What the UK ETA is

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The UK ETA is an Electronic Travel Authorisation. It is not a visa and it is not a stamp in your passport. It is a permission to travel, linked electronically to the passport you apply with, that visitors from around eighty-five countries now need before boarding a flight, train or ferry to the United Kingdom.

Once approved, your ETA UK permission stays valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Inside that time you can come and go as often as you like, staying up to six months on each visit, for tourism, family visits, business meetings, short study or a stopover in London on the way somewhere else.

Because it is tied to the passport, the details on your UK ETA application have to match that passport exactly. A number with one character wrong is the most common reason an application comes back for checking, and it is the first thing we look at before yours is submitted.

For most visitors, travel to UK destinations now begins with this single form, completed once and valid for the next two years.

You will also see it written as UK travel authorization, with a z. That is the American spelling of the same document, and travellers from the United States search for it that way as often as not. There is no difference between a UK travel authorization and a UK travel authorisation: one document, two spellings.

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01

UK ETA guide

UK ETA or UK visa? They are not the same thing

This is where most travellers get stuck, and it is worth being clear about because the answer decides everything else.

A UK visa is what you apply for when your nationality requires one to enter the United Kingdom. It involves a longer application, supporting documents and usually an appointment. If a UK visa applies to you, this authorisation does not stand in for it and you cannot travel on one instead.

The UK ETA is for the other group: nationals of countries that do not need a UK visa for short visits. Americans, Canadians, Australians, Japanese, and citizens of all twenty-seven EU countries fall into this category. For them this is the new requirement, introduced to replace nothing at all — before it existed, they simply flew.

So when people search for a UK visa ETA, or for an ETA visa UK, they are usually asking one question: which of the two applies to me? For most visitors from those eighty-five countries the answer is the UK ETA, and this is where you apply for it.

British and Irish citizens do not need either. Neither do people who already hold a valid UK visa, settled status, or permission to live in the United Kingdom. If you are visiting London, Manchester, Edinburgh or anywhere else in Britain on a passport from a visa-exempt country, the UK ETA is the document you need.

Travellers searching for a visitor visa UK application, a UK visitor visa application, a visa for London or a visa for England are almost always in this same position. There is no separate London visa and no separate England visa. There is one UK ETA, and it covers all four nations.

02

UK ETA guide

Changing planes in the UK? You may still need one

This catches people out constantly, and it is the single most overlooked part of the rules.

This catches people out constantly, and it is the single most overlooked part of the rules.

If you land at Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester and pass through UK border control before continuing your journey, you need a UK ETA even though Britain is not your destination. That covers anyone changing airports, staying overnight, or collecting and rechecking baggage.

If you stay airside and connect straight to your onward flight without passing border control, you do not need one.

The distinction matters because airlines check before boarding, and a transit passenger without an ETA can be stopped at the departure airport rather than on arrival. If your itinerary routes you through the United Kingdom and you are not certain which kind of transit it is, applying is the cheaper mistake.

03

UK ETA guide

When to apply for your UK ETA

Most decisions arrive quickly, often within hours. Travellers are still asked to allow up to three working days, and that is the number to plan around rather than the best case.

Most decisions arrive quickly, often within hours. Travellers are still asked to allow up to three working days, and that is the number to plan around rather than the best case.

Three working days is longer than it sounds. An application sent on a Friday afternoon may not be decided until Wednesday. If you are flying at the weekend, that matters.

There is no advantage to waiting. Your authorisation lasts two years from approval, not from your trip, so applying early costs you nothing and removes the deadline entirely. Send us your passport and travel details today and your UK ETA application is checked and submitted, with the decision reaching your inbox well before you need it.

04

UK ETA guide

Everyone travelling needs their own

A UK ETA covers one traveller and one passport. There is no family application and no group authorisation.

A UK ETA covers one traveller and one passport. There is no family application and no group authorisation.

Children need their own, including babies, applied for by a parent or guardian. A family of four is four separate UK ETA applications.

If you get a new passport, you need a new ETA, even if your existing one has not expired. The authorisation lives with the passport number, not with you, so a renewed passport means a fresh application before your next trip.

Add everyone travelling with you to a single application and the shared details are typed once. Each traveller still receives their own Electronic Travel Authorisation at the end of it.

What to have ready

Four things, and you can start before you have all of them.

