American Visa Requirements for UK (2026)
No visa required — but US citizens now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before flying to the UK. The ETA replaced automatic visa-free entry for US passport holders and must be approved before boarding.
Visa Requirements at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa required | No, ETA required instead |
| ETA fee | £20 |
| ETA validity | Up to 2 years, or until passport expires, whichever comes first |
| Entries allowed | Multiple journeys |
| Maximum stay per visit | Up to 6 months |
| Also valid for | Travel to Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man |
| Where to apply | gov.uk/eta, official government site |
Source: gov.uk Electronic Travel Authorisation guidance and April 2026 factsheet.
FAQs
Do American citizens need a visa for the UK? No, but they do need an ETA, a paid pre-travel authorization that must be approved before departure.
How much does a UK ETA cost for American citizens? £20 per application, valid for up to 2 years or until the passport expires.
How long before a UK trip should Americans apply for an ETA? Apply as soon as travel is booked; approval is often issued within minutes but can occasionally take longer, so allow a few days.
Can a US citizen use one ETA for multiple UK trips? Yes. A single ETA covers multiple journeys to the UK within its validity period, each stay limited to up to 6 months.
Where should Americans apply for a UK ETA? Only through gov.uk/eta, the official government site — other websites may charge more for the same service.
Related Guides
- American visa requirements for Canada
- American visa requirements for Australia
- American visa requirements for Germany
- American visa requirements for Japan
- British visa requirements for USA
VisaSherpa.ai reminds you when your UK ETA is about to expire before your next trip.