UK ETA, EU ETIAS, US ESTA and the Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Korean schemes side by side: fee, validity and official site, checked 16 October 2026.
Key takeaways
- All three are online permissions to travel that visa-free visitors get before flying; none is a visa.
- No. ETIAS is not taking applications and the EU has announced no start date, so there is nothing to apply for or pay today.
- The UK ETA costs GBP 20 and lasts 2 years or until the passport expires.
- An ESTA costs USD 40.62 per application and is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires (1 year for Brunei passports).
- Canada (eTA, CAD 7, for air travel only), Australia (ETA subclass 601, AUD 20 service charge in the Australian ETA app), New Zealand…
What is the difference between an ETA, ETIAS and ESTA?
Link to this answerAll three are online permissions to travel that visa-free visitors get before flying; none is a visa. The UK ETA covers the UK, the US ESTA covers Visa Waiver Program trips to the United States, and ETIAS will cover short stays in Europe once it starts. One never stands in for another.
Each scheme belongs to a different government, so each needs its own application and fee. A trip from New York to London and on to Paris needs a UK ETA for the London leg, and in future an ETIAS for Paris. Holding an ESTA only matters for the return to the United States if you are a Visa Waiver Program traveller, not a US citizen.
The table below compares the fee, how long approval lasts and when to apply for the seven schemes visitors ask about most. Every value comes from the official page linked in its row, read on 16 October 2026. Pay only on those official sites: lookalike agency sites charge several times the fee for the same form.
| Scheme | Fee | Valid for | When to apply | Apply on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | GBP 20 | 2 years or until the passport expires; stays of up to 6 months each | At least 3 working days before travel; most app applicants get a decision in minutes | gov.uk |
| European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) | EUR 20 once operational | Planned: 3 years or until the passport expires, multiple entries | Not yet possible; the EU says it will announce the start date several months in advance | travel-europe.europa.eu |
| Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) | USD 40.62 per application | 2 years or until the passport expires (1 year for Brunei passports) | When travel plans are made; CBP recommends applying when you book | esta.cbp.dhs.gov |
| Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) | CAD 7 | 5 years or until the passport expires; stays normally up to 6 months | Before you book your flight; most approvals arrive within minutes | canada.ca |
| Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) | AUD 20 service charge in the Australian ETA app | 12 months or until the passport expires, whichever is shorter; multiple entries, up to 3 months per stay | Before making travel arrangements; most results are immediate | immi.homeaffairs.gov.au |
| New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) | NZD 17 in the app or NZD 23 on the web, plus the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) where it applies | 2 years; stays of up to 3 months (6 months for UK citizens) | Allow up to 72 hours before travel | nzeta.immigration.govt.nz |
| Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) | KRW 10,000 | 3 years or until the passport expires | Before boarding; assessment usually takes up to 72 hours | k-eta.go.kr |
Do you need ETIAS for Europe yet?
Link to this answerNo. ETIAS is not taking applications and the EU has announced no start date, so there is nothing to apply for or pay today. When it starts, the fee will be EUR 20 for most adults. Any website selling ETIAS approval now is not the official system.
What visitors to the Schengen area meet today is the Entry/Exit System (EES): a fingerprint and face scan at the border on your first crossing, with no advance application and no fee. The EU's EES timeline: progressive start on 12 Oct 2025; fully operational from 10 Apr 2026, replacing passport stamps.
The ETIAS fee was fixed by regulation before the system launched: fee set at EUR 20 (previously EUR 7) by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1411 of 16 Jul 2025, applying once ETIAS operates. The EU says it will publish the start date several months before applications open, on the official ETIAS page.
How much is the UK ETA and who needs one?
Link to this answerThe UK ETA costs GBP 20 and lasts 2 years or until the passport expires. Visitors who can come to the UK without a visa need one, including most Europeans, Americans, Australians and Canadians. British and Irish citizens do not, and children need their own ETA.
The fee has risen twice since the scheme opened: fee rose from GBP 16 to GBP 20 on 8 Apr 2026, after rising from GBP 10 to GBP 16 on 9 Apr 2025. Apply on GOV.UK or in the official UK ETA app (gov.uk/eta); the price is the same in both.
Timing: at least 3 working days before travel; most app applicants get a decision in minutes. An ETA lets you travel; the Border Force officer still decides on entry when you land.
How much is an ESTA in 2026?
Link to this answerAn ESTA costs USD 40.62 per application and is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires (1 year for Brunei passports). Every Visa Waiver Program traveller without a US visa needs one, infants included, and US Customs and Border Protection recommends applying as soon as you book.
The fee has nearly doubled in a year: fee rose from USD 21 to USD 40 on 30 Sep 2025, to USD 40.27 on 1 Jan 2026 and to USD 40.62 on 16 Oct 2026. The only official site is esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
A new passport means a new ESTA, even if the old authorisation had time left. The same rule applies to the UK ETA, Canada's eTA and the NZeTA, because each is linked to the passport you applied with.
Which other countries use an ETA-style scheme?
Link to this answerCanada (eTA, CAD 7, for air travel only), Australia (ETA subclass 601, AUD 20 service charge in the Australian ETA app), New Zealand (NZeTA, plus a conservation levy) and South Korea (K-ETA) all run their own. Several nationalities are temporarily exempt from the K-ETA, so check your passport before applying.
Canada: Visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport; US citizens and US lawful permanent residents are exempt; not needed by land or sea. Canada eTA guide.
New Zealand: NZD 17 in the app or NZD 23 on the web, plus the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) where it applies. NZeTA guide.
South Korea: Temporary exemption for currently exempt countries extended to 31 Dec 2026 (notice of 23 Dec 2025). K-ETA guide.
- An authorisation is per person and per passport; renew it when the passport changes.
- Approval lets you board. The border officer still makes the entry decision.
- Keep the approval email or app screen offline for check-in.
- Every fee and rule on this page is in the open dataset at entry authorisations, with a CSV download.
Evidence note
How we checked this guide
Research basis
3 external references linked in this guide and its resources. Each reference supports only the claims it addresses; a link is not evidence of first-hand testing.
Experience standard
No first-hand test or trip is implied unless the article explicitly states who tested it, when and under what conditions.
Content update date
Content updated on 21 October 2026; this is not an independent verification of every linked source. Time-sensitive prices, rules and eligibility must be checked again before purchase or travel.
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