Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What is an electronic travel authorisation?
An electronic travel authorisation is a pre-travel permission, issued online by the destination country, that lets visitors who do not need a visa be screened before they travel. It is not a visa, and holding one does not guarantee admission at the border. The United States runs one through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Three English-speaking destinations use the same idea under different names: the United States' ESTA, Canada's eTA and the United Kingdom's ETA. Each scheme has its own rules. [1] [2] [3]
- An approval is not a right to enter: ESTA authorisation does not determine whether a traveller is admissible to the United States, and a UK ETA does not guarantee entry. [1] [3]
- The stated fees differ: Canada's eTA costs CAN$7 and a UK ETA costs £20. [2] [3]
- Every person travelling to the UK needs their own ETA, including babies and children. [3]
How does an electronic travel authorisation work?
An electronic travel authorisation is applied for online, before departure, and asks the traveller a short set of questions about who they are and why they qualify for the simpler route. For the United States, the ESTA application collects biographic information and answers to VWP eligibility questions. [1] Applications may be submitted at any time before travel, although U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends applying as soon as travellers begin preparing their plans or before buying airline tickets. [1]
Canada's official page accepts applications to travel to, or transit through, Canada, and to apply a traveller needs a valid passport, a credit or debit card and an email address, plus a few questions answered in the online form. [2] The United Kingdom's page notes that other websites may charge more to apply and tells travellers to avoid sites that imitate government services. [3]
Because the permission is personal, applications are made per traveller. For the UK, each person travelling needs an ETA, including babies and children, and one person can apply on behalf of others. [3]
Which travellers need an ESTA, an eTA or an ETA?
| Scheme | Where it applies | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| ESTA (United States) | Travel to the United States | Visitors travelling under the Visa Waiver Program, who must hold an e-Passport with an embedded electronic chip [1] |
| eTA (Canada) | Travel to, or transit through, Canada [2] | Visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air; exceptions include U.S. citizens and travellers with a valid visa [1] |
| ETA (United Kingdom) | The UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, for up to 6 months [3] | Most visitors; travellers from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries usually need an ETA rather than a visa [3] |
What a traveller needs depends on nationality and on the reason for the trip, and the UK guidance puts the choice as an ETA or a visa rather than a choice between two equivalent permissions. [3]
How much do Canada's eTA and the UK ETA cost?
| Scheme | Fee |
|---|---|
| Canada eTA | CAN$7 [2] |
| UK ETA | £20 [3] |
Canada describes its own page as the Government of Canada's official web page for applying for an eTA. [2] For the UK, the official fee is £20, and the government warns that other websites may charge more to apply and that travellers should avoid sites that imitate government services. [3]
Does an approved authorisation guarantee entry?
No. ESTA authorisation does not determine whether a traveller is admissible to the United States; U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers determine admissibility when the traveller arrives. [1] The UK guidance says the same thing in one line: an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man. [3]
The distinction matters for planning. An authorisation is a screening step completed before travel, while the border decision is taken at the port of entry by an officer. [1] Even transit can trigger the requirement: a traveller passing through border control at a UK airport before an onward flight needs an ETA. [3]
How long does an authorisation last, and how does it relate to a passport?
An authorisation supplements a passport rather than replacing it. Canada requires a valid passport to apply, and dual Canadian citizens need a Canadian passport, not an eTA, to travel to or through Canada. [2] To use the US Visa Waiver Program a traveller must hold an e-Passport, an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip that carries a unique international symbol on the cover. [1] On the UK side, holding a British or Irish passport is one of the reasons a traveller does not need an ETA at all. [3]
Each scheme runs its own checking tool rather than a shared validity period. UK travellers can check online whether they have an ETA and when it expires [3], and Canada offers online updates on pending applications and on the status of a current eTA. [2]
Exceptions and limits
- UK exemptions. A traveller does not need an ETA if they hold a British or Irish passport, or if they have permission to live, work or study in the UK. [3]
- UK group travel. Each person travelling needs an ETA, including babies and children, though one person may apply for others. [3]
- UK landside transit. An ETA is needed when passing through border control at a UK airport before continuing an onward journey. [3]
- Canada exemptions. The eTA requirement for visa-exempt air travellers has exceptions, including U.S. citizens and travellers holding a valid visa. [1]
- Canada citizenship. A dual Canadian citizen cannot use an eTA in place of a Canadian passport for travel to or through Canada. [2]
- US passport condition. The Visa Waiver Program, and therefore ESTA, requires an e-Passport with an embedded chip. [1]
- Third-party sites. Some websites charge more than the official UK fee of £20, and imitation government services should be avoided. [3]
Do not carry one scheme's rule across to another: the nationality scope, fee and exemptions described above are each specific to the scheme named beside them. [1] [2] [3]
Frequently asked questions
Is an electronic travel authorisation the same as a visa?
No. The UK guidance presents the ETA and the visa as separate routes, and says most visitors need one or the other depending on nationality and reason for travel, with travellers from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries usually needing an ETA rather than a visa. [3]
Does an approved ESTA mean I will be allowed into the United States?
No. ESTA authorisation does not determine whether a traveller is admissible; a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer decides that on arrival. [1]
Do babies and children need their own UK ETA?
Yes. Each person travelling needs an ETA, including babies and children, and an adult can submit the application for them. [3]
How much does Canada's eTA cost and what do I need to apply?
The official Government of Canada page states a cost of CAN$7, and the application requires a valid passport, a credit or debit card and an email address. [2]
When should I apply for an ESTA?
An application may be submitted at any time before travel, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends applying as soon as travel plans are being made or before buying airline tickets. [1]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. The European Union's ETIAS scheme is not covered here.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Electronic System for Travel Authorization, checked 18 October 2026
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, electronic travel authorization (eTA), checked 18 October 2026
- GOV.UK, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK, checked 18 October 2026