We are a private agency, not the UK Government. This is not a UK Government website. We are an independent agency charging a service fee in addition to the official Home Office fee. You can apply directly at gov.uk/eta.

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UK ETA for Portuguese citizens

Portuguese travellers joined the ETA scheme in April 2025. An EU or EEA identity card is no longer enough for most visitors: you need a passport and an approved ETA linked to it before you travel.

UK ETA for Portugal — key facts

  • Portuguese 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 Portuguese travellers

The ETA requirement began applying to Portuguese passport holders on 2 April 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 euro (EUR) 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: Portuguese 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 Portuguese travellers need

  • A biometric Portuguese 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 Portuguese 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.

Portugal 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
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Or apply yourself at gov.uk/eta for £20.

Other nationalities that need a UK ETA

All 83 eligible nationalities →  ·  Check your eligibility →