If you are planning a trip to the UK, there is one step you need to complete before you book your flights: applying for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). As of 25 February 2026, this is mandatory for all Malaysian passport holders, even though Malaysia remains on the UK's visa-free list. The ETA is not a visa, but you cannot board without one.
What is the UK ETA
The ETA is a digital pre-travel permission, electronically linked to your passport. There is no physical document — no sticker, no stamp. Once approved, it is stored against your passport number and checked automatically when you travel. You can use it for tourism, visiting family or friends, short business trips, transit through the UK (if you pass through passport control), and courses of study under six months.
One ETA covers multiple trips to the UK. It is valid for two years from the date of approval, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. Each individual stay can be up to six months. Renew your passport before your ETA expires and you will need to apply again, even if the two-year window has not closed.
What it costs
The current fee is £20 per person, raised from £16 on 8 April 2026. Every traveller — including children and infants — needs their own ETA at the same cost. There are no family discounts. The fee is non-refundable regardless of whether your application is approved or refused.
A word of caution: a number of third-party websites advertise ETA application services and charge considerably more than the official fee. The UK government does not operate through any of these. Apply only through the official UK ETA app (available on iOS and Android) or directly at gov.uk/eta. Any site charging above £20 is adding a service mark-up — whether that is worth it for the convenience is your call, but know what you are paying for.
How to apply
The application is done entirely online. You will need your passport (the same one you will travel with), an email address, a digital photo of your face, and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Most applications receive an automatic decision within minutes. The Home Office advises applying at least three working days before you travel to allow time for any cases that need additional review.
Through the app, you will scan your passport and your face using your phone's camera, answer a short set of questions about your travel history and background, and pay the £20 fee. Confirmation arrives by email. There is no certificate to print — the approval is digital and checked by airlines at check-in.
Transit — a detail worth knowing
Whether you need an ETA for a transit stop depends on whether you pass through UK passport control. If you are transiting through Heathrow or Manchester on a connecting flight and do not leave the international transit zone, you do not currently need an ETA. If your transit involves passing through passport control — for example, to collect and re-check luggage — you do need one. When in doubt, apply.
If your application is rejected
The ETA scheme runs at a very high approval rate — the Home Office reports 99.6% of applications are approved. If yours is refused, you will be told the reason. At that point, you would need to apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa, which involves a more detailed application, a biometric appointment at a VFS Global centre in Malaysia, a higher fee (£115 as of June 2026), and a processing wait of approximately three weeks. Plan early if there is any complexity in your travel history.
What the ETA does not change
The UK remains visa-free for Malaysian passport holders for stays under six months. An approved ETA is a pre-clearance step, not a guarantee of entry — the UK Border Force can still question you on arrival, and it helps to carry your return or onward ticket. Nothing about the UK itself has changed: London, Edinburgh, the Cotswolds and the Lake District are as worth the trip as they have always been.
The ETA is one extra step before a trip that is still straightforward for Malaysians to make. Sort it early — ideally the moment you confirm your flights — and it will not cost you a second thought on travel day.
If you are planning a UK trip and want help with the full itinerary — flights, hotels, and ground arrangements — enquire at nextrip.my.