UK ETA for Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Baltic States, Chile, Costa Rica & Panama 2026 — Complete Guide

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

This guide covers the remaining large and mid-sized ETA-eligible nations not addressed in our previous regional guides. It spans Western and Central European EU members — Germany (1.3 million ETAs by June 2025, the second highest globally), France (922,793 ETAs, third globally), the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland — the three Baltic EU states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), two smaller Central European EU members (Slovakia, Slovenia), and three Latin American nations with ETA eligibility: Chile, Costa Rica and Panama.

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

2. Germany — UK ETA Guide

Germany: The Second-Largest ETA Nation in the World

Germany’s 1.3 million ETAs by June 2025 make it the second-largest source nation globally — reflecting both the sheer size of German outbound travel and the extraordinary density of the Germany-UK bilateral relationship. Germany and the UK are each other’s largest EU trading partners, German automotive manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen) maintain major UK presences, and London hosts one of Europe’s largest German expatriate communities.

The German Personalausweis: Most Important Practical Point

German nationals previously entered the UK on their Personalausweis (national identity card). This is no longer possible. A valid German biometric Reisepass is required. This is covered in full detail — including what to do if your Reisepass has expired — in our dedicated German citizens ETA guide. German passport renewal (Reisepassantrag) is processed through local Bürgerämter — current waiting times vary by city, with express processing available.

Germany-UK: Finance, Automotive and Culture

The Germany-UK relationship is one of Europe’s most substantive business partnerships. Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Allianz, and hundreds of German Mittelstand companies maintain London operations. The UK’s German community — concentrated in London, particularly in South Kensington and around the German School (Deutsche Schule London) — travels regularly between the two countries. Cultural tourism in both directions is strong: German visitors are disproportionately represented at the Edinburgh Fringe, the Proms and London’s museum circuit.

3. France — UK ETA Guide

France: The Third-Largest ETA Nation and the Eurostar Dimension

France’s 922,793 ETAs by June 2025 reflects one of the world’s most intensely travelled bilateral corridors — the France-UK connection is extraordinary in volume, diversity of purpose, and geographic proximity. Paris is approximately 2 hours 15 minutes from London by Eurostar — faster than many domestic UK rail journeys — making the UK a genuine weekend trip for Parisians and a commutable business destination for professionals. The ETA must be valid before boarding Eurostar at Paris Gare du Nord or Lille — not at the UK border in St Pancras.

The French Carte d’Identité: Critical Warning

French nationals previously entered the UK on their Carte Nationale d’Identité (CNI). This is no longer possible. Only a valid French biometric passeport is accepted for UK entry. The CNI remains valid for travel across the Schengen zone but not for the UK. Full details — including what to do if your passeport has expired and you need to renew it before a UK trip — are in our dedicated French citizens ETA guide.

London: France’s Seventh-Largest City?

The French community in London is one of the most visible of any European nationality — a long-standing joke (with considerable truth) is that London is “France’s seventh-largest city.” French nationals in London work across every sector: finance (Société Générale, BNP Paribas, AXA all have major UK operations), technology, hospitality, academia, medicine and the creative industries. The French community travels regularly between London and France — family visits, holiday returns and professional trips — making the ETA a constant practical concern for this community. Every return to the UK from France requires a valid ETA on the French passport.

4. Netherlands — UK ETA Guide

The Netherlands and the UK: A North Sea Partnership

The Netherlands and the UK share the North Sea, extensive trade history (the Dutch East India Company pre-dates the British equivalent), and one of Europe’s most integrated bilateral economic relationships. Amsterdam Schiphol and London Heathrow together form one of the world’s busiest aviation city-pair combinations. The Netherlands is also uniquely served by the Eurostar service (Amsterdam Centraal to London St Pancras) and the Hook of Holland–Harwich Stena Line ferry — meaning Dutch travellers have three mode options for reaching the UK, all of which require a valid ETA before departure.

