What is a UK ETA?
A UK ETA is an electronic travel authorisation linked digitally to the passport used in the application. It allows an eligible traveller to travel to the United Kingdom, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for permitted short visits or, in some cases, transit.
An ETA is not the same as a visa. It is intended for travellers from ETA-eligible nationalities who do not normally need a visitor visa for their planned trip. Travellers from nationalities that require a visa cannot use an ETA instead of the appropriate visa.
Who needs a UK ETA?
Most visitors need either an ETA or a visa before travelling. Whether an ETA is the correct formality depends mainly on the nationality shown in the passport you will use and the reason for your trip.
- US passport holders: for an eligible short visit, such as tourism, visiting relatives, a business trip or short-term study, a UK ETA is normally required before travel unless an exemption applies.
- Canadian passport holders: for an eligible short visit or landside transit through a UK airport, a UK ETA is normally required unless the traveller has an exemption or separate UK immigration permission.
- Australian and New Zealand passport holders: these passports are ETA-eligible, so a UK ETA is normally required for an eligible short trip unless an exemption applies.
- Other passports: some nationalities can apply for an ETA, while others must obtain a visa instead. Check the requirement for the passport you will actually use.
You do not normally need an ETA if you are a British or Irish citizen, hold a valid UK visa, or already have permission to live, work or study in the UK. Other exemptions can apply, including for certain people who live in Ireland and enter from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
UK ETA cost
The official UK ETA application fee is £20 per person. The fee is not refundable after you apply, including if the application is refused or you need to submit a new application because details have changed.
Each traveller needs their own ETA and fee. This includes babies and children. A group, family or couple does not receive one shared ETA.
UK ETA processing time: when should you apply?
UK Visas and Immigration says that applicants will usually receive a decision by email within one day, but a decision can take up to 3 working days. You must wait for the email confirming that the ETA has been granted before travelling.
As a practical precaution, apply well before departure and allow the full 3 working days. Do not assume that an application submitted shortly before a flight will be decided in time, and do not treat the application confirmation as an approved ETA.
UK ETA validity and multiple trips
A UK ETA is valid for 2 years, or until the passport linked to it expires, whichever happens first. During its validity, it can normally be used for multiple trips.
Each eligible visit may last up to 6 months, but the ETA does not allow you to live in the UK through frequent or successive visits. It also does not replace a visa where your planned activity or length of stay requires a different immigration route.
UK ETA requirements: what you need before applying
To apply, you need the passport you will travel with, an email address and a way to pay online. You must also provide a passport image and a digital photo of the applicant’s face. The face photo must meet the required standards; an unsuitable photo can delay or prevent a successful application.
- Travel passport: use the passport you intend to present when travelling. The ETA is linked to that passport.
- Email address: the decision and ETA reference number are sent by email.
- Digital photos: prepare a clear passport image and a compliant photo of the applicant’s face.
- Payment method: payment can be made by credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
You must also meet the conditions for the type of travel you plan. An ETA does not remove the need to satisfy UK border officials that you are visiting for a permitted purpose and will comply with the conditions of your stay.
How to apply for a UK ETA
- Confirm that your nationality and trip are suitable for an ETA rather than a visa.
- Apply using the official UK ETA app or the official online application process.
- Provide the required passport and face photos, answer the application questions and pay the fee.
- Wait for the decision email before travelling.
- Travel with the same passport used for the application, as the ETA is linked electronically to it.
You can apply for another person. If that person is with you, an application can be made through the app. If they are not with you, the application must be made online using their passport photo and face photo.
Children and babies
Every traveller who needs an ETA must have their own authorisation, including babies and children. A parent, guardian or another adult can apply on behalf of a child, but the child’s ETA is linked to the child’s own passport.
One important exception applies to a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form: that child does not need an ETA. This is a specific arrangement and should not be assumed to apply to family holidays or other school travel.
