UK ETA for Polish Citizens: Requirements, Cost & How to Apply (2026 Guide)
Read the Polish version of this article here (Przeczytaj angielską wersję tego artykułu): UK ETA dla obywateli Polski
Polish citizens have needed a UK ETA since 2 April 2025. The authorisation currently costs £20 (~€23) government fee + handling fee depending on the service plan you choose (€46 / €96 / €146 – see below) – Total cost: €69 Regular | €119 Priority | €169 Dedicated Agent. Discounts apply, stays valid for two years with unlimited entries, and the vast majority of applications are approved within minutes. You can complete the whole process from your phone, in one sitting, through our guided step-by-step form — no printing, no office visit.
Do Polish Citizens Need a UK ETA?
Yes. Despite Poland’s close, long-standing ties with the UK — one of the largest Polish communities abroad and dozens of direct flight routes — a Polish passport no longer means entry without prior authorisation. The UK ETA for Polish citizens is a mandatory step before travelling for tourism, business, family visits, or transit — checked by the airline before boarding, not after you land.
The transitional grace period has ended. Airlines, ferry and rail operators must now deny boarding to any passenger without a valid ETA. There is no flexibility left at check-in.
Key Facts & Figures
A quick snapshot of the figures that actually matter when planning a trip from Poland to the UK:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Poland’s population (GUS, mid-2026) | ~37.2 million |
| Poles living in the UK (ONS) | ~743,000–760,000 — still the largest foreign-born group in the UK |
| Migration trend (ONS, mid-2024–2025) | More Poles now leaving the UK than arriving (net outflow, roughly -19,000/year) |
| UK as a flight destination from Poland | The single most popular international destination — 1 in 4 international passengers from Poland flies to the UK (Pasazer.com) |
| Flight time Warsaw → London | ~2 hours 30 minutes (Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT, British Airways) |
| UK ETA required since | 2 April 2025 |
| Current UK ETA fee (2026) | £20 per applicant plus the application fee (EUR 46 to EUR 146 depending on your travel needs) |
| ETA validity | 2 years, unlimited entries |
| Max stay per visit | Up to 6 months |
When Did the Requirement Start for Poland?
Poland was part of the second, European wave of the UK ETA rollout. Applications opened on 5 March 2025, and the requirement became mandatory on 2 April 2025 — the same date as for 33 other European countries, including Germany, France, and the rest of the EU (Polskie Radio, GOV.UK).
The ETA scheme replaced the previous visa-free arrangement for short-term visitors as part of the UK’s post-Brexit border reform. It applies regardless of how many times someone has travelled to the UK before, or how strong their family ties there are.
UK ETA Cost in 2026
The fee has already changed twice since launch — worth knowing the current figure rather than one from an older article:
| Period | Fee |
|---|---|
| Launch for Poland (April 2025) | £10 |
| From 9 April 2025 | £16 |
| From 8 April 2026 (current) | £20 |
Every traveller needs their own ETA — including children and infants — so a Polish family of four heading to the UK should budget £80 in total.
ETA vs. Work & Study — An Important Distinction
This is a point that often gets overlooked, especially given how closely the UK has historically been associated with employment for Polish travellers. The UK ETA covers tourism, family visits, short-term business, and study of up to 6 months — but it does not grant the right to work or access to public funds.
Since free movement ended on 31 December 2020 (Brexit), Polish citizens can no longer simply arrive in the UK and take up work on the strength of an ETA. Paid employment requires a separate work visa — the ETA does not substitute for one.
How Poles Travel to the UK
The UK has for years remained the single most popular international flight destination for Polish travellers — one in four passengers flying abroad from Poland is heading to the UK (industry data from Pasazer.com). The route network is unusually dense: Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT and British Airways between them connect more than ten Polish airports — Warsaw (Chopin and Modlin), Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Katowice, Rzeszów, Poznań, Lublin and Bydgoszcz — to well over a dozen UK cities, including London (Luton, Stansted, Gatwick), Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Bristol. The flagship Warsaw–London route takes only around 2.5 hours.
Beyond flying, some travellers — particularly those relocating with more luggage — choose coach travel (routes via the Eurotunnel) or driving their own car via ferry or Eurotunnel. Whichever method you use, the rule stays the same: the ETA must be approved before you travel — it cannot be sorted out at the border.
Who Is Exempt From the UK ETA?
A small number of Polish travellers won’t need an ETA:
| Exempt | Needs the ETA |
|---|---|
| British or Irish citizens (incl. dual nationals) | Polish passport holders travelling for tourism, business, family visits |
| Holders of settled or pre-settled status (EU Settlement Scheme) | Transit passengers leaving the airport area, even briefly |
| Holders of a valid UK visa or right to live/work/study in the UK | Children and infants travelling on a Polish passport |
How to Apply — The Fast Way
This is the part most people overthink. No office visit, no printed form, no stack of documents — just your passport and a few minutes.
Our guided application form is built specifically to get Polish travellers through the process quickly — plain-English steps, built-in checks on your passport details before you submit, and a clear confirmation once you’re done. No duplicate screens, no confusing jargon, no going back to fix a field. Most people finish start to finish in under ten minutes.
Here’s all you need before you start:
- Your valid passport (the one you’ll be travelling on)
- A working email address for your confirmation
- About ten minutes, uninterrupted
If you’d rather handle everything straight from your phone, our UK ETA app is available on both the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) — the same guided process, no browser needed.
Apply with some buffer before your departure date rather than at the last minute — most applications are approved almost immediately, but a few days’ buffer removes any pressure before a family visit or business trip.
Apply for Your UK ETA in Minutes
Fast, guided, built for travellers from Poland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a UK ETA if I’ve visited the UK many times before?
Yes. Previous visits, even from many years ago, don’t exempt you. The ETA applies to every Polish traveller regardless of travel history.
How much does the UK ETA cost for Polish citizens in 2026?
£20 per applicant, as of 8 April 2026. This applies to every traveller, including children and infants.
Does the UK ETA allow me to work in the UK?
No. The ETA covers tourism, family visits, short-term business, and study of up to 6 months, but it does not grant the right to work. A separate work visa is required for employment.
How long does approval take?
Most applications are approved within minutes. A small number of cases requiring closer review can take up to three working days.
Can I apply from my phone?
Yes — the entire process works on mobile from start to finish, whether through a browser or through our iOS and Android apps, with no computer or printer needed.
Does my ETA cover multiple trips to the UK?
Yes. Once approved, it’s valid for two years (or until your passport expires) and covers unlimited entries, with each stay capped at up to six months.
application-eta.uk provides a guided, streamlined application process for travellers from Poland and other eligible nationalities. Fees and requirements shown reflect the published rates current as of the update date above and may be subject to change.
Sources: UK Home Office fee schedule (2025–2026 updates); Office for National Statistics (ONS) — migration and Polish population data; Statistics Poland / Główny Urząd Statystyczny (GUS) — population estimates (2026); Polish Economic Institute (PIE); Polskie Radio; Pasazer.com — Poland–UK air traffic data.
More UK ETA Guides