Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are being introduced worldwide for visitors to the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have a UK immigration status.
Eligible non-Europeans need an ETA to travel to the UK.
Eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025.
An ETA is a digital permission to travel – it is not a visa and does not permit entry into the UK – it authorises a person to travel to the UK.
Visitors should apply in advance and find out when to do so on GOV.UK.
An ETA currently costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.
How do people apply for an ETA?
- Applying for an ETA is quick and simple. Applicants may apply online, either through the ‘UK ETA app’ or online on GOV.UK
- Most applicants get an automatic decision in a few minutes when applying through the UK ETA app, which means spontaneous trips to the UK are still possible.
- Please allow three working days for a decision to be made on your application, but this is to take account of the small number of cases which need further review. Visitors should apply in advance.
- Specific information on who can get an ETA and how to apply before coming to the UK is available on GOV.UK
To apply for an ETA, applicants need to:
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- Download the ‘UK ETA app’, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple App Store. People can apply on GOV.UK if they do not have access to a smartphone.
- Pay a fee
- Provide contact and passport details
- Provide a valid photo, complying with our rules for digital photos on GOV.UK
- Answer a set of questions
People must travel using the same passport they used when they applied for an ETA.
Are ETAs needed by those transiting through the UK? If so, why?
- The UK government has agreed a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside, and therefore do not pass through UK border control, from needing an ETA. The exemption is kept under review.
- Passengers who transit through the UK by crossing through the UK border will continue to need an ETA, if required for their nationality.
What happens if someone is not able to obtain an ETA?
- If a person’s ETA application is rejected, they will be told the reason and can apply again.
- If a person’s ETA application is refused, they cannot appeal and instead need to apply for a visa if they still wish to seek permission to come to the UK.
Kindly note this information is for advisory purposes only and is subject to change depending on decisions made by the UK government. Further guidance and updates on ETAs is available on GOV.UK