UK ETA for Dutch Citizens 2026: Apply, Cost in Euros and What Changed After Brexit
Vind de Nederlandse versie van dit artikel hier: UK ETA voor Nederlandse staatsburgers
Dutch citizens have needed a UK ETA since 2 April 2025. The fee is currently £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. It’s valid for two years, covers unlimited entries, and most applications are approved within minutes. You’ll need your Dutch passport — not your identiteitskaart. Apply from your phone in one go through our guided step-by-step form — no printing, no appointment.
What Changed for Dutch Travellers After Brexit
The UK ETA isn’t actually the first change Dutch travellers have had to deal with since Brexit — it’s the second. Since 1 October 2021, Dutch citizens have only been able to enter the UK with a valid passport; the Dutch national identity card (identiteitskaart), which used to be perfectly valid for UK travel as an EU citizen, stopped being accepted. That change alone caught out plenty of families — including, famously, a Dutch family whose son was turned away at check-in because he only had an ID card.
The UK ETA for Dutch citizens builds on top of that passport-only rule. Since 2 April 2025, a valid passport is no longer enough on its own — you also need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation, checked by the airline, ferry operator or train operator before you travel, not after you arrive.
The transitional grace period has ended. Airlines, ferry and rail operators — including Eurostar check-in at Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Brussels — must now deny boarding to any passenger without a valid ETA.
UK ETA Cost in Euros (2026)
Because the fee is billed in British pounds, it’s easy to lose track of what it actually costs from the Netherlands. Here’s the fee history converted to euros at today’s rate (£1 ≈ €1.17):
| Period | Fee (GBP) | Approx. in EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Launch for EU citizens (April 2025) | £10 | ~€11.70 |
| From 9 April 2025 | £16 | ~€18.70 |
| From 8 April 2026 (current) | £20 | ~€23.40 |
Every traveller needs their own ETA — children and infants included — so a Dutch family of four should budget roughly €93 in total. Note that the exact euro amount will shift slightly day to day with the exchange rate, since the official fee is always charged in GBP.
Documents You Need — Passport, Not ID Card
This is worth stating plainly, because it trips up more Dutch travellers than almost anything else: your identiteitskaart will not work, either for boarding or for the ETA application itself. You need:
- A valid Dutch passport (not an ID card, not a driving licence)
- At least six months’ validity remaining on that passport, as a safe margin
- A working email address for your confirmation
Your ETA is digitally linked to the exact passport you applied with. If your passport expires or is renewed before you travel, your old ETA becomes invalid and you’ll need to apply again with the new passport details.
Photo Requirements
As part of the application, you’ll need to upload a clear photo of your passport’s data page, plus a selfie for identity verification. Keep it simple: good lighting, no glare on the laminate, no filters, and make sure all four corners of the passport page are visible in the frame. Blurry or cropped photos are the most common reason an application needs a second look.
Travelling From Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven
Amsterdam
Most Dutch travellers fly via Schiphol, which connects directly to all six London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, City and Southend), plus Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and more. Amsterdam is also the starting point for the direct Eurostar service to London — via Rotterdam and Brussels — in around 4 hours, with ETA checks carried out at the departure platform before boarding, just like at an airport.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam offers two distinct routes: it’s a stop on the same direct Eurostar line to London, and it’s the departure point for the Hoek van Holland–Harwich ferry (Stena Line), which takes roughly 6.5 to 7.5 hours and still runs up to twice daily — a common choice for travellers bringing a car or simply preferring a slower, overnight crossing.
Eindhoven
Eindhoven Airport is the budget option: Ryanair flies exclusively from Eindhoven to London Stansted, with fares that can drop as low as €17 one-way during off-peak sales — making it the cheapest way to fly from the Netherlands to the UK.
Checking Your ETA Status
Once submitted, most applications are approved within minutes; the UK Home Office advises allowing up to three working days in case of a closer review. You’ll receive your decision by email — keep that confirmation and your application reference number, since your ETA itself is linked electronically to your passport and nothing needs to be printed.
How to Apply — The Fast Way
No office visit, no printed form — just your passport and a few minutes.
Our guided application form is built to get Dutch travellers through the process quickly — clear steps, built-in checks on your passport details before submission, and a straightforward confirmation at the end. Most people finish in under ten minutes.
Apply for Your UK ETA in Minutes
Fast, guided, built for travellers from the Netherlands.
FAQ for Dutch Travellers
Can I use my OV-chipkaart as ID for the ETA application?
No. The OV-chipkaart is a Dutch public transport card, not a valid travel document. You need a passport — it’s the only document accepted for both the ETA application and UK border checks.
Can I enter the UK with my rijbewijs (Dutch driving licence)?
No. A Dutch driving licence is not a valid travel document for UK entry under any circumstances. You need a valid passport, and your ETA must be linked to that same passport.
Can I use my Dutch identiteitskaart instead of a passport?
No. Since 1 October 2021, Dutch citizens have needed a passport to enter the UK — the identity card stopped being accepted for UK travel even before the ETA requirement existed.
How much is the UK ETA in euros right now?
£20, which is roughly €23 at today’s exchange rate. The official fee is always charged in GBP, so the exact euro amount shifts slightly day to day.
Do I need a new ETA if I apply for a new Dutch passport?
Yes. Your ETA is digitally linked to the exact passport number you applied with. A new or renewed passport means your existing ETA no longer applies, and you’ll need to apply again.
Samenvatting in het Nederlands
Sinds 2 april 2025 heb je als Nederlander een UK ETA nodig om naar Engeland, Schotland, Wales of Noord-Ierland te reizen. Dit geldt ook als je slechts overstapt. De ETA kost momenteel £20 (ca. €23) en is twee jaar geldig voor onbeperkt veel reizen, elk tot maximaal zes maanden. Let op: je identiteitskaart is niet voldoende — je hebt een geldig Nederlands paspoort nodig, net als sinds 1 oktober 2021 al het geval is. De aanvraag duurt ongeveer tien minuten en kan eenvoudig via ons begeleide aanvraagformulier.
application-eta.uk provides a guided, streamlined application process for travellers from the Netherlands and other eligible nationalities. Fees and requirements shown reflect the published rates and exchange rate current as of the update date above and may change.
Sources: UK Home Office fee schedule (2025–2026 updates); Rijksoverheid.nl — official Dutch government travel guidance; VisitBritain / Office for National Statistics — Netherlands inbound tourism data (2024); Dutch Review — Amsterdam–London travel options; Stena Line / Ferryhopper — Hoek van Holland–Harwich route data; live GBP/EUR exchange rate at time of writing.
More UK ETA Guides