ESTA vs UK ETA: don't confuse them

Cuidado

Caution

Traveling to the UK: you need an ETA (gov.uk), not ESTA. Traveling to the US: you need ESTA (esta.cbp.dhs.gov), not a UK ETA.

O que fazer com isso

What to do with this

For the UK, apply at gov.uk/eta. For the US, apply at the official esta.cbp.dhs.gov — never a lookalike domain.

Is there an "ESTA" for the UK?

No. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a United States scheme, for travel to the US under its Visa Waiver Program — it has nothing to do with the UK. The equivalent UK scheme, for most non-visa visitors travelling to Britain, is called the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), run by the Home Office, not ESTA.

The two names sound alike and cover a similar idea (a pre-travel digital authorisation), which is exactly why people search "ESTA UK" when they actually mean the UK's ETA — or search "UK ESTA" when they're trying to travel to the US and land on the wrong page.

Glossário: os termos desta página

ETA (UK)

Electronic Travel Authorisation: a digital permission that most non-visa visitors need to travel to the UK, applied for online or via the UK ETA app before travel.

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ESTA (US)

The United States' Electronic System for Travel Authorization — a separate scheme from the UK's ETA, often confused with it because the names and purpose are similar.

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Transport glossary — todos os 5 termos.

Source: GOV.UK — Get an ETA. Verified on 08/10/2026.