UK ETA for Green Card Holders: Do You Need One in 2026?

A UK ETA for green card holders is decided by the passport you travel on, not by your US permanent residence. A green card gives you the right to live in America, but it does not change what Britain asks of you at the border. Your nationality decides which permit you need (GOV.UK ETA guidance).

TL;DR: If you hold a passport from a visa-free country, you need a £20 UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before you fly, valid for two years. Visa nationals get no help from a US green card and still need a full UK visa. Check your passport first, then apply on gov.uk/eta.

Kiired faktid	Üksikasjad (2026)
What decides your route	Your passport nationality, not the green card
ETA tasu	£20 per person, non-refundable
Kehtivus	2 aastat või kuni passi aegumiseni
Iga viibimine kestva aja pikkus	Kuni 6 kuud
Kus taotleda	gov.uk/eta or the ETA app

Millions of people live in the United States on a green card while holding a passport from somewhere else. When they book a London trip, the question lands fast: does the card count for Britain? It does not. Our country-by-country requirements guide lists which nationalities fall on which side of the line.

Does a UK ETA for green card holders depend on the card or the passport?

It depends entirely on the passport. Britain screens travellers by nationality, and a US green card proves American residence, not American citizenship. The Home Office therefore ignores the card and looks at your national passport.

Picture two neighbours in New Jersey. One carries a German passport, the other an Indian passport, and both hold identical green cards. The German needs an ETA and gets it in minutes. The Indian national needs a full Standard Visitor visa, because India is a visa-required country for the UK. You can confirm your own status with the official kontrollige, kas teil on vaja UK viisa või ETA-d tööriist.

Peamised faktid kiirülevaates

• Rule: nationality decides, not residence (Immigration Rules, ETA appendix).
• Tasu: £20 per applicant since 8 April 2026, up from £16 (GOV.UK).
• Kohustuslik alates: 25 February 2026 for all visa-free nationals, including EU citizens.
• Decision time: often minutes; allow up to three working days.
• Green card status: ignored by UK border rules.

Which passports need a UK ETA in 2026?

You need a UK ETA if your passport is from a visa-free country such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada or any EU state. The scheme covers many nationalities. It replaced the old walk-up arrangement where these travellers simply showed a passport and boarded. You cannot travel without one.

Here is how the two main groups break down for a green card holder:

Sinu pass	What Britain needs	Tüüpiline hind
US passport (dual citizen)	ÜHENDKUNINGRIIGI ETA	£20
EU, Japan, Canada, Australia, Gulf states	ÜHENDKUNINGRIIGI ETA	£20
India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ghana	Standard Visitor visa	From £135

The third row is where people get caught out. A green card holder from a visa-national country cannot use the cheap, fast ETA route at all, and anyone who turns up with only a green card and no visa will be refused boarding. If that applies to you, read our walkthrough on applying for visas from the US and budget for the longer timeline.

Not sure which bracket you fall into, or helping an older relative work it out? You can apply directly on gov.uk for the £20 fee, or let our team check your nationality and submit the application with you so nothing gets rejected.

How does a green card holder apply for a UK ETA?

Eligible passport holders apply online in about ten minutes through the free ETA app or the GOV.UK form, and pay £20 by card. You apply with the passport you will travel on. The green card plays no part in the process, so do not upload it or mention it on the form.

1. Check your passport nationality. Run the official checker to confirm you qualify for the ETA rather than a visa.
2. Open the official app or web form. Start from gov.uk/eta/apply, never a lookalike site.
3. Scan the passport and take a live photo. The app guidance shows how the chip scan works.
4. Answer the suitability questions. These cover past criminal or immigration issues, and the answers are checked.
5. Maksa £20 ja esita. Watch your inbox; most approvals land within minutes.

Our step-by-step online application guide covers each screen in detail, and the fotograafia nõuete juhend saves you the most common cause of delay. After you submit, our status-check steps confirm the permit is live.

