UK ETA for Chilean citizens
Chilean nationals do not need a UK visa for short visits, but an ETA is now required before boarding any flight to the United Kingdom.
UK ETA for Chile — key facts
- Chilean citizens do need a UK ETA before travelling to the United Kingdom.
- An ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry — a Border Force officer makes the final decision on arrival.
Verified against GOV.UK on 2026-10-12. UK ETA Gateway is a private agency, not the UK Government.
What is different for Chilean travellers
The ETA requirement began applying to Chilean passport holders on 8 January 2025. If you have not travelled to the United Kingdom since then, this will be your first ETA.
The fee is set by the Home Office in pounds sterling, so you are charged £49 and your bank converts it from Chilean peso (CLP) at its own rate. We do not add a currency markup, and nobody — including us — can discount the £20 government portion.
A note on your name: Chilean passports carry two surnames. Enter both, in the order printed on the passport, in the family-name field — putting the second surname in the given-names box is a frequent cause of mismatch at check-in.
What Chilean travellers need
- A biometric Chilean passport that will still be valid when you travel
- A digital photo meeting the GOV.UK standard
- An email address and a payment card
- Truthful answers on criminal convictions and past immigration refusals
You do not need flight bookings, hotel reservations, bank statements or an invitation letter.
Every Chilean traveller needs their own ETA, including infants — there is no family application and no child discount. How ETAs work for children and families.
If you also hold British or Irish citizenship you cannot apply for an ETA at all — travel on that passport instead. Full requirements · Common questions.
Chile at a glance
- ETA requiredYes
- Official Home Office fee£20
- Our service fee£29
- Total through us£49
- Validity2 years or passport expiry
- Maximum stay per visit6 months
- Typical decisionMinutes; allow 3 working days
- Number of entriesUnlimited
Or apply yourself at gov.uk/eta for £20.