What is the ETA and who needs it
The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is the electronic travel permission the British government requires from travellers who do not need a visa — including Spanish citizens and all other EU nationals. It is not a visa: it is a prior authorisation, linked electronically to your passport, for short stays of up to six months for tourism, business, family visits or courses shorter than six months. For a general overview of the scheme, see our guide to what the UK ETA is.
Every Spanish traveller not resident in the UK needs one, including children and babies, each with their own application. It is not needed by those who already live legally in the country (settled or pre-settled status, or a valid visa) or by those who also hold a British or Irish passport — although dual Spanish-British nationals must travel on their British passport.
What changed in 2026 (and why there is no room for error any more)
Two important changes this year:
Since 25 February 2026 the rule is strictly enforced. The grace period is over: airlines, Eurostar and ferry operators are prohibited from boarding anyone without an approved authorisation. Having applied is no longer enough; it has to be granted.
Since 8 April 2026 the fee is £20. The authorisation started out at £10, rose to £16 in 2025, and this April rose again to £20 (around 23 euros). If you see a website still talking about £16, it is out of date — a bad sign for everything else it tells you.
Exactly how much it costs
The official fee is £20 per person — including children and babies — paid by card when the application is submitted. It is a one-off, non-refundable payment that covers the two years of validity.
How long it takes and when to apply
Most applications are resolved quickly, often within hours, but the official recommendation is to allow up to three working days. And since February you cannot board without the authorisation granted, so the practical rule is simple: apply when you buy your ticket, not the week of the trip. A “pending review” on a Friday afternoon, with a flight on Sunday, is a very long weekend.
How to apply
The official route is the British government's “UK ETA” app (or its website, GOV.UK). The process: scan your passport chip with your phone (NFC), take a photo of yourself, complete a short facial scan, answer a few security questions and pay. The entire procedure is available only in English, which is precisely where most mistakes happen: misunderstood eligibility questions, details that don't match the passport, rejected photos. It is a manageable process if you are comfortable in English and take your time; if that is not your case, it is reasonable to ask for help. At Charta Visa we review your application before it is submitted.
How long it lasts and when to renew it
The ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows multiple entries with stays of up to six months each time. Two details that catch people out: if you renew your passport, the old ETA dies with it and you need a new one; and if you already obtained one for a previous trip and it is still valid, don't pay for another — check it first.
Children, families and school trips
Every minor needs their own ETA, applied for by their parents or guardians. For a family of four, that is £80 in fees and four error-free forms.
And here is the case causing the most problems: school trips. A group of 50 students heading to London means 50 authorisations handled by 50 different families, each in their own way. In practice there is always an application with transposed passport digits, a payment on an unofficial website, and a student whose authorisation nobody has checked until the day before. If you are a parent, verify your child's ETA as soon as it is approved; if you are organising the trip for a school or an agency, consider managing the group centrally — that is exactly the group service we offer, with confirmation that the entire group is approved before flying.
Layovers, cruises and other special cases
Layovers in the UK: only connections that stay inside the international zone (airside transit) are exempt, and that is only possible at Heathrow and Manchester. If you change terminals collecting your luggage, pass through passport control, or your tickets are booked separately, you need the ETA.
Cruises: if the itinerary calls at a British port (Southampton, for example), you need the ETA.
Ireland: a different country, and it does not require the ETA. If the course or the trip is in Dublin, this requirement does not apply to you — for Ireland, a valid Spanish DNI or passport is enough.
What if it is refused?
Refusals are very rare and almost always avoidable: they usually come from mistakes on the form or wrong answers to the security questions. There is no formal appeal: the options are to submit a new application correcting the problem, or to apply for a Standard Visitor visa (£135 and weeks of waiting), which will not arrive in time for an imminent trip. The moral: review every field before submitting, because the fee is not refunded and there is little room to react.
Checklist before flying to the UK
- A passport with an electronic chip, valid for your entire stay (the Spanish DNI is no longer accepted for entry to the UK). Confirm it with our free passport checker.
- An ETA approved — not just applied for — for every traveller, including minors.
- The ETA linked to the passport you are travelling with, not to one renewed afterwards.
- Keep the confirmation email with the reference number.
Charta Visa is a private travel-authorisation review and processing service. We are not a government website and we are not affiliated with any government.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the UK ETA cost in 2026?
£20 per person (around 23 euros) since 8 April 2026. That is the British government's official fee; any higher amount is an intermediary's service fee, which should be shown separately.
How long does approval take?
Most applications are resolved within hours, but officially it can take up to three working days. Apply when you buy your ticket.
Do children and babies need one too?
Yes — every traveller needs their own, whatever their age. Parents or guardians apply on their behalf.
How long is the ETA valid?
Two years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first — with multiple entries and stays of up to six months.
Can I travel to the UK with a Spanish DNI?
No. A passport has been required since 2021, and now also the ETA linked to that passport.
Do I need the ETA to go to Ireland?
No. Ireland is not part of the scheme; to travel to Ireland, valid Spanish documentation is enough.