What they are
These are travel authorisations, not visas. You fill in a short form online, pay a fee and usually get an answer within minutes or days. Each one is linked to the passport you applied with, so if you get a new passport you need a new authorisation.
Only ever apply on the official government site or app. Other websites charge far more for the same form, and some are scams. We link straight to the official sites below.
Who needs which
| Permit | For | Who needs it (of our six passports) | Cost | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK ETA Electronic travel authorisation | United Kingdom | US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand | £20 | 2 years, or until your passport expires if that's sooner. You can use it for as many trips as you like. |
| ESTA Electronic System for Travel Authorization | United States | UK, Irish, Australian, New Zealand | $40.62 | 2 years, or until your passport expires if that's sooner |
| eTA Electronic Travel Authorization | Canada | UK, Irish, Australian, New Zealand | CA$7 | 5 years, or until your passport expires if that's sooner |
| ETA Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) | Australia | US, Canadian | A$20 | 12 months. You can visit as many times as you like. It's linked to your passport, so travel on the passport you applied with. |
| eVisitor eVisitor visa (subclass 651) | Australia | UK, Irish | Free | 12 months. You can visit as many times as you like. |
| NZeTA New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority | New Zealand | US, UK, Irish, Canadian | NZ$17 | 2 years. You can visit as many times as you like. |
| K-ETA Korea Electronic Travel Authorization | South Korea | Irish | ₩10,000 | 3 years, or until your passport expires if that's sooner |
| ETIAS European Travel Information and Authorisation System | Schengen area | Not needed yet | When it starts, you'll need to apply online for ETIAS before you travel. It will cost €20 (free if you're under 18 or over 70) and last 3 years or until your passport expires. There's no start date yet: the EU says it will announce it several months ahead. Until then, don't pay any website for it. | |
The ones people mix up
- UK ETA is for the UK. US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand need one. Official site
- ESTA is for the USA. UK, Irish, Australian and New Zealand need one. Official site
- eTA is for Canada. UK, Irish, Australian and New Zealand need one. Official site
- ETIAS is for the Schengen area. It hasn't started yet, so don't pay anyone for it.
Before you apply
- Apply with the passport you'll travel on, and check every detail matches it exactly.
- Apply before you book if you can. Most answers come quickly, but some take days.
- If you're refused, you'll usually need to apply for a full visa instead, which takes much longer.
The checker tells you which permits your trip needs and can add a reminder to your calendar.
Checked 26 October 2026 against GOV.UK, Home Office news team, US Customs and Border Protection, US Embassy and Consulates in the United Kingdom, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Department of Home Affairs, Australia, Australian High Commission, Ottawa, Tourism Australia, Australian High Commission, London, Immigration New Zealand, New Zealand Traveller Declaration, Korea Electronic Travel Authorization, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Switzerland, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ireland, Korea Tourism Organization, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Greece, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore, Ministry of Justice, Korea Immigration Service, European Union and European Commission.
See the 46 official sources
- Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK (GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration))
- Check if you can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) (GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration))
- Immigration Rules Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation (GOV.UK (Home Office))
- UK enforces digital permission to travel (24 February 2026) (GOV.UK (Home Office))
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) factsheet, April 2026 (Home Office news team (homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk))
- Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (GOV.UK (Home Office))
- Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor (GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration))
- Entering the UK: before you leave for the UK (GOV.UK (Border Force))
- ESTA frequently asked questions (US Customs and Border Protection)
- CBP's Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) (US Embassy and Consulates in the United Kingdom)
- Countries that extend passport validity for an additional six months (Six-Month Club update, 18 December 2025) (US Customs and Border Protection)
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
- Apply for an eTA (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
- Find out about eTAs and if you can apply (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
- Do I have to apply for an eTA each time I travel to Canada? (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (Help Centre))
- Do I need to apply for an eTA before I book my airline ticket? (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (Help Centre))
- Entry requirements by country or territory (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
- eTA: what to do after you apply (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
- Extend your stay in Canada as a visitor (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
- ArriveCAN: Advance Declaration (Canada Border Services Agency)
- Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) (Department of Home Affairs, Australia)
- Visas, Migration and Citizenship (Australian High Commission, Ottawa)
- Australian visa and entry requirements FAQs (Tourism Australia (Australian Government))
- Australian customs and biosecurity FAQs (Tourism Australia (Australian Government))
- eVisitor (subclass 651) (Department of Home Affairs, Australia)
- Visas and citizenship (Australian High Commission, London)
- New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) (Immigration New Zealand)
- NZeTA application guide (Immigration New Zealand)
- Paying the International Visitor Levy (Immigration New Zealand)
- Visa waiver countries and territories (Immigration New Zealand)
- Visa Waiver Visitor Visa (Immigration New Zealand)
- Completing your declaration (New Zealand Traveller Declaration (New Zealand Government))
- K-ETA Application Guide (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (Ministry of Justice))
- K-ETA: Who can apply (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (Ministry of Justice))
- K-ETA FAQ (Q58: Who is eligible for the application exemption?) (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (Ministry of Justice))
- Notice on Temporary Exemption of K-ETA to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (and the 23 countries/regions) (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Switzerland)
- Notice for all Visa applicants (31 July 2026) (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ireland)
- Visa & Travel Requirements (Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea))
- (K-ETA) Information about Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (updated 2 January 2026) (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Greece)
- Things to Note When Travelling to Korea (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore)
- Ministry of Justice implements e-Arrival card starting Feb 24, 2025 (press release) (Ministry of Justice, Korea Immigration Service)
- What is ETIAS (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- What you need to apply (ETIAS) (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- ETIAS frequently asked questions (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- ETIAS timeline explained (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- Smart Borders (European Commission (Migration and Home Affairs))