UK ETA vs ESTA: Which Travel Authorisation Should You Get?

A London-New York itinerary may involve two travel-authorisation checks, but that does not mean everyone on the aircraft needs two applications. A US citizen returning home, a British citizen visiting the US and a German visitor spending time in both countries have different starting points.

This guide compares the routes for permitted short visits. It is general information, not a decision on a particular person's admissibility. Begin with GOV.UK's ETA overview for the UK and the US Department of State's Visa Waiver Program guidance for the US.

Which system belongs to which journey?

Validity is not the permitted length of each stay. A two-year authorisation does not let you remain for two years. Nor should repeated visits be used to avoid residence or other immigration rules.

The US VWP requires an eligible e-passport and compliance with its other conditions. Do not assume the same passport-technology rules apply to every UK online application just because both services use digital checks.

UK exemptions: citizenship matters before passport choice

British and Irish citizens cannot obtain an ETA, including dual citizens with another passport. Existing UK visas and permission to live, work or study in the UK are among the exemptions. The official exemption list also covers other circumstances.

A dual British-German citizen should not apply as a German visitor and treat British citizenship as irrelevant. Check the official proof-of-citizenship options, including valid British or Irish passports and applicable certificate-of-entitlement arrangements. Resolve uncertain citizenship or document problems before travel rather than buying an unsuitable ETA.

Likewise, travelling from the US does not by itself establish UK ETA eligibility. Use the actual passport and circumstances, not the departure airport or country of residence. A person with a US visa may still need a UK visa rather than an ETA.

ESTA eligibility: not every second nationality is a bar

The old shortcut that any second nationality outside the VWP disqualifies you is wrong. US guidance identifies particular dual-nationality and travel-history restrictions. Nationality eligibility is necessary but not sufficient; read the full official criteria.

The Department of State lists dual nationality with Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria as a restriction for VWP nationals. Its travel-history rule is different: presence in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011, and Cuba on or after 12 January 2021, is covered, with limited official exceptions. Do not use one date or one country list for both rules.

Answer current questions accurately and check the official guidance if an exception might apply. An ETA approval does not remove a US VWP restriction. Where a visa is required, choose the category matching the actual purpose; a visitor visa is not a general substitute for employment or degree study.

Transit is where the comparison changes most

For the UK, current guidance exempts airside transit without passing border control from ETA. Ask your airline whether the connection remains airside. Baggage collection, airport changes or a domestic flight can change the route.

For the US, do not assume an international connection creates an equivalent ETA-style exemption. The State Department says transiting to another country is generally permitted for VWP travellers, who still must meet the programme requirements. Travellers using a visa or another status need the relevant US route instead.

Illustrative comparison: an eligible German traveller staying in London and then visiting New York may need an ETA and an ESTA separately. If the UK leg is instead a genuine airside-only connection, the UK ETA exemption changes that part of the assessment. This illustrates the route distinction, not an airline guarantee or a reported passenger outcome. Our UK transit guide explains the UK side in more detail.

Fees: current and announced amounts are different

GOV.UK lists GBP 20 for an ETA application. The US government's ESTA guidance lists USD 40.27 at this review on 14 October 2026. The old USD 21 comparison is outdated, and a fixed conversion between pounds and dollars is not a reliable checkout quote.

There is also an announced change: the CBP fee notice published on 1 October 2026 sets the approved ESTA total at USD 40.62 from 16 October 2026. That is a dated US change, not evidence that the UK ETA fee will rise on the same date. Verify the amount on the official service when applying.

Fee structures also differ. The notice distinguishes the ESTA processing charge from the total when authorised; do not copy the UK's application-refund rule onto every US outcome. Budget according to the relevant official service, not a blanket statement that both charge identical non-refundable totals.

Decision times and checking status

For UK ETA, the official guidance says a decision usually arrives by email within a day but can take up to three working days. Wait for an approval email before travelling. Three working days is not the same as 72 elapsed hours.

USAGov's ESTA guidance says it may take up to 72 hours to find out whether travel is authorised and explains checking application status using the application number. Do not plan around instant approval.

Pending is not the same as refused. Passing a timing estimate does not, by itself, establish a rule that you must abandon ESTA and automatically apply for a visa. Follow the official status and help instructions. A refusal or an eligibility problem requires its own assessment.

The UK existing ETA checker has a different scope: it checks whether you have an ETA and its expiry, not a recent undecided application. Our form guide explains the email and checker distinction.

Applications and permitted activities remain separate

Use the official UK application links and CBP's ESTA service. Check each person's passport details and approval separately. Do not assume that completing one form populates the other or that approval for a parent covers a child.

An ETA is not a general work permit. The UK has specific permitted activities and concessions; ESTA/VWP has its own activity limits. For longer stays, employment or study, check the appropriate visa route instead of choosing whichever authorisation has a longer headline stay limit.

Neither approval guarantees admission at the border. Carry the correct passport and meet the destination's entry requirements. A trip involving both countries needs two independent assessments, not necessarily two automatic purchases.

Key takeaways

• Match permission to destination, nationality, purpose and status.
• UK airside ETA exemption and US VWP transit rules are not interchangeable.
• Use the correct US restricted-country lists and dates, not a ban on all non-VWP second nationalities.
• Keep current fees separate from announced effective-date changes.
• Check each decision and actual authorisation validity; do not rely on instant approval or treat pending as refusal.