The UK has now measured, for the first time on a large scale, the impact of its new Electronic Travel Authorisation “ETA” system.
In its immigration statistics covering the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the Home Office said 25.1 million ETAs were granted to travelers who do not need a visa for short stays.
The figure confirms the shift of a large share of travel to the United Kingdom into a pre-travel authorization system, similar in principle to the U.S. ESTA or the European Union’s future ETIAS.
The ETA is not a visa, but it is now required for most visa-exempt visitors, with exceptions including British and Irish citizens and people who already hold a valid UK immigration status.
Americans, Germans and French travelers lead the ranking
According to UK data, U.S. citizens accounted for the largest number of ETAs issued to a single nationality in the year ending March 2026, with 4.7 million authorizations granted.
German citizens ranked second, with 2.7 million ETAs issued, followed by French travelers, who received 2.3 million authorizations over the same period. Together, nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland accounted for nearly two-thirds of all ETAs granted, representing 64% of the annual total.
The rest of the top 10 was largely dominated by European nationalities: Italians received 1.8 million ETAs, Spaniards 1.7 million, Dutch citizens 1.2 million, Poles 927,174 and Belgians 549,765. Only Canada, with 838,880 approved ETAs, and Australia, with 667,555, ranked among these European countries.
This breakdown illustrates the weight of travel flows from the European continent in the UK’s new system. Since the gradual rollout of the ETA, European travelers who previously could visit the United Kingdom without completing a pre-departure formality must now obtain this authorization before traveling, unless they already hold a status recognized by UK authorities.
The ETA has become central to short stays
The ETA applies to visa-exempt travelers visiting the United Kingdom for tourism, family visits, certain business trips, transit or other authorized short stays.
It allows multiple trips to the United Kingdom, as well as to Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man since April 9, 2026, for stays of up to six months. It is valid for two years, or until the passport used for the application expires, whichever comes first.
The current ETA fee is £20, following an increase that took effect on April 8, 2026. The Home Office says applications can be submitted through official channels, including the GOV.UK website and the “UK ETA” app.
The British government recommends that travelers apply at least three working days before departure, although most decisions are issued quickly. An approved ETA, however, does not guarantee entry into the United Kingdom, as the final decision is still made at the border.
Visitor visas remain necessary for some nationalities
The rise of the ETA does not eliminate the need for UK visas.
Home Office statistics show that 2.2 million visitor visas were granted in the year ending March 2026, up 4% from the previous year. That level remains below the pre-pandemic peak, when 2.4 million visitor visas were issued in the year ending December 2019.
Indian nationals received the largest number of visitor visas, with 541,774 issued, followed by Chinese nationals, with 487,108 visas. Visitor visas granted to Turkish nationals also increased, reaching 237,421 over the year, a 28% rise according to UK authorities.
The Home Office notes that changes in ETA eligibility have also affected visa applications. Some nationalities that were previously eligible for the electronic authorization, including Jordanians and Colombians, must now apply for a visa to visit the United Kingdom.
136.8 million arrivals in the United Kingdom in one year
Overall, the United Kingdom recorded 136.8 million arrivals in the year ending March 2026, a 3% increase from the previous year. British citizens accounted for 57% of those arrivals, a share that authorities described as broadly stable.
Air travel overwhelmingly dominated arrivals, accounting for 88% of the total, compared with 7% by rail and 5% by sea.
UK statistics also note that a visa or ETA issued does not necessarily correspond to a single arrival. The same authorization can be used for multiple trips, while some travelers need neither a visa nor an ETA, including those who already hold a valid UK immigration status.
