UK ETA for Eastern Europe 2026: Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria & Greece — Complete Guide

By the application-eta.uk Expert Team · Last updated: May 2026 · Reviewed by Martin Cage, Senior UK ETA Specialist

Citizens of Eastern and Southern Europe’s EU member states — the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece — now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to Britain. This applies whether you are visiting London for a weekend, catching a flight home via a UK airport, attending a sporting event, studying or working legally, or combining a UK trip with a wider European journey.

This guide covers every country individually, highlighting the specific travel patterns, practical questions and unique situations that apply to travellers from each nation — from the millions of Polish workers in the UK to Greek cruise passengers, Romanian families visiting relatives, and Bulgarian students at British universities. We also address the questions around national ID cards, Schengen vs UK immigration, and what the ETA means for high-frequency travellers from these countries.

1. Why Eastern European EU Citizens Need a UK ETA

The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020. While the transition period and its aftermath meant that major immigration changes were introduced gradually, the ETA system — mandatory for all EU citizens — has been in full force since 25 February 2026. All EU member states became eligible for the ETA (rather than the more burdensome standard visitor visa) on 2 April 2025, and from that date, ETA holders from any EU country can visit the UK for up to 6 months per trip for tourism, business, or family visits.

For citizens of the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, this is a significant practical change. Many nationals from these countries travel to the UK regularly — to visit family members who settled in Britain, for work-related trips, for tourism, or to study. The ETA does not make travel harder; it simply adds a one-time digital pre-clearance step that takes most applicants under ten minutes and is valid for two years.

2. ETA Basics: Cost, Validity, What It Covers

For full fee information including our service tiers and what expert review covers, visit our cost and fees page. If you need your ETA urgently, our fast ETA service provides the quickest available processing.

3. Czech Republic — UK ETA Guide

The Czech-UK Relationship: History and the Present Day

The Czech Republic and the United Kingdom share deep historical ties — from wartime RAF Czech squadrons whose legacy is still celebrated in Britain, to the post-1989 generation of Czech professionals who built careers in London. Today, Czech visitors to the UK include a mix of tourists, business travellers, IT professionals attending conferences, and those visiting family or friends who settled in Britain in the 2000s and 2010s. Prague–London is one of Central Europe’s busiest short-haul routes.

Czech ID Cards: A Crucial Point

Czech nationals previously entered the UK on their national identity card (občanský průkaz) before Brexit. This is no longer possible. A valid Czech biometric passport is required for UK entry, and your ETA must be linked to that passport number. If your passport has expired and you have been using your ID card for intra-EU travel, you must renew your passport before applying for an ETA. Processing times for Czech passports through the local municipal office (obecní úřad) typically run 30 days standard, or 5 working days express — plan accordingly.

Prague Airport: Connections to the UK

Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) offers some of the most competitive pricing on the London route, with Ryanair and Wizz Air making the journey accessible year-round. The flight time is approximately 2 hours. For Czech travellers in Brno, Ostrava or other cities, connections to UK airports are available via Prague or via Vienna, Warsaw and Frankfurt hubs — each requiring an ETA before departure from the origin airport.

4. Croatia — UK ETA Guide

Croatia’s UK Market: Tourism, Diaspora and the Adriatic Connection

Croatia punches above its weight as a UK travel destination in both directions. British tourists visit Croatia in large numbers — Dubrovnik, Split and the Dalmatian coast are hugely popular with UK visitors. In the other direction, Croatian visitors to the UK include a significant diaspora community — particularly from the 1990s war generation who settled in Britain — alongside a growing tourism segment attracted by London, Scottish whisky experiences, and Premier League football. The UK has a substantial Croatian-heritage community particularly in industrial cities.

Multiple Airports, One ETA

Croatia has three main international airports with UK connections — Zagreb (ZAG), Split (SPU) and Dubrovnik (DBV). Split and Dubrovnik operate primarily as summer seasonal routes, with the Dubrovnik–London service among the most popular summer city pairs for British tourists returning home. Croatian nationals departing from any of these airports for the UK need a valid ETA — the check occurs at departure, not arrival. A single ETA covers travel from any Croatian airport during its 2-year validity.

