The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system expanded to European travellers in April 2025, meaning EU (except Irish nationals), EEA, and Swiss citizens now need ETA approval to enter the UK.
The system became mandatory for travellers from the US, Canada and Australia on 8 January 2025, following its rollout last November for nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The process of obtaining the visa waiver, which costs £16 (€19), should be a relatively simple online process. But reports have found that many travellers are falling foul of scam websites offering to assist with paperwork - and charging up to €200 for the service.
Here’s what to watch out for to avoid paying more than you need to.
How to apply for the UK’s ETA visa waiver
The ETA replaces the single-use Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme, offering a lower cost option with multi-entry validity.
The UK government says its mobile app is the quickest and easiest way to apply for an ETA. You candownload the ETA app from the UK government website.
If you cannot download the app, you can also apply online here.
To complete the application, make sure you have on hand the passport you'll be travelling on, an email address and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. You will have to answer a set of suitability questions. You don't need to enter your travel details.
The government advises applying at least three working days before your trip.
You can delete the app when you’ve finished applying. Your ETA will be linked to your passport digitally, and you will not need to show anything else when you enter the UK.
Watch out for ETA visa waiver scam websites
The above methods are the only secure and legitimate ways to apply for the ETA.
There are no external or third-party websites that are authorised by the UK government to process the visa waiver.
However, scam sites now abound, offering a 'stress-free' option. In reality, they simply complete the application for you via the official channels while charging you an extortionate sum for their services.
The Fraud Helpdesk of the Netherlands has received 396 reports about these sites so far, including 60 in October. “Of those, 320 reported having actually paid. A total average of around 200 euros was transferred for an ETA,” a spokesperson told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad (AD).
Sometimes applications and payments did not go through immediately, so travellers completed the process again, paying double the already exorbitant fee.
The organisation said most travellers who had used an unofficial website were unaware it wasn't the government portal. “In some cases, the fine print explained the details, in others it didn’t,” the spokesperson added. “Sometimes people actually received confirmation, sometimes not at all.”
It is particularly easy to land on one of these fraudulent sites as some appear above the government website (www.gov.uk) on Google searches.
Authorities warn that scam sites may also collect personal data of users.
Remember, it is the traveller’s individual responsibility to apply for the ETA before arriving in the UK so you will not receive reminders from the UK government. If you receive emails or text messages prompting you to apply, these will not be legitimate.