says you’ll usually get a decision within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days. You must wait for the confirmation before you travel.

How much does an ESTA cost?

$40.62 for applications completed from 16 October 2026, according to the official ESTA website. Sites charging more aren’t official.

Do I need an ESTA or ETA for a connecting flight?

For the US, yes: Visa Waiver Program travellers need an ESTA or visa even to transit. For the UK, you need an ETA if you pass through UK border control before your onward flight.

Sources

Rules change: check with your airline or the official page before you fly. How we write our guides

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