United Kingdom passport and entry requirements
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.
Last reviewed:
Exercise increased caution in the United Kingdom due to terrorism . There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in the United Kingdom. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. There is also risk of isolated violence by dissident groups in Northern Ireland. These groups mainly target police and military. Petty crime is
Passport you need
U.S. citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (UK ETA) before boarding for visits of up to six months. Apply online before you travel.
Blank pages: One page for the entry stamp.
Official U.S. Department of State country informationVisa and travel authorizations
UK ETA. Apply only through the official government website — lookalike sites charge a markup for the same authorization.
Before you book
- 1. Open your passport and read the expiration date. If it falls inside the validity window above, renew before you buy tickets.
- 2. Count your blank visa pages. Pages marked "amendments and endorsements" do not count as visa pages.
- 3. File any ETA, e-visa or arrival form on the official site, days before departure rather than at the airport.
- 4. Carry the passport book, not just the card, for any international flight.