Passport

Your passport. The name, number and date of birth on the authorisation have to match it exactly, so work from the document itself rather than from memory.

Photo

A photo. A recent digital photograph or a phone selfie, taken against a plain background with nothing covering your face.

Travel plans

Your travel plans. Your arrival date and where you are staying in the United Kingdom. If you are in transit, the onward flight.

Email

An email address. Your confirmation is sent there, and it is where we reach you if a detail needs checking before submission.

Why travellers apply for their UK ETA with us

Every application we send has been read by a person first.

Read, not just forwarded

Your passport number, your date of birth and your travel dates are checked against each other before your application is submitted, not after.

Submitted with time to spare

We handle it as soon as you send your details, so the three working days sit comfortably before your trip rather than against it.

The whole party in one go

Add your family or group to a single form. Every traveller gets their own Electronic Travel Authorisation, but the shared details are typed once.

Reachable any hour

Questions arrive at all hours, from every time zone that flies to Britain. Someone answers.

UK ETA pricing service

Up to 12 Hours

Normal — United Kingdom

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Up to 6 Hours

Fast — United Kingdom

Get priority processing with expedited expert review so your application is ready in just 6 hours.

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Under 1 Hour

Ultra Premium — United Kingdom

Urgent processing for last-minute travelers. Our fastest tier gets your application reviewed and ready in under 1 hour.

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Apply in 3 easy steps

Send your details in one guided application. We check the form and submit it with time to spare before you travel.

  1. Step 01

    Start your application

    Enter your passport, photo and travel details for the authorisation. We show you the information needed before you continue.

  2. Step 02

    Complete your application online

    Fill in the guided form in minutes. Real-time validation catches errors instantly, so nothing holds up your United Kingdom application.

  3. Step 03

    Receive your decision

    Our specialists review and submit your application. Your decision is sent to your inbox once it is available.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers about visa requirements, transit and the passport linked to your authorisation.

Do I need a UK ETA to travel to the United Kingdom?
Most visitors who do not need a visa for short stays must have a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling. Eligibility depends on your nationality and passport type.
How long can I stay in the UK with an ETA?
A UK ETA allows eligible travellers to visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, family visits, business activities, short study, or permitted travel purposes.
How long is a UK ETA valid for?
A UK ETA is usually valid for multiple trips over 2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Can I apply for a UK ETA on the same day I travel?
Many applications are processed quickly, but travellers are advised to apply before their travel date to avoid delays or additional checks.
What documents do I need to apply for a UK ETA?
You need a valid passport, a recent digital photo or selfie, an email address, and a payment method. Your passport details must match your travel document exactly.
How will I receive my UK ETA?
Once approved, the ETA is linked electronically to your passport. You may also receive confirmation by email, but you should travel with the same passport used in the application.
Does a UK ETA guarantee entry into the United Kingdom?
No. A UK ETA gives permission to travel, but final entry is decided by UK Border Force when you arrive.
Can I work in the UK with an ETA?
No. A UK ETA does not allow you to work in the UK. It is mainly for short visits and permitted travel purposes.
Can I use the same ETA for more than one trip?
Yes. While valid, your UK ETA can be used for multiple visits, as long as you continue using the same passport.
What happens if my passport expires or changes?
If you get a new passport, you will need to apply for a new UK ETA because the authorisation is linked to the passport used in the application.
Are my personal details secure during the application process?
Yes. Your information is handled through secure systems designed to protect your personal and travel details during the application process.
Do I need a UK ETA or a UK visa?
It depends on your nationality. Citizens of around eighty-five countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and every EU member state, need this authorisation rather than a visa for short visits. If your nationality does require a UK visa, applying here will not stand in for it.
Do I need one if I am only changing planes in the UK?
If you pass through UK border control during your connection, yes. If you stay airside and board your onward flight without clearing immigration, no.
How far ahead should I apply?
As early as you like. Your UK ETA runs for two years from approval rather than from your trip, so there is no benefit in waiting and no risk in applying now.
Does each traveller need their own?
Yes, children and babies included. It is linked to one passport, so four travellers means four applications.
What if I get a new passport?
You need a new UK ETA. The authorisation is tied to the passport number used in the application, so a renewed passport means applying again before your next visit.
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Ready for the UK?

Send us your passport and travel details today and your UK ETA application is prepared, read by a specialist, and submitted with the decision back long before you fly.

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