ESTA, eTA, EES and ETIAS: which travel authorisations British and Irish travellers need in 2026

Checked: 15 November 2026. Sources at the end of the article.

Which travel authorisation do I need?

Each authorisation is linked to one specific passport. If you renew your passport, you need to apply again. An authorisation doesn’t guarantee entry: the final decision is made by border officers on arrival.

What do I need to know about the US ESTA?

The UK and Ireland are both in the Visa Waiver Program, so for a holiday or short business trip of up to 90 days an ESTA replaces a visa. You need a biometric passport (with a chip).

• Fee: $40 from 30 September 2025 (previously $21), and after the annual adjustment $40.62 from 16 October 2026. Check the current fee on the CBP website before you apply.
• When to apply: as soon as you’ve booked, not at the last minute. Some applications take longer to process.
• Validity: 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
• How: at esta.cbp.dhs.gov or in the official ESTA Mobile app.

Social media: in December 2025, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposed making it mandatory to list social media accounts from the past 5 years. So far there is no confirmation that this has come into force. Answer every question on the form truthfully and check the current version before you travel.

Do I need an eTA for Canada?

Yes, if you fly to Canada or change planes there. An eTA costs CA$7 and most applications are approved within minutes. If the authorities need more documents, they’ll email you within 72 hours. An eTA is valid for up to 5 years or until your passport expires. You don’t need one if you enter Canada by land or sea.

What is the EES and how does it affect British travellers?

The Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travellers entering and leaving the Schengen area: it scans your passport and takes your fingerprints and a photo of your face. It started on 12 October 2025 and has applied at every border crossing since 10 April 2026. It replaces passport stamping and keeps track of the 90-days-in-180 rule for visa-free stays.

• First trip: expect to register at a kiosk or with a border officer, and allow extra time at the airport.
• Next trips: your registration is valid for 3 years, so later checks are quicker.
• Driving or taking the train to France? At Dover, Folkestone (Eurotunnel) and London St Pancras (Eurostar), French border checks take place in the UK, so EES registration happens there, before you leave.

Irish citizens aren’t covered by EES, and neither are UK–EU dual nationals travelling on their EU passport. Ireland itself isn’t in the Schengen area, so British travellers going to Ireland don’t register in EES.

Will British travellers need ETIAS?

Yes, once it launches. ETIAS is an online authorisation for visa-free visitors from outside the EU to 30 European countries – British travellers included. The fee will be €20.

The system isn’t running yet. The EU had pointed to the last quarter of 2026 and has promised to announce the exact date several months in advance. As of 15 November 2026, no date has been announced. Until then, you don’t need to apply for anything – and don’t pay any website that offers to “pre-register” you. Follow travel-europe.europa.eu for updates.

Irish citizens won’t need ETIAS, and it won’t apply to trips to Ireland.

Do I need a UK ETA?

Not with a British or Irish passport. The UK’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA, £20) applies to visitors from countries such as the EU states, the USA and Canada – so friends or family visiting you from abroad may well need one. They can apply on gov.uk/eta or in the UK ETA app; a decision usually arrives within a day, but can take up to 3 working days.

How can I avoid lookalike websites?

Search results often show adverts from companies above the official sites, offering to “help” you apply. They look official but charge several times the government fee. The UK government itself warns on its website about sites that imitate government services.

• USA: esta.cbp.dhs.gov or the ESTA Mobile app,
• Canada: canada.ca (eTA section),
• ETIAS and EES: travel-europe.europa.eu,
• UK ETA (for your visitors): gov.uk/eta or the UK ETA app.

If a site asks for more than about $41 or CA$7, it’s almost certainly not the government’s.

What else should I check before flying?

1. Passport. Authorisations are linked to your passport, so travel with the same document you used in your application. For the Schengen area, check its expiry date and issue date before you book.
2. Authorisation on your phone. Airlines check ESTA and eTA at check-in. Ryanair then issues a “restricted” boarding pass and you have to go to the desk – so get to the airport earlier.
3. Bags to the USA. The TSA may open a checked suitcase. A TSA lock can be opened with a key without damage.

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Important: this article is for general information only and reflects the situation on the date it was checked (shown above). Airline, airport and government rules can change at any time. Before you travel, always check the latest information directly with your airline, the airport or the official source. This article is not legal advice, and Eternitive is not responsible for decisions made solely on the basis of it.