The Dubrovnik Effect: Reverse Tourism

Dubrovnik’s extraordinary growth as a tourism destination — partly fuelled by its fame as a Game of Thrones filming location — has created a unique pattern of Croatian tourism professionals, hospitality workers, and travel industry employees who travel to the UK for trade events and training. Many of these are young professionals making their first UK visit under the ETA regime. Our occupation and work status guide clarifies what activities are and are not permitted under a UK ETA visitor permission.

5. Poland — UK ETA Guide

Poland and the UK: The Largest Eastern European Diaspora

No country in this guide has a deeper, more complex relationship with the United Kingdom than Poland. Since Poland joined the EU in 2004, an estimated 700,000 to over one million Polish nationals have settled in Britain — making Polish the second most widely spoken language in England and Wales after English. Polish communities exist in virtually every British city, from London and Birmingham to Manchester, Glasgow and rural Lincolnshire. The result is an extraordinarily high volume of family visit travel between Poland and the UK, in addition to business, tourism and student travel.

For Polish Residents in the UK Returning to Poland

Polish nationals who are resident in the UK (with Settled Status, Pre-Settled Status, or a valid visa) and who travel back to Poland to visit family are subject to the ETA requirement when they return to the UK. If you are a Polish national resident in the UK, your ETA applies to your Polish passport — even if you have UK Settled Status. You need to apply for an ETA on your Polish passport before any international trip back to Britain from abroad. Our full eligibility guide covers this exact scenario in detail.

Frequent Travellers: The 2-Year Advantage

For Polish nationals travelling between Poland and the UK multiple times per year — to visit family, for business, or both — the ETA’s 2-year multi-entry validity is transformative. Rather than managing per-trip documentation, a single ETA application covers every UK trip for two years. Given that some Polish families make four to six UK trips per year, this represents a significant reduction in administrative burden at a total cost of £20 plus our handling fee across the entire two-year period.

Polish ID Cards: Not Valid for UK Entry

Polish nationals previously entered the UK using their dowód osobisty (national ID card). This is no longer possible post-Brexit. A valid Polish biometric passport (paszport biometryczny) is required. The ETA is linked to the passport number. Polish passport renewals are processed through the local voivodeship offices (urzędy wojewódzkie) or consulates abroad — typical processing time is 30 days, with express options in some locations.

6. Hungary — UK ETA Guide

Hungary’s Unique Position: Wizz Air and the Low-Cost Revolution

Budapest is the home base of Wizz Air, one of Europe’s largest ultra-low-cost carriers, which operates some of the most heavily discounted Budapest–London routes on the market. This has made air travel between Hungary and the UK accessible to a far broader demographic than ever before — students, young professionals, and leisure travellers who previously might not have considered a UK trip can now fly for well under €50. The ETA adds a modest one-time cost (£20 plus our handling fee) to this picture, but does not fundamentally change the economics of Hungary–UK travel.

Budapest: A Major Short-Break Destination with UK Links

Budapest has become one of Europe’s premier short-break destinations for British tourists — the city’s thermal baths, ruin bars, fine dining and spectacular architecture draw enormous numbers of UK visitors. This creates a travel relationship where Hungarian aviation infrastructure is heavily optimised for UK–Hungary traffic. Hungarian nationals benefit from the same flight network for their UK-bound trips, with competitive pricing in both directions.

Hungarian Passport Holders with Dual Nationality

Hungary extends citizenship to ethnic Hungarians in neighbouring countries — Romania’s Transylvania region, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine all have significant Hungarian-minority populations who may hold Hungarian passports. These dual nationals travelling to the UK on their Hungarian passport are ETA-eligible and should apply for an ETA on their Hungarian travel document. This is a common scenario for ethnic Hungarians from Romania in particular, who may hold both Romanian and Hungarian EU passports.

7. Romania — UK ETA Guide

Romania and the UK: A Profound Diaspora Story

Romania has one of the largest diaspora communities in the United Kingdom of any Eastern European nation — estimates range from 400,000 to over 600,000 Romanian nationals resident in Britain, concentrated in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Coventry and agricultural areas across East Anglia and the East Midlands. The volume of family-visit travel between Romania and the UK is extraordinary: Wizz Air’s Bucharest–London Luton route is one of the busiest in Europe by passenger numbers, and multiple Romanian cities have direct UK connections.

