How to Apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation Before You Travel
Check whether you need a UK ETA, what it costs, which passport and photos you need, how to apply online or in the UK ETA app, and when to apply.
GB United Kingdom
Immigration & Travel ~ 7 min read
10 FAQ
Updated 2026-09-09
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If your nationality and reason for travel require a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation, apply before travelling through the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK online service. The fee is £20 per person, including children and babies. You need the passport you will travel with, an email address, a facial photo and an accepted payment method. Decisions usually arrive by email within a day but can take up to 3 working days, and you must receive confirmation before travelling.
What you need
- The passport you will use to travel to the UK.
- A valid email address.
- A photo or scan of the passport and a photo of the applicant's face, depending on whether you apply through the app or online.
- A credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- A separate application and fee for every traveller, including babies and children.
Eligibility
You should apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation only if your nationality and reason for travelling make you eligible for an ETA rather than a visa. Most non-visa nationals travelling as visitors need an ETA. You do not need one if, for example, you are a British or Irish citizen, already have a UK visa, have permission to live, work or study in the UK, or are transiting airside without passing through UK border control. Use the official GOV.UK visa and ETA checker if you are unsure which permission you need.
How to do it
- Confirm that you need an ETA based on your nationality and reason for travelling.
- Have ready the passport you will travel with, an email address and an accepted payment method.
- Apply through the official UK ETA app or the GOV.UK online application service.
- Scan or upload the passport details and provide the required photo of the applicant's face.
- Answer the application questions and pay the £20 fee.
- Wait for the decision email. You will usually receive one within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days.
- Do not travel until you receive confirmation that the ETA has been granted. The ETA is electronically linked to the passport used in the application.
Check whether you need an ETA before applying
A UK Electronic Travel Authorisation, usually called an ETA, is digital permission to travel to the UK for eligible non-visa nationals. Whether you need one depends mainly on your nationality and why you are travelling.
Most visitors need either an ETA or a visa. Nationals of many countries that do not normally require a visitor visa, including countries in Europe as well as the United States, Canada and Australia, generally need an ETA for eligible short visits. The official GOV.UK checker should be used if you are unsure whether you need an ETA or a visa.
If your circumstances require a visa rather than an ETA, see how to apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa before your trip.
When you do not need an ETA
You do not need an ETA if you are a British or Irish citizen. You also do not need one if you already hold a UK visa or have permission to live, work or study in the UK, including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode.
Other exemptions include people with qualifying permission in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, certain exempt travellers, and passengers transiting through a UK airport without passing through border control. If you are not sure whether your airport connection is airside, check with your airline before travelling.
If you already hold UK immigration permission digitally and need to prove your status for another purpose, you can also read how to get a share code to prove your UK immigration status.
What an ETA lets you do in the UK
An ETA can be used to seek entry for visits of up to 6 months for purposes such as tourism, visiting family or friends, certain business activities and short-term study. It can also cover permitted paid engagements, qualifying Creative Worker concession travel and landside transit through the UK.
An ETA does not guarantee entry. Border officials still decide whether you may enter when you arrive.
You cannot use an ETA to live in the UK through frequent or successive visits, claim public funds, remain for longer than the permitted visit, or undertake work that is not allowed under the visitor or relevant concession rules. You also cannot use an ETA to marry, register a civil partnership or give notice of marriage or civil partnership where a Marriage Visitor visa is required.
What you need before you apply
You need the passport you will travel with. The ETA is linked electronically to that passport, so using the correct document is essential.
You also need an email address and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. During the application you must provide a photo of the applicant's face. When applying through the app, the phone camera is used to scan the passport and the applicant's face. For an online application, you upload a photo of the passport and a photo of the applicant.
Facial photos must meet UKVI's digital image requirements. Poor-quality or non-compliant images can delay the application or lead to rejection.
Apply using the UK ETA app
The Home Office describes the official UK ETA app as the easiest application route for many travellers. The app is available through Google Play and Apple's App Store.
You use the phone camera to scan your passport and your face, enter the requested information, answer the application questions and pay the fee. If you cannot download or use the app, you can apply through the official GOV.UK online service instead.
Apply online without the app
The online application route requires a photo of the passport and a photo of the applicant's face. This route is also useful when applying for someone who is not physically with you, because the app can only be used for another person if that person is present with you.
