The ETAs US Passport Holders Actually Need in 2026
US passport holders now need a paid ETA to fly to the UK (£20), Canada (CAD $7), New Zealand (from NZD $17 plus a $100 levy), and Australia (AUD $20). South Korea's K-ETA stays optional through December 31, 2026, and the EU's ETIAS has quietly slipped from late 2026 to 2027. Here's what's live, what's coming, and where to apply directly instead of through a markup site.
| Destination | System | Fee | Validity | Required now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | ETA | £20 | 2 years, unlimited entries | Yes |
| Canada | eTA | CAD $7 | 5 years or until passport expires | Yes |
| New Zealand | NZeTA | NZD $17–23 + NZD $100 levy | 2 years | Yes |
| Australia | ETA (Subclass 601) | AUD $20 | 1 year, multiple entries (3 months/visit) | Yes |
| South Korea | K-ETA | Free (exempt) / ~$10 if applied | 3 years if applied | Optional through Dec 31, 2026 |
| European Union (Schengen) | ETIAS | €20 (when live) | 3 years (planned) | Not yet — delayed to 2027 |
1. United Kingdom ETA
Every US visitor now needs an ETA before boarding, even for a weekend trip or a Heathrow layover. The fee rose from £16 to £20 on April 8, 2026, per the Home Office's April 2026 factsheet, and covers two years of unlimited entries. Apply only through gov.uk/electronic-travel-authorisation — third-party sites routinely overcharge for the same form.
2. Canada eTA
Canada's version is the cheapest here at CAD $7, valid for five years or until your passport expires. It's required only for flying in visa-exempt, not for land or sea arrivals. Apply directly at canada.ca's official eTA page; most decisions arrive within minutes.
3. New Zealand NZeTA
New Zealand bundles its authorization with a mandatory tourism levy: the NZeTA itself runs NZD $17 via the app or $23 online, plus a separate NZD $100 visitor levy most travelers also owe. Together that's roughly NZD $117–123 for two years of validity and stays up to 90 days per visit, per Immigration New Zealand's official NZeTA page.
4. Australia ETA (Subclass 601)
Australia's ETA, officially Subclass 601, costs a flat AUD $20 service fee and is only available through the AustralianETA mobile app — there's no website alternative anymore. It's valid for a year, allows multiple entries, and caps each visit at three months, per the Department of Home Affairs' Subclass 601 page. Applying means tapping your phone against your passport's chip for a live facial scan.
5. South Korea K-ETA
South Korea is the outlier: Americans still don't need a K-ETA. The Ministry of Justice extended its exemption for visa-exempt travelers through December 31, 2026, per the Korean consulate's official notice. You'll still file the free K-ETA e-Arrival Card within 72 hours of landing; applying voluntarily (about $10, three years) skips that step.
6. EU ETIAS
ETIAS, a planned €20 screening system for Schengen entry, was expected in late 2026, but the European Commission pushed it into 2027 to first fix glitches in its companion Entry/Exit System. The official ETIAS portal says the EU will announce a start date months ahead of launch, so no US traveler needs one for France, Italy, Spain, or the rest of the Schengen area yet.
People also ask
Do I need a visa to visit the UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand as a US citizen?
No — Americans stay visa-exempt for short tourist and business trips to all four. Each now requires a separate paid ETA applied for online before departure: the UK (£20), Canada (CAD $7), Australia (AUD $20), and New Zealand (from NZD $17 plus a $100 levy).
Has the EU ETIAS launched yet?
No. Originally targeted for late 2026, the European Commission delayed ETIAS until at least 2027 to fix technical problems with the EU's Entry/Exit System first. US travelers can keep visiting the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, no application needed.
Do US citizens need a K-ETA to visit South Korea?
Not currently. South Korea's Ministry of Justice extended its K-ETA exemption for Americans through December 31, 2026. Travelers still must submit a free e-Arrival Card via the official K-ETA portal within 72 hours of arrival, and the exemption is expected to end on January 1, 2027.
How long does an ETA application take to process?
Most ETAs are approved automatically within minutes. The UK's has a reported approval rate of 99.6%, though officials still recommend applying a few days ahead in case yours gets flagged for manual review.
Fees, validity periods, and launch dates were checked against official government sources as of July 23, 2026. ETA costs and timelines change with little notice — confirm current details on the relevant government site before booking travel.
Saily eSIM