The Romanian Passport vs ID Card Question

This is one of the most common sources of confusion for Romanian travellers to the UK. Under EU free movement rules (which no longer apply to the UK), Romanian nationals could use their carte de identitate (ID card) to enter the UK. This ended with Brexit. Romanian nationals must travel on a valid Romanian biometric passport. The ETA is applied to your passport number — it cannot be issued to an ID card. Romanian passport renewals are processed through the Directia de Evidenta a Persoanelor (local passport offices) — current waiting times vary by location; check early if your passport is due for renewal.

Schengen Entry vs UK Entry: Understanding the Difference

Romania joined the Schengen Area’s air and sea borders fully in March 2024 (land borders from January 2025). This means Romanian nationals can now travel freely throughout the Schengen zone without border checks. The United Kingdom is not part of Schengen — it has its own separate immigration system. A Romanian national who can travel freely across Europe in the Schengen zone still needs a UK ETA to enter Britain. These are entirely separate systems. Your Schengen travel history, Schengen visa, or Schengen residence permit does not confer any UK entry entitlement.

Visiting Family: The Dominant Travel Reason

For a very large proportion of Romanian nationals travelling to the UK, the primary purpose is visiting family members resident in Britain. Many of these visitors are parents, grandparents, or siblings of Romanian workers who settled in the UK. Our senior citizens guide addresses the specific situation of older Romanian visitors — particularly those who are less comfortable with digital applications — in detail. Our families guide covers children travelling to visit a parent or sibling resident in the UK.

8. Bulgaria — UK ETA Guide

Bulgaria and the UK: Community, Seasonality and the Black Sea Connection

Bulgaria’s relationship with the UK travel market is dual-directional in an interesting way. British tourists are significant visitors to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast (Sunny Beach, Golden Sands) and ski resorts (Bansko, Borovets) — making Bulgaria one of the most British-tourist-saturated destinations in Eastern Europe. In the other direction, a significant Bulgarian community has settled in the UK since EU accession in 2007, with concentrations in London, Coventry and the East Midlands. Bulgarian seasonal workers in agriculture and hospitality also represent a significant travel segment.

Bulgarian Passport vs ID Card

As with other Eastern European EU nationalities, Bulgarian ID cards (лична карта / lichna karta) are not accepted for UK entry. A valid Bulgarian biometric passport is required for the ETA application and for travel. Bulgarian passport renewal through the Ministry of Interior (MWR) typically takes around 30 days — with accelerated processing available. For Bulgarians resident in the UK, renewals can be processed through the Bulgarian Embassy in London.

Seasonal and Agricultural Workers

Bulgaria is a significant source country for seasonal agricultural and hospitality workers in the UK. If you are travelling to the UK to work — as opposed to visiting as a tourist or for family reasons — the ETA alone may not be sufficient. Working in the UK under an ETA visitor permission is not permitted. Our work and occupation status guide explains the distinction between visitor activities (permissible under ETA) and employment (which requires a separate work permission). Always clarify your intended activities before applying for the wrong type of authorisation.

9. Greece — UK ETA Guide

Greece and the UK: One of Europe’s Oldest Travel Relationships

The connection between Greece and Britain runs deeper than almost any other EU bilateral relationship. The Athens–London route has been operated continuously since the early jet age, making it one of Europe’s oldest surviving international city-pair services. The UK has one of the world’s largest Greek diaspora communities — a presence rooted in migration waves of the 1950s, 1960s and beyond, with subsequent generations forming a substantial part of British society in cities including London, Birmingham and Manchester.

The Island Airports: Summer Connections

Greece’s extraordinary geography — dozens of inhabited islands, each with its own airport — creates a unique situation for ETA applicants. Greek nationals departing for the UK from island airports (Heraklion, Rhodes, Corfu, Santorini, Kos, Mykonos, Zakynthos and others) need a valid ETA before boarding at the island departure airport. This is a practical point that can catch Greek island residents off guard — the ETA check occurs at your point of departure, not at the UK border. Apply well in advance, particularly if you are a Greek national resident on an island and planning a UK trip.