Oluline: an approved ETA clears you to board and be assessed at the frontier. It is not a guarantee of entry. Border Force still makes the final call, exactly as it did before the scheme existed. Carry your passport, and do not rely on the green card for anything at UK arrivals.

What does the ETA cost, and how long does it last?

The permit costs £20 per person and stays valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Within that window you can visit as often as you like, up to six months each time. One payment covers the whole period, so you are buying the document, not each trip.

The price has climbed quickly. It launched at £10 in October 2023, rose to £16 in April 2025 and reached £20 on 8 April 2026, so it doubled within three years. A green card holder travelling from Boston with a spouse and one child on EU passports pays £60 for three permits before touching a boarding pass. Our full cost guide tracks every change, and there is a separate breakdown of the £20 increase.

Ajavahemik	Tasu
25 Oct 2023 – 8 Apr 2025	£10
9 Apr 2025 – 7 Apr 2026	£16
Alates 8. apr 2026	£20

Timing matters more than most people think. Approval is usually quick, but the Home Office asks you to allow up to three working days, and some checks take longer. See how long processing takes before you cut it fine. When your passport changes, the permit does not carry over automatically — the kehtivuse ja uuenemise juhend ja meie re-apply walkthrough selgitage parandust.

Special cases: dual citizens, transit and returning residents

Dual nationals should apply with the passport that gives the easier route, and transit passengers may still need a permit even without leaving the airport. A green card holder who also carries a US passport, for example, simply applies as a US national. The card stays in the wallet throughout.

Two situations catch people out. First, dual citizenship: if you hold both an Indian and an Irish passport, travel on the Irish one and you qualify for visa-free entry with no ETA needed, because Irish citizens are exempt. Our dual-citizen passport guide spells out which document to pick. Second, transit: some airside connections through UK airports still require the authorisation, covered in the transit and cruise guide. And remember, even a valid permit is not a promise — our note on whether an ETA guarantees entry is worth two minutes.

One disclaimer, said plainly: we are an independent assistance service, not the UK government. You can always apply directly on gov.uk for £20, or use our checking service if you would rather have a second pair of eyes on the form.

Korduma kippuvad küsimused

Do green card holders need a UK ETA?

It depends on your passport. If your national passport is from a visa-free country, yes, you need the £20 permit. If your passport is from a visa-required country, the green card does not help and you need a UK visa instead.

Can I use my green card instead of an ETA?

No. A US green card has no standing under UK entry rules. Britain reads your passport nationality, so the card is irrelevant at check-in and at the border.

I am a US citizen with a green card sponsor — which document applies?

If you hold a US passport, you apply for the ETA as a US national. Americans are visa-free for short visits and need the £20 authorisation, not a visa.

My passport is Indian but I live in the US. Do I need an ETA or a visa?

A visa. India is a visa-national country for the UK, so residence in America changes nothing. You apply for a Standard Visitor visa, which costs from £135 and takes about three weeks.

Kui palju maksab UK ETA aastal 2026?

£20 per person, non-refundable, since 8 April 2026. Children pay the same as adults, so a family of three pays £60. Our kuluteabe juhend has the history.

Kui kaua heakskiitmmine võtab?

Often minutes, sometimes a few hours. Officially you should allow up to three working days, so do not leave it until the airport gate.

Does the ETA guarantee entry to the UK?

No. It lets you board and be assessed. Border Force makes the final decision at UK piirikontrolli juures, whether you hold a green card or not.

Do my children need their own ETA?

Yes. Every traveller needs one, regardless of age, and the price is identical. Babies included.

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Autori kohta. Eleanor Winslade on vanem reisidokumentatsiooni toimetaja, kes on 2017. aastast peale käsitlenud Ühendkuningriigi sisenemise nõudeid. Ta kirjutab selges inglise keeles samm-sammult juhiseid ja kontrollib iga artiklit vastavalt viimastele ametlikele GOV.UK teabele.

Viimati uuendatud: 2026-07-20 — kontrollitud gov.uk graafikust.