Ashes 2027 England: UK ETA Guide for Fans

The Ashes 2027 England series runs from 18 June to 2 August across five iconic Test grounds. Australian supporters and other visa-free visitors flying in to watch now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before boarding — it costs £20, links to your passport and clears within about 72 hours. This guide covers who needs one, the full fixture list, and how to apply in time.

Santrauka: England host Australia in a five-Test summer confirmed by the ECB on 23 July 2026. Nationals who normally enter visa-free — Australians included — must hold a £20 UK ETA that stays valid for two years. Apply on gov.uk as soon as your tickets and flights are booked.

Key facts for Ashes travellers

• Series window: 18 June to 2 August 2027, five Tests, confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
• Authorisation fee: £20 since 8 April 2026, multiple entries, good for 24 months (gov.uk).
• Required since: 25 February 2026 for every visa-free traveller, Australians included (Vidaus reikalų ministerija).
• New venue: Southampton’s Utilita Bowl hosts its first Ashes Test, the 10th English ground to do so (ECB).
• Apdorojimas: most approvals in minutes, occasionally a couple of days (gov.uk).

Pagrindiniai faktai	Išsami informacija
Series	Men’s Ashes 2027, England v Australia
Dates	18 June – 2 Aug 2027 (five Tests)
Mokestis	£20 per person (lasts 2 years, multiple entries)
Kam to reikia	Visa-free visitors: Australia, NZ, US, Canada, EU and more
Sprendimo laikas	Usually inside three working days
Kreipkitės adresu	gov.uk/eta

Australia last held the urn after a 4–1 win at home in the 2025–26 series, so the travelling support arriving for the return will be huge. Book early and sort your Australian traveller authorisation before you commit to flights — a rare refusal is far simpler to handle months ahead than in the final week.

When and where the 2027 Ashes take place

Five Tests stretch across seven weeks of the English summer. Trent Bridge in Nottingham opens proceedings, Lord’s follows in London, Edgbaston brings the Birmingham cauldron, Southampton makes its debut, and The Oval closes the contest. Each match runs up to five days, so fans can plan around a single city or chase the whole caravan.

The schedule below reflects the venues and dates the ECB confirmed on 23 July 2026. For official ticket ballots and any late changes, the ECB is the primary source, and the ICC lists the wider international calendar.

Test	Ground	City	Dates
First	Trent Bridge	Nottingham	18–22 June 2027
Second	Lord’s	Londonas	30 June – 4 July 2027
Third	Edgbaston	Birmingemas	8–12 July 2027
Fourth	Utilita Bowl	Southampton	21–25 July 2027
Fifth	Kia Oval	Londonas	29 July – 2 August 2027

A concrete plan helps. A Sydney couple targeting the Lord’s Test would aim to land at Heathrow by 29 June, giving a buffer day before play starts on the 30th. A fan wanting back-to-back cricket could pair Trent Bridge in June with Edgbaston in July, roughly 55 minutes apart by train — two Tests, one easy rail corridor.

Do Australian fans need a UK ETA for the Ashes?

Yes. Australia is a visa-free country, which since 25 February 2026 means an approved authorisation is mandatory before you fly. The airline scans it at check-in under the “no permission, no travel” policy. One application covers repeat visits across a two-year span, costs £20, and ties electronically to the passport you enter.

Your document needs depend on nationality. Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, Canadians and EU passport holders all fall into the authorisation group. Irish citizens travel freely under the Common Travel Area. Anyone already holding a UK visa or residence permit uses that instead and skips the extra step.

Fan’s nationality	What the series requires
Australia, New Zealand	UK ETA (£20) — mandatory since Feb 2026
United States, Canada	Travel authorisation, £20
EU / EEA, Switzerland	Travel authorisation, £20
South Africa, India	Standard Visitor visa (not ETA-eligible)
Airija	Nothing — Common Travel Area
Holders of a UK visa	Travel on the visa, no separate permit

Full nationality detail sits in our dedicated guide for Australian citizens, and the broader rules for sports fans cover matchday entry. Coming from Europe for a Test or two? Our UK ETA versus EU ETIAS comparison explains how the two schemes differ.

Travelling with parents or grandparents making their first overseas cricket trip? You do not have to face the form alone. Apply directly on gov.uk for £20, or lean on our checking service if you would rather someone reviewed the answers before submission.

How to apply for your ETA before the first Test

Applications run through the official UK ETA app or the gov.uk apply page. Keep your passport, a payment card and a phone camera ready. Most people wrap it up inside ten minutes.

Naudinga patarimas: Lodge the application the day your Ashes tickets clear the ballot, not the week before departure. Approvals usually arrive within minutes, but officials ask you to allow up to three working days — and summer demand runs heavy.

1. Atidarykite JK ETA programėlę or the gov.uk apply page and scan the photo page of your passport.
2. Take the selfie when prompted, then answer the short eligibility questions truthfully.
3. Sumokėkite 20 svarų sterlingų mokestį by card and submit. Keep the confirmation email; the clearance attaches to that passport automatically.
4. Wait for the result and book non-refundable flights only once it lands, generally within minutes or a few days.

