Travel Authorisation Explained: ETA, ETIAS, ESTA and eTA in 2026

"Visa-free" no longer means "nothing to do". The UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all make visa-free visitors get an online travel authorisation before they fly, and the EU is next. Forget it, and the airline will not let you board.

The short answer: A travel authorisation is a cheap online permission to travel. It is not a visa. Visitors from visa-free countries now need one for many popular destinations. As of October 2026, the UK ETA costs £20 (GOV.UK, 2026). The US ESTA costs $40.27, rising to $40.62 on 16 October 2026 (Federal Register, October 2026). Canada's eTA costs CAD 7 (IRCC, 2026). The EU's ETIAS will cost €20, but it is not running yet (European Union, 2026). You apply on the official government website or app, before you book.

What a travel authorisation is, and what it is not

A travel authorisation lets the airline put you on the plane. It does not promise the border officer will let you in. The UK says "An ETA does not guarantee entry" (GOV.UK, 2026). The US says an approved ESTA "is not a visa" (CBP, 2025).

• A visa is for people whose nationality is not visa-free, or for longer stays, work or study. It usually needs more documents, a higher fee, and sometimes an interview or fingerprints.
• A travel authorisation is only for short visits by people who are already visa-free. You fill in an online form, answer security questions, add a photo in some systems, and pay a small fee. Many answers come within minutes.

Key detail: each authorisation is linked to one passport. Get a new passport, and you need a new authorisation.

Six systems, one table

The main rules as of October 2026. Fees change, so check the official page before you pay.

Side-by-side comparison

Look at validity, not just the fee. A CAD 7 eTA lasting up to five years is very cheap per trip. New Zealand costs more, because most visitors pay the NZD 100 levy with every new NZeTA request (Immigration NZ, 2026).

The fine print, country by country

UK ETA

Most visitors from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada and some other countries need an ETA rather than a visa (GOV.UK, 2026). Every person needs one, including babies and children.

The fee rose from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026 (Home Office fees table, April 2026). You usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days (GOV.UK, 2026). There is no refund if you are refused.

You also need an ETA if you change planes in the UK and pass through border control. If you stay airside and do not pass through border control, you do not (GOV.UK, 2026).

If your ETA is refused, you cannot appeal. You need to apply for a visa instead (Home Office, April 2026).

EU ETIAS

ETIAS will be needed by visa-free travellers from 59 countries and territories, including the UK, the US, Canada and Japan. It will cover 30 European countries (EU ETIAS, July 2026).

The EU has said ETIAS is planned to start in the last quarter of 2026 (EU ETIAS, April 2026). But as of October 2026, its official website says it is "currently not in operation" and that no applications are collected. The EU will announce the start date several months before launch (EU ETIAS, 2026).

Simple rule: if a website takes money for ETIAS today, it is not official.

When it starts, the fee will be €20. People under 18 or over 70 will not pay the fee (EU ETIAS, July 2025). Most decisions should take minutes. Some can take up to 4 days, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview.

ETIAS sits alongside the Entry/Exit System (EES), which registers non-EU visitors at each crossing and replaces passport stamps (EU EES, 2026). Our guide to the Schengen 90/180 rule and EES explains how to count your days.

US ESTA

ESTA is for citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, such as the UK, Japan, Australia, Germany and South Korea (CBP ESTA, 2026). It allows stays of 90 days or less for tourism or business (US State Department, 2026).

The fee changes each US fiscal year because of an inflation rule in US law. It is $40.27 until 15 October 2026 and $40.62 from 16 October 2026. If your application is denied, you pay $10.62 from that date (Federal Register, October 2026).

You need an e-passport with a chip. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after you leave the US, unless your country has an exemption (US State Department, 2026).

Canada eTA

You need an eTA only if you fly to Canada or transit through a Canadian airport. If you arrive by car, bus, train or boat, you usually do not (IRCC, 2026). US citizens do not need one. Since 26 April 2022, US green card holders do not need one either, but they must carry their passport and proof of US status.

Australia ETA and eVisitor

Australia has two options for visa-free visitors. If you hold an ETA-eligible passport, such as from the US, Canada, Japan, Singapore or the UK, you must apply through the Australian ETA app. There is a AUD 20 service charge and no other fee (Home Affairs, 2026).

If you hold a passport from an EU country or some other European countries, you may get the eVisitor, which is free (Home Affairs, 2026). Some European passports, such as France, Germany or Spain, can use either option. Both allow stays of up to 3 months at a time.

New Zealand NZeTA

Citizens of visa waiver countries need an NZeTA. So do cruise passengers and Australian permanent residents. Australian citizens do not need one (Immigration NZ, 2026).

With an NZeTA, you can visit for up to 3 months at a time, or 6 months on a UK passport. You cannot spend more than 6 months in New Zealand in any 12-month period.

Who needs a visa instead

You need a full visa instead if:

• Your nationality is not visa-free for that country.
• You want to stay longer than the visitor limit, or to work or study.
• Your authorisation was refused. For the UK and US, the official route after a refusal is to apply for a visa.
• You have a criminal record, a past deportation or a past refusal that the system flags. A recent US visa refusal "could result in denial of ESTA" (US State Department, 2026).