Greek Students and Academics in the UK

Greece has historically sent a very high proportion of its university-educated population to study in the United Kingdom — British universities have long been among the most popular destinations for Greek students. The ETA does not cover extended study (that requires a Student Visa), but for Greek students returning home on university holidays, or Greek academics attending short UK conferences, the ETA is the correct permission. Our occupation status guide clarifies the distinction between study (visa required for full programmes) and short educational visits (permissible under ETA).

The Financial Crisis Generation and the UK Connection

The 2010–2018 Greek financial crisis prompted significant migration to the United Kingdom, with tens of thousands of Greek professionals relocating to Britain during this period. This created a second wave of Greek community in the UK alongside the longer-established diaspora. Many of these more recently arrived Greek residents in the UK are now established in British professional life — and maintain strong travel connections back to Greece to visit family. Greek nationals with UK Settled or Pre-Settled Status still need an ETA on their Greek passport for travel purposes.

10. National ID Cards: Can I Use Mine to Enter the UK?

This is the single most important practical question for travellers from all seven countries covered in this guide. The answer is the same for all of them: No.

Before Brexit, EU citizens including those from Eastern Europe could enter the United Kingdom using a national identity card. This right ended with Brexit and has not been reinstated. The UK is no longer bound by EU free movement rules and does not recognise national ID cards as valid travel documents for entry purposes. Every traveller from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece must present a valid biometric passport to enter the UK — and that passport is the document your ETA will be linked to.

If your passport has expired and you need to travel to the UK, you must renew your passport before applying for an ETA. Your ETA application requires a valid passport number, and an expired passport number cannot be used. Allow adequate time for passport renewal in your country — processing times vary but typically run 3 to 6 weeks for standard processing, with express options available in most countries covered in this guide.

11. Diaspora Communities: Visiting Family in the UK

For the large Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian and Greek diaspora communities in the UK, one of the most important use cases for the ETA is family visit travel — parents, siblings, grandparents and other relatives coming from their home countries to visit those who have settled in Britain. This section addresses the specific practical questions that arise in this context.

For older family members — parents or grandparents of UK residents who may be visiting Britain for the first time under the new ETA regime — the application process may feel unfamiliar. Our senior citizens guide provides gentle step-by-step guidance and our Dedicated Agent service can complete the application entirely on their behalf. The most common pitfall for older applicants is the photograph — our expert review checks photo compliance before submission and requests a new image if needed, eliminating the most common rejection cause.

12. Transit Through UK Airports

Many travellers from Eastern and Southern Europe transit through UK airports — particularly Heathrow and Gatwick — on their way to destinations in North America, the Caribbean and beyond. The ETA requirement applies to transit passengers from all seven countries covered in this guide.

Nationals of all seven Eastern European countries covered here are not on the Airside Transit Visa (DATV) required list — meaning they do not need a separate transit visa for airside connections. However, they still need a valid UK ETA. Our dedicated Heathrow transit guide explains every scenario in detail, including what happens if your connecting flight is on a separate booking and you need to collect your luggage.

13. Students and Young Travellers

Eastern European nations send significant numbers of students and young people to the United Kingdom — for short language courses, exchange programmes, university visits, gap year travel, and cultural tourism. The ETA covers most of these scenarios, but the distinction between visitor-status study and long-term study is important to understand.

For young travellers making their first UK trip — whether for tourism, a language course, or to visit a sibling at university — the ETA is the right document. Our guide for minors covers the application process for travellers under 18, including unaccompanied minors and those travelling on school trips. Every young traveller, regardless of age, needs their own ETA on their own passport.

14. How to Apply: Step by Step

The process is entirely online. No embassy, no appointment, no paper form. Here is exactly what you need, step by step.

If your ETA is refused — which affects fewer than 1% of applicants from the seven countries in this guide — our refusal guide explains what the possible reasons are and what you can do next. Note that there is no right of appeal against an ETA refusal — applicants who are refused must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa instead if they wish to travel to the UK.

15. Frequently Asked Questions