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A checklist from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to help British people prepare for travelling and staying safe abroad.

• Updated: 12 December 2025

You may need a visa to come to the UK to visit, study or work.

Apply for an ETA to come to the UK if you’re a tourist, visiting family or for certain other reasons for up to 6 months. It costs £16. Find out if you need an ETA or a visa instead.

• Overview

  An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) lets you travel to the UK for…

• When you do not need an ETA

  You do not need an ETA to travel to the UK if: you’re a British or Irish…

• What you can and cannot do with an ETA

  Whether you need to apply for an ETA depends on why you’re travelling to…

• Apply for an ETA

  It costs £16 to apply online or through the UK ETA app. You cannot get a…

British travellers to the US must register with the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) before their journey

• Updated: 21 December 2017

Compare visas to visit, work, study or join a family member already in the UK. How to apply and what the decision on your application means.

What to consider when moving, living, or retiring abroad – including visas, healthcare, tax and pensions.

• Updated: 12 January 2026

Apply for a transit visa if you stop at a UK airport on your way to another destination - types of visas, cost, documents, how to apply

Apply for a Temporary Work – International Agreement visa if you're working under international law (including diplomatic households) - extend or switch, family members

Apply for a UK Ancestry visa if you're a Commonwealth citizen and can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK - eligibility, fees, documents, how to apply, how long it takes and how to settle

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months), medical treatment and other activities. Find out whether you need a Standard Visitor visa, or can visit without a visa.