Have you ever been refused a visa anywhere? Be honest on every form. Read our guide on declaring a previous visa refusal before you apply. If you have stayed too long somewhere before, see overstay consequences and re-entry bans.

Dual nationals and residents: the trap

If you hold citizenship of the country you are travelling to, you usually cannot use an authorisation. You must travel as a citizen.

Residents usually do not need an authorisation for the country where they live. UK visa holders and people with permission to live, work or study in the UK do not need an ETA. Canadian permanent residents need their PR card or travel document instead. Holders of most EU residence permits will not need ETIAS. The big exceptions are permits from Cyprus and Ireland: holders still need ETIAS to visit the other countries (EU ETIAS, 2026).

Did you get a second citizenship through a parent or grandparent? Our guide to citizenship by descent explains why getting that passport early matters.

Apply in ten minutes: seven steps

1. Check what you need. Use the official checker on the government site. Your nationality, your passport and your reason for travel decide the answer.
2. Find the official site or app. Type the government address yourself. Do not click on ads. Official sites end in gov.uk, europa.eu, cbp.dhs.gov, canada.ca, homeaffairs.gov.au or govt.nz.
3. Use the passport you will travel with. Check the passport number twice. Canada warns that a wrong number can stop you from flying (IRCC, 2026).
4. Answer every question honestly. Criminal records, refusals and past overstays all matter.
5. Apply before you book. The UK recommends at least 3 working days before travel (Home Office, April 2026). The EU advises applying before you buy your ticket.
6. Apply for each person. Children and babies need their own authorisation.
7. Save the confirmation email. Check the details match your passport, and check the expiry date before each trip.

If you are planning the whole trip budget, our visa costs tool can help you compare fees.

Nervous about the security questions?

A form that asks about your past can bring old worries back, especially when you are flying to see a sick parent or a new grandchild. If there is something you are afraid to declare, get advice now rather than risk a refusal later. And apply early: a £20 form done three weeks ahead costs far less than a missed flight.

Lookalike sites: how they trick you

Search for "ETA UK" or "ESTA" and you may see paid ads above the real government site. Many of these sites look official, with flags and words like "official application". Then they charge you more than the real fee. Every government warns about this:

• The UK says "Other websites may charge more to apply. Avoid websites that imitate government services" (GOV.UK, 2026).
• The EU says there are "many unofficial ETIAS websites" and some "falsely claim to accept ETIAS applications" (EU ETIAS, July 2026).
• The US says a private service "will not expedite approval" and is not linked to the US government (CBP, 2025).

Some agents are legal and simply add a service fee. Others take your money and passport data and never apply. Either way, a stranger now has your personal details. Learn the warning signs in our guide on how to avoid immigration scams.

Seven ways to get stuck at check-in

• Paying a lookalike site. Always type the official address yourself.
• Forgetting to reapply after renewing your passport. Your old authorisation does not move to the new one.
• Travelling with a different passport from the one you applied with. The airline will not see your authorisation.
• Dual citizens using their other passport. The UK, US, Canada and the EU all expect citizens to travel as citizens.
• Thinking an authorisation lets you work. It is for visits only.
• Assuming ETIAS is already required. As of October 2026, it is not running.
• Overstaying the visit limit. The authorisation does not change how many days you can stay.

When the online form is not enough

Most people can apply alone in a few minutes. Get regulated help if:

• You have a criminal conviction, even an old or minor one.
• You were refused entry, deported or removed from any country.
• Your ETA, ESTA or eTA was refused and you need a visa.
• You are a dual citizen with no valid passport for one of your countries.
• You overstayed before, even by a few days.

Use a regulated adviser. In the UK, that means a solicitor or an adviser registered with the Immigration Advice Authority. In Canada, a lawyer or a licensed consultant (RCIC). In Australia, a registered migration agent. In the US, an immigration attorney. Our guide on whether you need a migration agent explains how to check.

Frequently asked questions

Is a travel authorisation the same as a visa?

No. A travel authorisation is a light online check for people who are already visa-free. A visa is a fuller permission, often with documents and an interview. The US says plainly that an approved ESTA is not a visa.

Do I need ETIAS to travel to Europe right now?

No. As of October 2026, ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are collected. The EU will announce the start date several months before launch. Any site selling ETIAS today is not official.

How much does the UK ETA cost in 2026?

The UK ETA costs £20. It went up from £16 on 8 April 2026. It lasts 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner, and allows visits of up to 6 months.

I am a dual British citizen. Can I enter the UK on my other passport with an ETA?

No. Dual British citizens cannot get an ETA. You need a valid British passport, an Irish passport, or your other passport with a certificate of entitlement, which costs £589.

What happens if my ESTA or ETA is refused?

For the US and the UK, you can apply for a visa at an embassy or online. You cannot appeal a UK ETA refusal. Be honest in the visa application about the earlier refusal.

Before your next trip

Three checks cover almost everything: the right official site, the passport you will actually travel on, and enough time before you fly. Do those and check-in is a non-event.

Thinking about moving abroad, not just visiting? Take our free migration assessment to see which countries fit your profile.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change often. Always confirm with the official government source before you apply or travel.