If you are not a British or Irish citizen, you now most likely need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to fly to Heathrow. It costs £20 and covers multiple visits over 2 years, applied for before you travel. Many arrivals can then use the automated eGates instead of a staffed desk. Checked August 2026.
Do you need a UK ETA?
The UK ETA is a digital permission to travel, linked to your passport. By 2026 it is required for eligible visitors who do not already hold a UK visa or other immigration status, including nationals of the United States, Canada, Australia and European countries. British and Irish citizens do not need one, and that includes dual nationals travelling on a British or Irish passport.
Key facts, checked August 2026 against gov.uk (confirm current details at gov.uk/eta):
- Cost: £20.
- Validity: it allows multiple journeys for stays of up to 6 months at a time, for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
- Who needs it: eligible visitors of all ages, including children and babies. Each traveller needs their own ETA.
- How to apply: through the official UK ETA app or on gov.uk. Apply well ahead of travel. Only use the official government service, not copycat sites that add a fee.
Airlines check for a valid ETA (or visa) before they let you board, so treat it as essential rather than optional if it applies to you.
What about transiting airside without leaving the terminal?
This is the part that most affects connecting passengers. According to gov.uk, travellers who transit through Heathrow and do not pass through UK border control do not currently need an ETA. If your connection means you stay airside and never reach passport control, you fall under that exemption.
The moment you pass through UK border control, though, you need an ETA (if eligible). That includes anyone collecting checked bags, changing between separate tickets, or leaving the airport during a layover. This transit exemption is described as current policy and could change, so verify it on gov.uk/eta close to your travel date.
Can you use the Heathrow eGates?
The eGates are the automated passport barriers in the arrivals hall. They read your biometric passport and photograph you, usually clearing you faster than a staffed desk.
Who can use them, checked August 2026 (confirm on Heathrow's immigration page and gov.uk):
- Eligible nationalities: British citizens and holders of biometric passports from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, plus Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States. This list is the widely published set; confirm your own nationality is included before relying on it.
- Passport: you need an eligible biometric (chip) passport.
- Age: from 8 July 2026, children aged 8 and 9 can use the eGates, provided they are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall, hold an eligible biometric passport and are travelling with an adult. Children under 8 cannot use the eGates and must go to a staffed desk with an adult.
Holding an ETA does not change your eGate eligibility. The ETA is your permission to travel; the eGate is simply the faster way through the border once you arrive, if your nationality and passport qualify.
Which queue should you join?
If you and your passport are eligible, head straight for the eGates. If anyone in your group is under 8, or does not hold a qualifying biometric passport, or holds a nationality not on the eGate list, your whole group uses the staffed desks, where an officer checks documents in person. Families often find it simplest to stay together at a staffed desk if one child is too young for the gates. For how long the queues actually take, see our guide to passport control at Heathrow arrivals.
A note on accuracy
Border and travel-authorisation rules change, and dates and prices are exactly the kind of detail that moves. Everything here was checked August 2026 against gov.uk and heathrow.com. Before you travel, confirm the current ETA cost, whether it applies to your nationality, the transit position and eGate eligibility on the official pages linked above.
More
More: Overview, Passport control queues, Facilities, FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a UK ETA to fly into Heathrow? If you are not a British or Irish citizen and do not already hold a UK visa or status, then yes, if your nationality is eligible. It costs £20 and you apply before travel. Confirm on gov.uk.
Do I need an ETA just to change flights at Heathrow? If you transit airside and never pass through UK border control, gov.uk says you do not currently need one. If you clear passport control, for example to collect bags or self-connect, you do. Verify close to travel.
How much is a UK ETA and how long does it last? It costs £20 and allows multiple visits of up to 6 months each for 2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever is first. Checked August 2026; confirm on gov.uk.
Can US citizens use the eGates at Heathrow? Yes. US passport holders with an eligible biometric passport are on the published eGate list, alongside EU, EEA, Swiss, Australian, Canadian, Japanese, New Zealand, Singaporean and South Korean nationals.
What is the minimum age for children to use the Heathrow eGates? From 8 July 2026, children aged 8 and 9 can use the eGates if they are at least 120cm tall, hold a biometric passport and travel with an adult. Under-8s must use a staffed desk.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Heathrow Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Heathrow Airport website before you travel.