American citizens need an ETA to enter England?

It's a requirement to have an ETA unless you either hold British citizenship, or have a visa for the UK.

Make sure you use the official app or website:

https://www.gov.uk/eta

That is correct- it is a requirement for US citizens to get an ETA to enter the UK. In fact, the airline won't let you board your flight to the UK without it. As far as I know only Irish citizens (and obviously UK citizens) are exempt.

This is what the US State Department says: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/UnitedKingdom.html.html?wcmmode=disabled

Effective January 8, 2025, all U.S. citizens transiting through or traveling to the United Kingdom for tourism, family visits, business meetings, conferences, or short-term study for 6 months or less will require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to travel.

U.S. citizens can apply for ETAs beginning on November 27, 2024. Information on the new requirements and how to apply can be found on the UK Government website

The good news is the process of applying for an ETA is simple, doesn’t lake long, and pretty inexpensive.

If you’re coming into the UK, you will need an ETA, whatever your route in.

Yes, to enter UK requires an ETA. This requirement has been in effect for a year. The application process is easy. Do make sure to either use the “UK ETA” app or the official website. Some shadow websites are out there that charge an exorbitant “service fee” that is completely unnecessary.

The full requirements are here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-electronic-travel-authorisation

Basically if you're a non-UK or Ireland national who is not normally resident in Ireland, you need an ETA (unless you have a UK visa).

I asked because I assumed the CTA is like Schengen without border formalities so no one to inspect the ETA.

While that is correct, the requirement is still there to have it. Same if you were to e visiting Ireland and drive up to Belfast, still required, never checked, possibly an issue if you were stopped.

What did you see to suggest it is a scam?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/no-permission-no-travel-uk-set-to-enforce-eta-scheme#:~:text=From%20February%202026%2C%20visitors%20will,the%20UK%20without%20advance%20permission.&text=Visitors%20from%2085%20nationalities%2C%20including,ETA%20)%20from%2025%20February%202026.

Here’s the official explanation.

If you don’t have a visa or an ETA, you either won’t be allowed to board your flight to travel to the UK, or if you somehow do get on a flight without one, you may be sent back home.

Airlines have been offering third party websites to apply for an ETA. The gov.uk is the official website.

I asked because I assumed the CTA is like Schengen without border formalities so no one to inspect the ETA.

The CTA is not like Schengen. British and Irish subjects can travel freely between the UK and Ireland without any border formalities. Other passport holders are still subject to immigration. While there are no formal border checks when traveling to the UK from Ireland, Ireland will still check the passport of non-British, non-Irish persons. (I have traveled between the two countries numerous times.)

No one is going to check your ETA traveling into the UK. It is tied to your passport and when your information is sent by the airline to the UK government, they would flag you as non-admissable to the airline.

So, while there is no immigration check when flying from Ireland to the UK, they still know who is flying and whether or not you have an ETA.

There is no border check when traveling between Ireland and Northern Ireland but technically you still need an ETA.

@ Toby

Sorry to hear that, I would say it is chicken feed to me.

Kind regards
Ron

Does anyone have experience with how the airlines verify that you have an ETA other than asking you? I got one recently, but other than an email saying It was approved, there was not a code number, card, or other record I can retain for two years. Email seems like weak proof.

According to the UK government, you do not need to show anything to your airline to prove you have the ETA. Be sure to travel on the passport that you used when applying.

However, when I was checking in to my flight with British Airways on April 2025 at Paris CDG I was as asked if I had the ETA. I keep a copy of my approval email on my phone. There have been other reports of proof requested mentioned. Almost always it seems to be BA.

If anyone from an airline asks you for an ETA then they have been poorly trained. (most of these types of requests came from the early days of the ETA.)

There is nothing to show an airline nor does the airline need to see anything.

When you check in for your flight, your information is sent to the UK government. Your passport number is checked to see if they have an ETA for you. (This is all done by computer.) If there is a problem, the airline will get a message not to let you board.

Since the ETA was introduced, I have entered the UK numerous times from different cities in the US and Europe. Some flights on BA. I have never been asked about an ETA.

What happens if you should arrive without an ETA? Well, I saw this happen. The Flying Squad repels down on ropes from hidden ceiling compartments with each officer brandishing a large submachine gun. You will be forced to the ground, handcuffed, hogtied and carried into a back room where you will be interrogated under hot lights as to why you don't have an ETA. You will then be kicked out of the UK for life, be forced to fly back in the middle seat of the last row, be tied to the seat so you can't get up, and can only be released when the police from your arriving city untie you, They will give you adult diapers to wear.

I;m sure there are some who think this will happen.

What will really happen is that you will have to see a Border Force officer who will process you manually. An ETA is not a visa. It's basically a small fee you pay to be pre-screened for admittance into the UK. The US does the same thing for most travelers to the US.

Since the ETA lasts for 2 years, I think it's a good idea to have it, even if you were just connecting in the UK. We just did this for a trip in case there was a flight cancellation or major delay and did not want to be stuck in the airport. Based on weather and other issues, there was enough of a risk of this that we were glad we did., even though we didnt need it.

What happens if you should arrive without an ETA? Well, I saw this happen. The Flying Squad repels down on ropes from hidden ceiling compartments with each officer brandishing a large submachine gun. You will be forced to the ground, handcuffed, hogtied and carried into a back room where you will be interrogated under hot lights as to why you don't have an ETA. You will then be kicked out of the UK for life, be forced to fly back in the middle seat of the last row, be tied to the seat so you can't get up, and can only be released when the police from your arriving city untie you, They will give you adult diapers to wear.

that's the other direction, isn't it?

I have never been asked about an ETA.

I have been asked about the ETA when checking into my flights to the UK at O’Hare airport. United Airlines in Sept. (flying to Edinburgh) and British Airways (flying to London).

I was just asked if I had the ETA. I was not asked to show it. I do have a copy of my approval email ready to show just in case.

The first time I was asked it threw me off as I was not expecting it. I heard "ETA" and thought I was being asked if I knew my estimated time of arrival.