ETA programmes explained: ETIAS, UK ETA, ESTA and more
Every major electronic travel authorisation compared — fees, validity, processing, who needs one, and why an ETA is not a visa but is still mandatory.
Electronic travel authorisations screen visa-free travellers before departure. ETIAS costs €20 for three years in Europe, the UK ETA £16 for two years, the US ESTA $21 for two years, Canada's eTA CAD 7 for five years, Australia's ETA AUD 20 for one year, and South Korea's K-ETA about KRW 10,000 for three years.
What an ETA is and is not
An ETA is a pre-screening authorisation tied to your passport, checked by the airline before boarding. It does not guarantee entry, does not extend the permitted stay, and cannot substitute for a visa if your nationality needs one. It becomes invalid when the linked passport expires.
Timing and approvals
Most authorisations are approved within minutes, but each system warns that some applications are referred for manual review taking up to 72 hours or, for ETIAS, up to 30 days in rare cases. Apply as soon as travel is booked, never at the airport.
Costs across a multi-country trip
A traveller doing London, Paris and New York in one year now pays £16, €20 and $21 in authorisations on top of flights. They are cheap individually but easy to forget, and boarding is denied without them.
Applying without overpaying
Every programme has an official government site. Third-party services replicate the form and charge $40–$90 in service fees. Bookmark the official domains before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ETA the same as a visa?
No. An ETA is a pre-travel screening authorisation for people who do not need a visa, and it does not guarantee admission.
How much does ETIAS cost?
€20 for applicants aged 18–70, valid three years or until the passport expires.
How fast is an ETA approved?
Usually minutes, but plan for up to 72 hours, and longer in rare referred cases.