Germany to United Kingdom visa requirements

German citizens do not need a visa for short UK visits, but they must hold a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. Mandatory carrier enforcement has applied since 25 February 2026. The ETA costs £20, is valid for 2 years (multiple entries), and permits stays of up to 6 months per visit. A German ordinary passport holder traveling to the United Kingdom for tourism is visa-exempt but must hold a valid UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The ETA scheme became available to EU nationals, including Germans, on 5 March 2025 for the European rollout, and the German Federal Foreign Office and GOV.UK now state that mandatory digital-permission enforcement applies from 25 February 2026: travellers who need an ETA but do not have one can be denied boarding or refused travel. The ETA is applied for online via the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK, costs £20, and most applicants receive an automatic decision quickly (the Home Office advises allowing up to 3 working days). Once granted, the ETA is digitally linked to the passport, is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires (whichever comes first), allows multiple journeys, and each stay can be up to 6 months. The ETA is a travel authorisation, not a visa, and does not by itself guarantee entry – a UK Border Force officer makes the final decision. German citizens who also hold British or Irish citizenship should travel on that passport and do not need an ETA. Landside airport transit requires an ETA, while airside transit without passing through UK border control is exempt; check routing with the airline. Only the official GOV.UK channel or UK ETA app should be used to avoid overpriced third-party agents.