United Kingdom e-Visa for citizens of Germany: online application, fees and processing time 2026

Holders of a passport from Germany need prior permission, the ETA, before any short tourist stay in the United Kingdom. It is not a visa issued by a consulate: the application and the decision are handled online. The ETA allows a stay of up to 6 months and must be granted before boarding, otherwise the carrier may refuse the passenger.

The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.

• Government fee20 GBP

  Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.

• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top

  Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.

We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.

The official fee recorded is 20 GBP. You need a valid passport, the one you will travel with, an email address, a bank card and a recent photo of your face that meets the requirements. Each family member, including children, must have their own ETA. Detailed requirements are on the official British information page.

Open the official UK government portal (GOV.UK) or the official app it points to, then enter your identity, contact details and passport data. The form asks for a photo of the passport identity page, a photo of your face and answers to eligibility questions. Payment is made online at the end of the application. Beware of sites that imitate the portal: they add unofficial service fees.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Germany but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

The recorded processing time is 3 business days; an additional check can extend it. Apply as soon as the trip is decided, then check the answer sent by email. If you get a new passport, a new authorisation is needed before your next trip. Keep a copy of the confirmation with your travel documents in case the airline asks for it.

Travelling with an identity card instead of the passport linked to the ETA can lead to boarding being refused. Other pitfalls: paying an intermediary that resells the service above 20 GBP, swapping digits in the passport number, or assuming the ETA covers any kind of stay when it allows a stay of up to 6 months. For purposes other than tourism, check the official page.