Every traveller files their own, children and infants included. A family of four flying from Perth would submit four £20 applications, one per passport. For the exact screens, see our application questions and answers ir app download and status guide. Want a sense of timing? Read how long approval takes.

Following the series: cities, grounds and travel

The fixtures cluster neatly for rail travel. Nottingham, Birmingham and London sit on fast direct lines, while Southampton links to the capital in about 75 minutes. Once you have cleared immigration, moving between host cities needs no further paperwork — our border control walkthrough explains the e-gates, and a layover still needs the same authorisation if you connect through the UK.

Base yourself in London for the two capital Tests at Lord’s and The Oval, then day-trip out for the others. The Londono kelionės vadovas UK ETA turėtojams maps neighbourhoods and transport, while the geriausių JK miestų vadovas padeda jums užpildyti poilsio dienas tarp rungtynių. Ieškote daugiau sporto tą patį vasarą? The Tour de France 2027 britų startas sutampa su kriketo sezonu.

Praktiniai patarimai Ashes keliaujantiesiem

• Užsisakykite apgyvendimą pagal varžybų grafiką: viešbučiai prie stadionų greitai užsipildo test dienomis; užsisakykite kambarius netoli kiekvieno aikštynų iš karto, kai balsavimas paaiškėja.
• Pasas turi būti galiojantis: leidimas galioja tik vienam dokumentui, todėl atnaujinkite greitai baigiančio galioti pasą prieš prašymą pateikimą, bet ne po jo.
• Pakuokite drabužius keturiems metų laikams: angliškas birželis gali atnešti saulės nudegimus arba lietaus sukeltas delsas, kartais tą patį sesiją „Trent Bridge" stadione.
• Planuokite atsižvelgdami į žaidimo dienas: jei testas baigiasi anksčiau, mūsų Londono renginių aprašymas parodo, kas dar yra.
• Pakartotinai naudokite leidimą: galioja du pilnus metus, ji taip pat apima grįžimo kelionę be antro mokesčio.

Dar vienas tikras scenarijus: Melburno šiaušėjas, sekantis visus penkis testus, gali keliauti į Britaniją ir iš jos keliasdešimt kartų su ta pačia autorizacija. Ji leidžia kelis vizitus per dvejus metus, todėl vidurio serijos šuolis į Paryžių ir atgal nesukelia jokio naujo UK mokesčio — tai yra mūsų Australian citizens page išsamiai paaiškina.

Mes esame nepriklausoma kelionės pagalbos paslauga, ne vyriausybės institucija. Jūs galite užpildyti formą patys svetainėje gov.uk už £20, arba leiskite mums ją patikrinti ir pateikti jums — tai naudinga didelėms grupėms arba giminėms, kurie nori pagalbos. Nenorėtumėte tai daryti patys? Mes patikrinsime ir tvarkysime paraišką jums.

Dažniausiai užduodami klausimai

Do Australian fans need a UK ETA for the Ashes 2027?

Yes. Australia is a visa-free country, so since 25 February 2026 its passport holders must carry an approved authorisation before flying. It costs £20 and links to your passport.

How much does the UK ETA cost for the series?

The fee is £20 per person, set on 8 April 2026. That single charge covers multiple entries and remains valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

When should I apply before the first Test?

Apply as soon as your tickets and flights are confirmed. Most decisions arrive within minutes, though gov.uk advises allowing up to three working days, and summer volumes run high.

What are the Ashes 2027 dates and venues?

Penki testai vyksta nuo birželio 18 d. iki rugpjūčio 2 d. 2027 m.: Trent Bridge, Lord's, Edgbaston, Southampton's Utilita Bowl ir The Oval. Southampton šiame teste ruošia savo pirmąjį Ashes testą.

Can one authorisation cover every Test city?

Yes. A single clearance covers the whole United Kingdom, so you can follow all five Tests across Nottingham, London, Birmingham and Southampton on one approval.

Do children need their own clearance for the cricket?

Taip. Kiekvienas keliautojas turi turėti individualią autorizaciją, įskaitant kūdikius. Kiekviena aplikacija kainuoja £20 ir pridedama prie tos asmenų paso.

Is this the same as a UK visa?

No. It is a lighter pre-travel clearance for short visits, not a visa. Anyone holding a valid UK visa or residence permit travels on that and does not apply separately.

What if my application is refused before the trip?

A small number of applicants are directed to apply for a visa instead. Applying early leaves time to lodge that visa application before the first Test.

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Apie autorių: Eleanor Winslade, vyresnioji kelionės dokumentacijos redaktorė. Eleanor nuo 2017 m. aprašo JK įvažiavimo reikalavimus ir specializuojasi paprastoje anglų kalba, žingsnis po žingsnio pateiktose instrukcijose, patikrintose pagal naujausias oficialias GOV.UK gaires.
Atnaujinta: 2026-09-16