Some Countries Now Want Travel Authorization Before You Arrive

South Korea's temporary waiver that lets US citizens skip its K-ETA travel authorization is scheduled to end December 31, 2026, under a Ministry of Justice notice on the K-ETA site, which listed no further extension as of October 10, 2026. Korea would join a list of places that already require US passport holders to get online approval before flying, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and Kenya, while the EU's version, ETIAS, still has no start date. For any trip abroad, that means checking each destination's official page before you book and applying only there, because lookalike sites charge more for the same approval.

Key takeaways

The UK has required an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from US citizens since January 8, 2025, enforced it at check-in from February 25, 2026, and raised the fee from £16 to £20 on April 8, 2026.
The EU's ETIAS is not running yet: the official site says no applications are being collected and the start date will be announced several months ahead. When it launches, it will cost €20, with travelers under 18 or over 70 exempt from the fee.
The EU's separate Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully running since April 10, 2026. It requires no application or fee, but visa-free visitors give four fingerprints and a facial image at the border instead of getting passport stamps.
Canada does not require an eTA from US citizens or from US green card holders with valid status. Sri Lanka still requires an ETA but has issued it free to US citizens since May 25, 2026.
An approval is not a guarantee of entry, and fees are generally non-refundable, so a refusal or an error on the form can cost both money and time.

What it means for you

US citizens going to Europe: nothing to apply for in the Schengen area today. Expect fingerprints and a photo on your first entry under EES, and watch for an ETIAS start date (see the table).
US citizens going to the UK: get the £20 ETA before you fly, including for each child and for connecting flights that pass through UK border control.
Canada visits and transits: US citizens need no eTA. US green card holders are also exempt but must carry proof of US status and a valid passport.
Asia-Pacific trips: Australia and New Zealand require approval now. South Korea's waiver for US citizens is set to end December 31, 2026. Thailand wants a free digital arrival card filed in the three days before arrival.
Dual citizens: if one of your passports belongs to the country you're visiting, you usually can't use an ETA there; travel on that country's passport instead. The FAQ and checklist cover the details.
Families with kids: each traveler, including babies, needs their own UK ETA. ETIAS will be free for under-18s, but they will still need one.
Criminal records or past refusals: the UK and Australia point people with criminal records toward a full visitor visa instead (see "Refusals and lookalike sites").
Cruise passengers: New Zealand requires an NZeTA before the ship departs. Canada's eTA rule applies only to air arrivals.

Visa, ETA or arrival card

These three things get confused, and lookalike sites often take advantage of that.

Visa: a permit you apply for in advance, often with documents, an interview and a longer wait. It's needed for stays or purposes the visa-free rules don't cover, such as work or long study.
Electronic travel authorization (ETA, eTA, ETIAS, NZeTA, K-ETA): a short online pre-screening for nationalities that don't need a visa. It's tied to your passport number, the airline checks it before boarding, and it usually covers many trips over several years. The official ETIAS FAQ states plainly that it is not a visa or a residence permit, and the UK Home Office calls its ETA "a digital permission to travel".
Digital arrival card: a free form with your flight and address, replacing the old paper landing card. Thailand's TDAC is an example. The Royal Thai Embassy notice describes it as "NOT A VISA". It has been required of all non-Thai nationals since May 1, 2025, and should be filed within three days before arrival.

The EU's Entry/Exit System is a fourth category: border registration, not something you apply for. The European Commission set its start for October 12, 2025, with a six-month phase-in. The EES FAQ says it has been fully operational since April 10, 2026, when manual passport stamping ended. Visa-free travelers have four fingerprints and a facial image recorded, and children under 12 are not fingerprinted.

Where US travelers need one now

The table below reflects official pages checked on October 10, 2026. Fees change, so confirm on the official site before paying.

Destination	Name	Official fee	Validity	Apply-by guidance	Official site
United Kingdom	ETA	£20	2 years or until passport expires; stays up to 6 months	Usually within a day; can take up to 3 working days	gov.uk/eta
30 European countries	ETIAS (not yet launched)	€20; free under 18 and over 70	3 years or until passport expires	Most decisions in minutes, within 96 hours; up to 30 more days if documents or an interview are requested	travel-europe.europa.eu/etias
Canada	eTA	Not required for US citizens or US green card holders; CAN$7 for others who need it	Up to 5 years or until passport expires	Air travel only	canada.ca
Australia	ETA (subclass 601)	AUD 20 app service charge	12 months or until passport expires; up to 3 months per visit	Usually immediate; don't make travel arrangements until it's granted	immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
New Zealand	NZeTA	From NZ$17, plus NZ$100 visitor levy (IVL)	2 years; up to 3 months per visit	Allow 72 hours	immigration.govt.nz
South Korea	K-ETA	KRW 10,000 (about US$7–8)	3 years	US citizens are exempt through December 31, 2026; processing generally within 72 hours	k-eta.go.kr
Israel	ETA-IL	25 NIS	Up to 2 years or until passport expires; stays up to 90 days	Answer by email within 72 hours	israel-entry.piba.gov.il
Kenya	eTA	US$30 single entry; US$185 five-year multiple entry for US nationals; US$100 extra for expedited processing	Standard eTA allows one entry	Usually 3 days; apply at least 2 weeks before travel	etakenya.go.ke
Sri Lanka	ETA	Free for US citizens since May 25, 2026	30 days, double entry	Required before arrival	eta.gov.lk
Thailand	TDAC (arrival card)	Free	Each arrival	Within 3 days before arrival	tdac.immigration.go.th

Where the figures that aren't on the linked official site come from:

UK: the Home Office fee table for April 8, 2026 lists the ETA rising from £16 to £20. The start date for US citizens is in the Home Office announcement, and enforcement from February 25, 2026 in the "No permission, no travel" notice.
New Zealand: the levy is on the IVL page, and US eligibility on the Visa Waiver Visitor Visa page, which says USA nationals can travel visa waiver with an NZeTA.
South Korea: the exemption is confirmed in the Korean Embassy's December 29, 2025 notice, and the three-year validity (for applications made after July 3, 2023) in a 2023 consulate notice.
Israel: the fee, validity and timing come from the Israeli Consulate in New York, and the January 1, 2025 start from an Israeli embassy notice.
Kenya: timing is on its general information page, and the extra US$100 for expedited processing in its eTA FAQ.