Ferry Travel: The Stena Line Hook–Harwich Route

The Stena Line overnight ferry from Hook of Holland to Harwich is a significant UK-Netherlands connection — popular with travellers who prefer sea crossings, those travelling with vehicles, and those who enjoy the relaxed overnight crossing rather than the intensity of an airport. Dutch nationals boarding the Hook of Holland ferry need a valid UK ETA before check-in at the Dutch port. The ETA check occurs on the Dutch side, not at Harwich on arrival.

5. Chile — UK ETA Guide

Chile and the UK: Copper, Wine and Political Exile History

Chile’s relationship with the United Kingdom carries a distinctive historical weight. Following the 1973 military coup against President Salvador Allende — in which British government policy played a complex role — thousands of Chilean political exiles arrived in the UK, establishing a community primarily in London that shaped Chilean-UK relations for decades. Today that community is well-integrated into British society, and Chile’s bilateral relationship with the UK has normalised and deepened around trade (Chile is a major copper and lithium exporter; the UK is a significant investor in Chilean mining), wine (Chilean wines are widely distributed in UK supermarkets), and academic exchange.

Chile’s ESTA-Eligible Status for US Transit

Unlike most Latin American nations, Chile is one of the few countries eligible for the US ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). This means Chilean nationals can transit through US airports without a US B visa — making routings like Santiago–Miami–London straightforward. Combined with Chile’s UK ETA eligibility, Chilean passport holders have unusually frictionless access to multiple travel corridors. For the UK leg, the ETA is still required regardless of US ESTA status — the two systems are entirely independent.

6. Belgium — UK ETA Guide

Belgium: Eurostar, EU Institutions and the Belgian-UK Corridor

Belgium occupies a unique position as host of the EU’s primary institutions — the European Commission, European Parliament and European Council are all based in Brussels. This creates a distinctive travel pattern: a constant flow of Belgian and other EU nationals in institutional roles travelling between Brussels and London for political, regulatory and diplomatic meetings. Post-Brexit, this Brussels-London institutional travel has not diminished — if anything, the UK’s departure from the EU has increased the volume of bilateral meetings required to manage the relationship. Belgian nationals — and EU officials of all nationalities — travelling on this corridor need a valid ETA before boarding Eurostar at Brussels-Midi.

Belgium’s Three Communities: Three Travel Markets

Belgium’s linguistic and cultural division — Flemish (Dutch-speaking) Flanders in the north, Wallonia (French-speaking) in the south, and the German-speaking Community in the east — creates three distinct travel markets with different profiles. Flemish Belgian visitors to the UK tend toward cultural tourism (London’s museums, theatre, Scottish highlands). Walloon Belgian visitors often combine UK trips with French-language cultural attractions. German-speaking Belgian nationals may also hold German passports. All travel on Belgian passports for UK ETA purposes — the linguistic community is irrelevant to ETA eligibility.

7. Austria & Switzerland — ETA Guide

8. Costa Rica & Panama — ETA Guide

9. Slovakia & Slovenia — ETA Guide

10. Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania — ETA Guide

11. Luxembourg — ETA Guide

Luxembourg: Europe’s Financial Capital and Its UK Connection

Luxembourg is simultaneously one of the world’s smallest nations by population and one of its most economically significant. As the EU’s primary investment fund domicile — home to more AUM (assets under management) than any other EU jurisdiction — Luxembourg maintains an exceptionally intensive financial relationship with London’s City. Fund managers, private equity professionals, regulatory lawyers and compliance officers travel between Luxembourg and London on a weekly or fortnightly basis. The ETA’s 2-year, unlimited-entry validity is ideally suited to this pattern — one application covers two years of repeated short business visits.

12. National ID Cards: Not Valid for UK Entry

Every EU member state covered in this guide — Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Luxembourg — issued identity cards that previously allowed entry to the UK under EU free movement. None of these ID cards are accepted for UK entry today. Switzerland, though not an EU member, also has an identity card that is not accepted.

13. Diaspora and Settled Status Holders

The Baltic states, Slovakia, Slovenia, France, Germany and the Netherlands all have significant communities of nationals resident in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. The critical rule — identical to all other EU diaspora communities — is that EU Settled Status does not replace the ETA requirement.

14. How to Apply: Step by Step

15. Frequently Asked Questions