Every American child heading to Britain must hold their own UK ETA, and parents are often surprised by how the age rules work. There is no minimum age: newborns and infants qualify just as much as teenagers. If you know the age limit, who applies and how the process works for minors in 2026, your family can avoid last-minute trouble at check-in or at the British border.
TL;DR: No minimum age applies — every traveler, infants included, must hold an authorization tied to their own passport. For anyone under 18, a parent or guardian completes the application on their behalf. The ETA costs £20 per person and is valid for 2 years. Applications take up to 3 working days.
| UK ETA Age Rules | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum age for UK ETA | None — newborns and infants need an ETA |
| Maximum age | None — applies to all ages including seniors |
| Who applies for a child | Parent or legal guardian completes the application |
| Child’s passport required? | Yes — each child needs their own passport and ETA |
| ETA validity for children | 2 years or until passport expires (whichever is sooner) |
| Cost per child | £20 |
This guide answers every question American families have about age requirements for the scheme — from infants on their first passport to teenagers traveling independently. For a complete application overview, see the complete UK ETA guide for US citizens.
What Is the UK ETA Age Limit in 2026?
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation carries no minimum or maximum age. Every person — regardless of age — who is not a British or Irish citizen and comes from an ETA-required country must hold a valid authorization to enter the UK.
This means:
- A 2-week-old infant flying to the UK with American parents needs their own ETA
- A 5-year-old on their first trip to London needs an ETA
- A 17-year-old on a school trip needs an ETA
- A 75-year-old grandparent needs an ETA just like their adult children
Each authorization is tied to a specific passport. Children who hold a US passport — and every child needs one for international travel, even infants — must have an ETA bound to that passport number. No “family ETA” exists, and you cannot add a child to a parent’s application.
Short-stay visitor exemptions do not reach children from ETA-required countries. An American child is in the same category as an American adult for ETA purposes.
Pro tip: US passports for children under 16 are valid for only 5 years (versus 10 years for adults). When you apply on your child’s behalf, the authorization stays valid for 2 years from the approval date OR until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If that passport runs out in 14 months, the ETA lapses at the same moment. Before booking, always compare the ETA’s validity with the expiry date of the passport your child will travel on. See UK ETA for children for more detail.
How Do You Apply for a UK ETA for a Child?
A parent or legal guardian completes the UK ETA application on behalf of a child under 18. The process is nearly identical to an adult application, but you complete it on their behalf using their passport details.
Key points for child ETA applications:
- You apply via the official gov.uk ETA portal
- Enter the name exactly as it appears on the youngster’s US passport
- Use the passport number from that document — never the parent’s
- Add the date of birth
- The suitability questions (criminal history, etc.) will be answered as “No” for most children
- The application fee (£20) must be paid per child
- The approval email goes to the address entered — use the parent’s contact email
There is no requirement to submit a separate consent letter for minor travelers when applying for the ETA itself. However, if a child is traveling with only one parent or without both, Border Force officers may ask about your relationship to the child, typically when the accompanying adult has a different surname, so it’s wise to carry a signed letter from the absent parent giving consent and their contact details. This is separate from the ETA requirement. See UK ETA family travel guide for more on single-parent and grandparent travel.
Step-by-Step Application Process for Your Child
- Ensure your child has a valid US passport before applying. Children under 16 need passports valid for 5 years; children 16+ can get a 10-year passport.
- Go to gov.uk/apply-uk-eta and start a new application — select that you are applying on behalf of another person.
- Enter your child’s passport details — name, date of birth, passport number, expiry date, nationality.
- Answer the suitability questions for your child. For most children, all answers will be “No.”
- Enter a parent/guardian contact email for the approval notification.
- Pay the £20 fee per child. Credit and debit cards accepted.
- Wait for a decision — most applicants get a decision within one working day, but it can take up to three working days.
- Save the approval email — your child’s ETA is electronically linked to their passport, but keeping the confirmation is good practice.
Can a Teenager Apply for Their Own UK ETA?
Technically, anyone can complete the application — no age check stops a 16 or 17-year-old from filling out their own. However, the UK Home Office’s guidance notes that applications for minors should be completed by a parent or guardian.
For practical purposes:
- Teenagers applying for college trips or independent travel can have a parent complete the application on their behalf
- The ETA approval is linked to the passport — not to any account — so the teen just needs to travel with their approved passport
- A 17-year-old can travel alone on a valid ETA, since the ETA itself does not require an accompanying adult. An ETA does not guarantee entry, though; Border Force makes the final decision
- Border officers may question teenagers traveling alone, but that is standard entry procedure, not an ETA issue
ETAs for Infants and Newborns
This surprises many American parents: newborns added to a parent’s passport under old rules (now discontinued) needed separate treatment, but all US passports are now individual documents — including those issued to infants. A newborn who holds a US passport needs an authorization before flying.
The ETA application for an infant is completed entirely by the parent. You enter the infant’s name and passport number, answer the suitability questions (all “No”), pay £20, and receive approval. The approval is electronic — no document to print. At the UK border, the infant’s passport is scanned; the ETA is checked electronically against Home Office records linked to that passport.
| Traveler Age Group | ETA Required? | Who Applies? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn/infant | Yes | Parent/guardian | Needs own US passport and ETA |
| Child (2–12) | Yes | Parent/guardian | Standard ETA application process |
| Teenager (13–17) | Yes | Parent/guardian recommended | May travel alone on ETA once approved |
| Adult (18+) | Yes | Self | Standard application |
| Senior (65+) | Yes | Self or with help | Same process as all adults |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my baby need a UK ETA?
Yes. All US citizens, including infants and newborns, need a UK ETA to enter the country. There is no minimum age. Apply for your baby’s authorization using their passport details before booking flights.
Can I put my child on my UK ETA?
No. Each traveler needs an individual authorization bound to their own passport. No family ETA exists, and you cannot add dependents to your application.
How long is a child’s UK ETA valid?
A child’s UK ETA is valid for 2 years from the approval date, or until the passport it is linked to expires — whichever is earlier. US passports for children under 16 are only valid for 5 years, so the ETA will expire before the passport in many cases.
What if my child gets a new passport before the ETA expires?
Each ETA is linked to a specific passport number. If your child gets a new passport (after turning 16, or because the old one was lost or damaged), you must apply for a new ETA linked to the new passport, and the old ETA becomes invalid. See ETA and passport renewal for the process.
Can my child travel to the UK without me on an ETA?
Yes — an approved authorization does not require an accompanying adult. A teenager carrying their own US passport and ETA can fly to Britain solo. Border officers may question unaccompanied minors, and while a valid ETA and a clear travel purpose usually make entry straightforward, an ETA does not guarantee entry — Border Force makes the final decision.
Do I need a consent letter for my child to travel to the UK?
The UK does not have a formal consent letter requirement for children entering as visitors. However, if a child is traveling with one parent or without parents (e.g., with grandparents), having a signed consent letter from absent parents is strongly recommended. Border Force officers have discretion to question a child’s travel circumstances.
How much does a UK ETA cost for a child?
£20 per person, the same as adults. There is no child discount or family rate. A family of two adults and two children will pay £80 total for four ETAs.
For American families, the rules on minors and age limits are simple once you know them: everyone needs their own ETA whatever their age, parents apply for their children, and the £20 fee is the same for all. Apply for every family member at gov.uk/apply-uk-eta well before your travel date. For more family travel guidance, see our UK ETA family travel guide and UK ETA for children.