Coming later: ETIAS and Japan

The official ETIAS page now says only that ETIAS "is currently not in operation" and that the EU will announce the start date several months in advance. It no longer gives a target quarter. According to the EU's ETIAS timeline explainer, the launch will be followed by a transition period of at least six months in which travelers without ETIAS are not turned away, then a grace period in which only first-time entrants are let in without one.

Japan passed a law creating its own system, JESTA, on May 29, 2026. Its Immigration Services Agency says the JESTA provisions take effect on a date to be set by government order, no later than March 31, 2029. Nothing is required for Japan yet.

Illustrative example: a family of four

Two parents and children aged 10 and 15 plan London this spring and, once ETIAS is running, a later trip to Paris.

UK ETA:  4 travelers x £20 = £80   (at the old £16: £64, so £16 more)
ETIAS:   2 adults x €20 = €40; children under 18 pay €0
Lookalike site adding a £40 service fee per application (hypothetical):
         4 x £40 = £160 extra for the UK step alone

Both official approvals last years, not one trip, so the family wouldn't pay the UK fee again for further UK trips within two years unless a passport expires sooner. The bigger avoidable cost is an intermediary's markup, which in this example is twice the official UK fee.

Refusals and lookalike sites

How to spot a lookalike

Governments are warning about this directly. The UK's ETA guide says other websites "may charge more" and that you can't get a faster decision by applying through another website or app. The EU says there are dozens of unofficial ETIAS websites, some using the EU logo and already collecting personal data, even though ETIAS isn't running.

The K-ETA application page warns of agency and phishing sites charging high fees for "expedited" service. Israel's consulate says the real ETA-IL site ends in "gov.il" and costs 25 shekels. Kenya's eTA FAQ says to apply only on its official website or its "Kenya Travel Authorisation" app.

A quick test: compare the price with the table above, and check that the web address ends in the government domain (gov.uk, europa.eu, canada.ca, gov.au, govt.nz, go.kr, gov.il, go.ke, gov.lk, go.th).

If you're refused, or have a record

UK: if your ETA is rejected, you have to apply again. The gov.uk guide suggests that people with a criminal record or a previous UK entry refusal consider a Standard Visitor visa instead.
Australia: anyone with a criminal conviction in any country is told to apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) with evidence, rather than an ETA.
New Zealand: the NZeTA asks character questions. A criminal conviction or a past deportation or removal from any country may mean you don't meet the requirements.
EU (once ETIAS is live): a refusal letter must give reasons and explain the appeal, which is handled by the country that refused. A past refusal doesn't automatically block a new application, and a limited-validity authorization exists for urgent humanitarian trips.

This is general information, not immigration or legal advice. If you have a conviction or a past refusal, ask the destination's embassy or an immigration attorney before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Does renewing my passport cancel my authorization?

Usually, in effect, yes. Canada says a new passport needs a new eTA, and ETIAS and Australia's ETA end when the passport they were issued on expires. Israel requires a new ETA-IL after a new passport or a change of name, gender or citizenship. Apply again on the new passport before your next trip.

Do I need a UK ETA just to change planes?

Only if you pass through UK border control. Staying airside, without going through passport control, doesn't require an ETA. The UK government says to check with your airline if you're unsure.

How long can I stay once approved?

The authorization's validity is not the same as your allowed stay. The UK allows visits of up to six months, Australia up to three months per entry, New Zealand up to three months per visit, and Israel up to 90 days. ETIAS will keep the existing Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period.

Can I apply for my spouse or kids?

Yes. The UK app lets you apply for someone who is with you, and you can apply online for someone who isn't. Each person still gets their own ETA. The ETIAS FAQ allows applications on behalf of others, and Kenya has an "Apply as a Group" option, though each traveler still needs an eTA.

Does an approval guarantee I'll get in?

No. The UK, the EU and Kenya all state that an authorization lets you board but doesn't guarantee entry. Border officers still decide, and they can ask for proof of onward travel, accommodation or funds; New Zealand, for example, may ask visitors to show at least NZ$1,000 a month, or NZ$400 a month if accommodation is already paid for.

Before you book: a checklist

List every country you'll enter, including ones where you'll pass through border control on a connection, and check each one in the table.
Check that your passport will stay valid well past your trip. ETIAS, for example, asks for more than three months beyond departure, and Kenya asks for six.
Apply only on the official site or app, and expect to pay the official fee. If the price is higher, close the page.
Apply before buying non-refundable tickets: ETIAS and Australia both advise it, and Kenya recommends at least two weeks.
Type the passport number exactly. ETIAS warns that mixing up "0" and "O" can get you refused boarding.
Dual citizens visiting the UK: dual British or Irish citizens can't get an ETA. Dual British citizens should carry a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement.
Traveling to South Korea after December 31, 2026: check k-eta.go.kr for an extension shortly before you go. If none has been announced, apply for a K-ETA. Exempt travelers may apply earlier anyway, paying the fee, to skip the arrival card; the fee is non-refundable.