Applying for an ETA? Verify the seller!
If you live in the Netherlands and travel to or through the United Kingdom, you will need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) since 2 April 2025. Below, you can read when you need this ETA and what to watch out for when applying.
When do I need an ETA?
You need an ETA if you stay in the UK for less than six months and have a Dutch passport. You also need an ETA if you are only changing planes in the UK and must go through passport control to board your connecting flight.
What should I watch out for when applying for an ETA?
It’s best to apply for your ETA through the official UK government website. The cost is about £16. This way, you won’t pay more than necessary and will get a response within 3 working days. If you haven’t heard anything after 3 working days, first check your spam folder. If you still can’t find anything, contact the UK government.
What if I applied for the ETA somewhere else?
Other companies or organisations also offer to apply for your ETA. Make sure you do this through a reliable channel. Some online sellers charge very high fees. There are also websites that take your money but never send you an ETA.
I got my ETA but paid a lot more
Some companies offer to apply for your ETA on your behalf. They often charge more than the official fee. That’s allowed as long as they clearly told you the price beforehand. If you received your ETA from them and knew the cost in advance, you cannot claim a refund of the difference with the official fee. The European Consumer Centre (ECC) cannot help you get your money back in this case.
If the company did not inform you properly about the price before you applied, and you made the application via a company in another EU country, Norway, Iceland, or the UK, the ECC might be able to help. In this case, please contact us via our complaints form.
I paid but haven’t heard about my ETA application
If you paid and haven’t had a reply after 3 working days, first contact the company you applied through. If you get no response at all, you can check with the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) department of the UK government to see if your application was submitted. If it wasn’t, you may have been scammed.
Unfortunately, the ECC cannot assist with scams as there is no cooperation from the seller. You can report this to the Fraud Helpdesk (please note that their website is in Dutch) or the Dutch police.
Getting your money back after credit card payment
If you were scammed and paid by credit card, you can ask your credit card company for a refund through a chargeback. On our page about credit card payments, you can read how this works.
Want to know more?
You can find more information about applying for an ETA on the official UK government website.