Day 10: London in winter – passport, ETA and phone costs

Vanessa is a fictional character created by Reiseblase. Her stories are made up – we check facts, rules and advice against official sources.

Yesterday a customer came into the office – in her mid-twenties, with a broad grin – and said: “Vanessa, we’re flying to London in December – the lights, the Christmas markets, a musical!” I was really happy for her. Then I asked: “Have you got your ETA yet?” A big question mark.

For many of you, London is the classic winter break: a short flight, plenty to do, and the rain is part of it anyway. But since Brexit, a trip to the UK is no longer an EU trip. That’s exactly where a lot of people are tripping up at the moment.

Today I’ll tell you what my customers have experienced over the last few weeks – and what you really should sort out before your flight.

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A young couple wanted to fly with their identity cards, just like on any city break within the EU. Only one of them had a passport. Fortunately they noticed six weeks before departure rather than at the check-in desk.

One customer had applied for his ETA via a website he’d found through a search engine. He paid considerably more than necessary. You’ll find the official fee in my checklist below.

And one customer came back from her weekend away and showed me her phone bill. She’d used map apps and watched videos without a second thought, just as she had last summer in Spain. She didn’t know that the UK isn’t automatically included.

My checklist for London and the UK

  • Passport, not ID card: For German nationals, the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) lists the passport and the child passport as entry documents. An identity card is not accepted, except for Gibraltar. A temporary passport is only enough together with an ETA. (1)
  • Apply for your ETA in good time: Germans need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter. Since February 2026, airlines and other carriers are no longer allowed to carry travellers without a valid ETA. The German Federal Foreign Office recommends applying at least three days before you travel. (1)
  • Official channels only: You apply via the official ETA app or online at GOV.UK. An ETA costs £20. Some other websites charge more, and according to the German Federal Foreign Office, outside agencies are not needed. (1) (2)
  • Know how long it’s valid: The ETA is valid for any number of trips of up to 180 days each – for two years or until the passport you used to apply expires, whichever comes first. So check before every trip that your ETA is still valid. (1)
  • Changing planes in London: Even if you’re only transferring, you need an ETA if you go through border control. If you don’t leave the airport’s transit area, you are exempt. (1) (2)
  • Pack your health insurance card: With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you are entitled to medically necessary treatment on the NHS during a temporary stay. The German Federal Foreign Office also recommends travel health insurance with repatriation cover. (1)
  • No sausage or cheese in your luggage: Since April 2025, beef, sheep, goat and pork meat and dairy products from EU countries may no longer be brought in for personal use. Pepper spray is also banned. (1)
  • Hold on to your phone: The German Federal Foreign Office warns of pickpockets in big cities and of cyclists snatching phones out of people’s hands. Use your phone as discreetly as possible when you’re out and make a note of its IMEI number beforehand. (1)
  • Check roaming costs in advance: The EU’s ‘Roam like at home’ rule applies in the EU, in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and in Moldova and Ukraine. Other countries are not covered. Before you travel, ask your provider about charges for the UK. (3)

If you need mobile data while you’re away and want to look at alternatives to roaming, you’ll find an overview in our guide: eSIM on holiday (Advertisement).

By the way, my customer from the beginning applied for her ETA in the official app that same evening. Do as she did: check your passports today, apply for your ETA only through the official channel and sort out your roaming costs. Then you’ll have more time in London for the lights, the markets and a hot cup of tea while it drizzles outside.

See you tomorrow,
Vanessa

Please note: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Rules can change – please check the latest official information before you travel.

Sources

  1. Auswärtiges Amt: Vereinigtes Königreich: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (as of 20 Oct 2026, unchanged since 3 Jul 2026; accessed 20 Oct 2026)
  2. GOV.UK: Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK (as of 28 May 2025; accessed 20 Oct 2026)
  3. Your Europe: Roaming: what you pay to use your smartphone in another EU country (as of 7 Jan 2026; accessed 20 Oct 2026)

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