🇬🇧 UK Standard Visitor Visa & ETA Guide 2026
Since February 25, 2026, most visa-exempt nationals (including US and EU citizens) need a UK ETA even for a short visit. Here's the difference between an ETA and a full Standard Visitor Visa, and what each actually costs.
ETA vs. Standard Visitor Visa: Which Do You Need?
Your nationality determines which route applies. The UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) became mandatory for most visa-exempt nationalities on February 25, 2026 — this includes US, EU, and many other citizens who previously needed no advance permission at all for a short UK visit. It costs £16, is valid for 2 years (or until your passport expires), and is a lightweight digital pre-clearance, not a full visa.
If your nationality isn't ETA-eligible, you need a full Standard Visitor Visa instead — a more involved application requiring biometrics at a visa application centre.
Standard Visitor Visa Fees (from April 8, 2026)
| Validity | Fee | Per-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | £135 | — |
| 2 years | £506 | £253/year |
| 5 years | £903 | £180.60/year |
| 10 years | £1,128 | £112.80/year |
The 10-year visa offers the best per-year value, but first-time applicants face a higher refusal risk applying directly at that tier — a staged approach (6 months, then 2 years, then 5, then 10) is generally safer for borderline cases. Regardless of validity length, each individual visit is still capped at 180 days (roughly 6 months).
What You Can and Can't Do
Standard Visitor status covers tourism, visiting family, business activities, short courses, and private medical treatment. It explicitly does not permit work, long-term study, or getting married (that requires a separate Marriage Visitor Visa, £127). It also does not lead to settlement — there's no path from visitor status to Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Priority Processing
Standard processing takes about 3 weeks from your biometrics appointment. Priority service (an extra £500) targets a decision within 5 working days; Super Priority (an extra £1,000) targets the next working day. Around 10-20% of applications experience delays beyond the standard window, particularly cases flagged as "non-straightforward."
Approval Rates Vary Enormously by Nationality
Globally, the UK granted roughly 2.2 million visitor visas out of 2.8 million applications in the year ending September 2025 — a 79% approval rate. But that average hides huge variation: South African applicants achieved 96% approval, while Bangladeshi applicants saw only 48%. Understanding your specific country's approval rate is genuinely useful intelligence before applying.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming ETA-eligible means visa-free. Since February 2026, most previously visa-free nationalities (including US and EU) still need to apply for and receive a £16 ETA before travelling — it's not optional.
- Trying to marry on a Standard Visitor Visa. This is explicitly excluded — you need a separate Marriage Visitor Visa even to attend your own wedding ceremony in the UK.
- Large unexplained deposits before applying. Caseworkers flag "funds padding" — a sudden deposit inconsistent with your normal income pattern — as a common refusal trigger.
- Treating a long-validity visitor visa as a settlement route. Even a 10-year visitor visa never leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain, and spending more time in the UK than your home country risks cancellation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do US and EU citizens need a visa to visit the UK now?
Since February 25, 2026, most US and EU citizens need a £16 UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before travelling, even for a short visit. This is a lightweight digital pre-clearance, not a full visa, but it is mandatory.
How much does a UK visitor visa cost?
From April 8, 2026: £135 for 6 months, £506 for 2 years, £903 for 5 years, or £1,128 for 10 years. The ETA (for eligible nationalities) costs £16 instead.
Can I work on a UK Standard Visitor Visa?
No. Standard Visitor status explicitly excludes work, long-term study, and settlement — it's for tourism, family visits, business activities, short courses, and private medical treatment only.