What you can and cannot do with a UK ETA
An ETA can support travel for tourism, visiting family or friends, eligible business activities and short-term study, generally for visits of up to 6 months. Certain specific activities may also be permitted under the UK visitor rules, subject to the applicable conditions.
An ETA does not permit ordinary paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, except in the limited situations specifically allowed under the visitor rules. It also cannot be used to stay longer than 6 months, live in the UK through repeated visits, claim public funds, or marry or give notice of marriage or civil partnership.
Practical UK ETA examples
- US visitor taking a one-week holiday in London: a traveller using a US passport normally needs an ETA before travel, provided the visit is eligible and no exemption applies.
- Canadian family visiting relatives for two weeks: each family member, including an infant, normally needs a separate ETA linked to their own passport.
- Australian traveller making several short trips over a year: one ETA can normally cover multiple eligible journeys while it remains valid and the linked passport has not expired.
- New Zealand passport holder changing planes after collecting baggage: collecting baggage or otherwise passing UK border control is landside transit, so an ETA is normally needed if the traveller is ETA-eligible and has no exemption.
- Traveller planning a six-month-plus course or UK employment: an ETA is not the correct solution; a visa or another immigration permission may be required.
- Canadian traveller with a new passport but an ETA that still appears to have time left: the previous ETA is linked to the old passport. A new ETA is required for the new passport before travelling.
UK ETA and airport transit
If you transit through a UK airport without passing through border control, known as airside transit, you do not need an ETA. Check the itinerary and confirm the arrangement with your airline if you are unsure.
If you will pass through UK border control during the connection, known as landside transit, an ETA is normally required for an ETA-eligible traveller. Examples may include collecting and rechecking baggage, changing airports or leaving the airport. A traveller whose nationality requires a visa may need a transit visa instead.
What happens if your passport changes or expires?
Your ETA is tied to the passport used in the application. If the passport linked to your ETA expires or you obtain a new passport, you will need a new ETA before travelling with the new passport, even if your previous ETA would otherwise still be within its two-year validity period.
For this reason, renew your passport before applying if you already know that you will need a replacement shortly. Always travel with the exact passport connected to your current ETA.
Important exemptions and special cases
- British and Irish citizens: they do not need an ETA. Dual British or Irish citizens cannot apply for an ETA and should travel with appropriate proof of their citizenship or right of abode.
- UK immigration permission: a traveller with a valid UK visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK does not need an ETA.
- British Overseas Territories Citizen and British National (Overseas) passports: travellers using these passports do not need an ETA.
- Residents of Ireland: a traveller who lives in Ireland, is from an ETA-nationality country and enters from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man does not normally need an ETA. Travellers aged 16 or over must carry the specified evidence of Irish residence.
- Dual nationality: the requirement can depend on the citizenships you hold and the passport you use for travel. British and Irish dual citizens cannot obtain an ETA and should travel with appropriate evidence of their British or Irish citizenship.
Common UK ETA mistakes to avoid
- Using an ETA linked to an old passport: if you obtain a new passport, you need a new ETA linked to that passport before travelling.
- Assuming one family application covers everyone: every traveller, including a baby, needs an individual ETA where one is required.
- Travelling before a decision arrives: submitting an application is not the same as receiving an approved ETA. Wait for the decision email.
- Confusing an ETA with a visa: an ETA is not available to every nationality and does not cover every travel purpose.
- Ignoring a landside connection: passing through UK border control during transit can change the requirement.
- Assuming an ETA guarantees admission: border officers still decide whether to grant permission to enter on arrival.
When to check your UK ETA requirement again
Check again if you renew your passport, change your travel purpose, plan a longer stay, add a UK airport connection, acquire a new immigration status or travel with a different passport. These factors can alter whether an ETA is suitable, whether an exemption applies or whether a visa is needed instead.
The examples above cover common situations, but they cannot account for every passport, itinerary or immigration history. Use Go2entry to check the entry formalities that may apply to the passport and travel details you will actually use.