Do you need a Visa to come to the UK?

When visiting the UK it is essential that you check to see if you have all your paperwork in order, you can be refused entry as the UK has strict immigration laws.

Most short-term visitors to the UK do not need a visa, but since 25 February 2026, almost everyone who is not a British or Irish citizen needs some form of digital permission before they travel. For most visitors,s this is an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rather than a visa.

Which one you need depends on your nationality, the reason for your visit and how long you plan to stay. The quickest way to check is the official government tool at gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

Who Does Not Need a Visa or an ETA?

British and Irish citizens do not need a visa or an ETA, including dual citizens, although dual citizens should travel on their British or Irish passport.

You also do not usually need an ETA if you already hold UK immigration permission, such as a visa, settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or another form of permission to live, work or study in the UK.

What Is an ETA?

An Electronic Travel Authorisation is a digital permission to travel, linked electronically to your passport. It is not a visa, and it does not guarantee entry — a Border Force officer still makes the final decision when you arrive.

An ETA currently costs £20 per person, allows multiple visits of up to six months at a time, and lasts for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you renew your passport, you will need a new ETA. Every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and children.

Who Needs an ETA?

Nationals of visa-exempt countries need an ETA to visit the UK. This includes citizens of all EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, as well as the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and many others.

This is a significant change: EU and EEA citizens have needed an ETA since April 2025, and since 25 February 20,26 airlines, ferry operators and rail companies must check for one before allowing boarding. If you need an ETA and do not have one, you are likely to be refused boarding.

How to Apply for an ETA

Apply through the official UK ETA app or on GOV.UK. You will need the passport you intend to use for travel, a photo of your face, and a payment card. Most decisions are made within minutes, but you should apply at least 3 working days before travel in case your application requires further review.

Only use official channels. Third-party websites often charge considerably more than the official £20 fee for no additional service.

If an ETA is refused, there is no right of appeal. Depending on the reason, you may be able to apply again, or you may need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead, which allows you to provide supporting evidence.

Who Needs a Visa?

Nationals of countries outside the visa-exempt list need a visa to visit the UK, even for a short holiday. You will also need a visa, whatever your nationality, if you want to stay longer than six months or come to the UK to work, study, join family or settle.

Use the checker at gov.uk/check-uk-visa to confirm what applies to your nationality and circumstances.

Types of Visa

The Standard Visitor visa allows visits of up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business meetings and certain short courses. If you travel to the UK regularly, long-term Standard Visitor visas lasting two, five or ten years are available, allowing repeated stays of up to six months at a time.

Longer-term routes include work visas such as the Skilled Worker visa, the Student visa, and family visas for partners, children and other relatives of people settled in the UK. Each route has its own eligibility criteria, evidence requirements and fees.

Applying for a Visa

Give yourself plenty of time. Visitor visa decisions usually take around three weeks, but work, study and family visas can take longer, and complex cases longer still.

Applications are made online through GOV.UK. You will usually need to prove your identity, either through a smartphone app or by attending a visa application centre to provide fingerprints and a photograph. Successful applicants now normally receive an eVisa — a digital record of their immigration status — rather than a physical document or sticker in their passport.

Supporting Evidence

The evidence needed depends on the visa, but may include your passport and travel history, financial evidence showing you can support yourself, details of where you will stay, evidence of employment or study, and documents about family in the UK.

If you are applying on behalf of someone else, such as a child, you may need to prove your relationship or legal authority, for example with a birth certificate or court documents.

Incomplete evidence is one of the most common reasons applications are refused. For most visitor visas, there is no right of appeal against a refusal — you would normally need to make a fresh application, and a previous refusal must be declared, which can make later applications harder.

Current Position

Since 25 February 2026, almost all visitors to the UK need either an ETA or a visa before travelling. Visa-exempt nationals, including all EU citizens, need a £20 ETA, which lasts two years and covers multiple short visits. Other nationals, and anyone staying longer than six months or coming to work, study or settle, need the appropriate visa.

Check what you need at gov.uk/check-uk-visa, apply through official channels only, and allow at least three working days for an ETA and several weeks for a visa.

Disclaimer

Solicitors.com is not a firm of solicitors and does not provide legal advice. The information on this page is for general guidance only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a regulated solicitor. Immigration law, application procedures and fees can change, and how the law applies will depend on the facts of each case.

Feedback

If you believe this page contains an error or requires updating, please get in touch with us. We welcome amendments that help keep our legal information accurate and useful.