Use only the official GOV.UK service or UK ETA app. GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more, and using another website or app does not provide a faster decision.
How much a UK ETA costs in 2026
The official application fee is £20 per person. The Home Office fee increased from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026.
Every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and children, so a family must pay separately for each person. The fee is not refundable after you apply.
How long you should allow for a decision
UKVI says you will usually get a decision by email within a day, but a decision can take up to 3 working days.
You must wait until you receive an email confirming that your ETA has been granted before travelling to the UK. If you have not received a decision after 3 working days, check your spam or junk folder before contacting UKVI.
How long your ETA lasts
A granted ETA normally lasts for 2 years or until the passport used for the application expires, whichever comes first. During that period you can make multiple journeys while the ETA remains valid.
If your passport expires or changes, you need to apply for a new ETA linked to the new passport.
Applying for another person or a child
Each person needs a separate ETA, including infants and children. You can apply for someone else.
If that person is with you, you can use the UK ETA app. If they are not with you, GOV.UK says you must use the online application route and have a photo of their passport and a photo of their face.
After your ETA application is approved
The decision is sent by email and includes a 16-digit ETA reference number. The ETA itself is digitally linked to the passport used when applying, so you normally only need to present that passport when travelling.
You can use the official online ETA checking service to confirm whether you have an ETA and when it expires.
If your ETA application is unsuccessful
If an ETA is refused, that does not itself amount to a refusal of permission to enter the UK. However, if you still want to travel, the Immigration Rules state that you will need to apply for a visa.
If an application is rejected as invalid, or you need to change application details after submission, GOV.UK says you will need to apply again. The application fee is not refundable.
Common mistakes before travelling
- Do not apply with a passport different from the one you plan to use for travel.
- Do not assume children are covered by a parent's ETA; every traveller needs a separate ETA.
- Do not leave the application until you are already travelling. You must receive confirmation before departure.
- Do not use an unofficial website expecting faster processing; GOV.UK states that another website or app cannot provide a faster decision.
- Make sure the facial photo meets UKVI requirements to avoid delay or rejection.
- Do not assume an ETA guarantees entry. It provides permission to travel and seek entry at the border.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a UK ETA cost in 2026?
The official UK ETA fee is £20 per person. This fee applies to each traveller, including babies and children, and it is not refundable after the application is submitted.
How long does it take to get a UK ETA?
UKVI says decisions usually arrive by email within a day, although they can take up to 3 working days. You should not travel until you receive confirmation that the ETA has been granted.
How long is a UK ETA valid?
A UK ETA is normally valid for 2 years from the date it is granted or until the passport linked to it expires, whichever happens first.
Can I use the same UK ETA for more than one trip?
Yes. A valid ETA allows multiple journeys during its validity period, subject to the immigration rules that apply each time you travel.
Does every child need a separate UK ETA?
Yes. Every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and children.
Can I apply for a UK ETA without the mobile app?
Yes. If you cannot use the UK ETA app, you can apply through the official GOV.UK online service.
What passport should I use for my UK ETA application?
Use the passport you will travel with. The ETA is electronically linked to that passport, and a new passport requires a new ETA.
Do I need an ETA if I already have a UK visa or settled status?
No. GOV.UK states that you do not need an ETA if you already have a UK visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK, including settled or pre-settled status.
Do I need a UK ETA if I am only changing flights?
You need an ETA for a transit where you pass through UK border control if your nationality requires one. You do not need an ETA for an airside transit where you remain behind border control.
Does having a UK ETA guarantee that I can enter the UK?
No. An ETA is permission to travel to the UK, not guaranteed permission to enter. Entry is still decided at the border.
Official sources
GOV.UK — Get an electronic travel authorisation to visit the UKGOV.UK — Apply for an ETAGOV.UK — When you do not need an ETAGOV.UK — What you can and cannot do with an ETAGOV.UK — Check if you need a UK visa or ETAGOV.UK — Check your electronic travel authorisationHome Office — Immigration Rules Appendix Electronic Travel AuthorisationHome Office — Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National ListHome Office — Immigration and nationality fees from 8 April 2026UK Visas and Immigration — Digital photo requirementsRelated procedures
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