The Electronic Travel Authorization is a groundbreaking introduction for travelers wishing to visit the United Kingdom. Learn what the UK ETA is, who needs it, how much it costs, and how the application process works.
The UK ETA is a digital travel authorization that nationals of certain countries must apply for before travelling to the UK. The ETA is not a visa, but a permit for visa-free entry.
The electronic ETA system replaces the physical documents and appointments of a visa with online records and automated processes, making it easier, faster, and cheaper to travel to the UK. A valid ETA allows you to stay for up to six months for tourism, visiting family or friends, business, transit, or short-term study.
You can apply for an ETA at www.gov.uk, via the UK ETA app, or with our visa partner iVISA. Processing usually only takes a few days.
The need for an ETA permit for travel to the UK depends on your nationality and the date of your trip. Currently, the UK government communicates the following rules:
| UK ETA for Non-European Countries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | Argentina | Australia | Bahamas |
| Bahrain | Barbados | Belize | Botswana |
| Brazil | Brunei | Canada | Chile |
| Costa Rica | Grenada | Guatemala | Guyana |
| Hong Kong | Israel | Japan | Kiribati |
| Kuwait | Macau | Malaysia | Maldives |
| Marshall Islands | Mauritius | Mexico | Micronesia |
| Nauru | New Zealand | Nicaragua | Oman |
| Palau | Panama | Papua New Guinea | Paraguay |
| Peru | Qatar | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Samoa | Saudi Arabia | Seychelles |
| Singapore | Solomon Islands | South Korea | Taiwan |
| Tonga | Trinidad and Tobago | Tuvalu | United Arab Emirates |
| United States | Uruguay | ||
| UK ETA for European Citizens (mandadory from April 2nd, 2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria |
| Croatia | Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark |
| Estonia | Finland | France | Germany |
| Greece | Hungary | Iceland | Italy |
| Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg |
| Malta | Monaco | Netherlands | Norway |
| Poland | Portugal | Romania | San Marino |
| Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden |
| Switzerland | Vatican City | ||
It is already possible for European nationals to apply for a UK ETA. However, the obligation to present a valid UK ETA will not come into force until April 2nd, 2025.
Every traveler needs their own ETA, including babies and children.
The following persons do not require an ETA or visa to enter the United Kingdom:
CTA stands for Common Travel Area. The Area consists of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man. There are no routine border controls within this area. This means that citizens of the UK and Ireland can travel freely between the countries without having to show a passport or visa.
Non-Irish nationals who are resident in Ireland and from a country that does not require a visa to enter the UK (e.g., European or US nationals) do not require an ETA when entering the UK from the CTA. However, they must provide acceptable proof of their residency status.
What is special about the new UK ETA? We explain the differences between visas and ETAs at a glance.
| Visa vs. ETA | Visa | ETA |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Long-term stays (work, study, marriage, long-term visits) | Short-term stays (tourism, business, transit, up to 6 months) |
| Application | Personal appointment at the embassy or consulate | Online form |
| Processing time | Between 3 weeks and several months, depending on the visa type | Usually up to 3 working days after application |
| Costs | From £ 100 depending on visa category | £ 10 |
| Validity | Varies depending on visa type (e.g., 6 months, 2 years, 5 years) | 2 years or until the passport expires (whichever comes first) |
| Expenditure | Extensive documents, personal appointment | Online form with photo upload |
In order to enter the United Kingdom with a UK ETA, you must meet certain requirements:
Please note that an ETA permit is not a guarantee of entry into the United Kingdom. Despite having a travel authorization, you must undergo a check by the border guards and comply with the entry regulations.
Applying for a UK ETA costs £ 10. The fee is non-refundable once you have submitted the application. This means that you will not get the fee back even if your application is rejected.
The permitted payment methods include credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Each traveler needs their own ETA. So if you are traveling to the United Kingdom with your family, you must pay a separate ETA fee for each family member.
You can apply for an electronic travel authorization for the United Kingdom online at www.gov.uk, via the UK ETA app or at our visa partner iVISA. Please have the following items to hand:
When you register, you first create a UKVI account so that you can access your ETA permit in the future and manage your immigration information.
You will need to provide the following information on the UK ETA application form:
In addition to photographing the data page of your passport, you will also be asked to take a picture of yourself and upload it.
Your details will be automatically checked against various security databases. If the system finds no adverse information about you, the travel authorization will be granted a
A digital passport photo is required for your UK ETA application, which you can take and upload during the application process. You can also upload an existing digital photo taken in the last 30 days.
Requirements for digital photos:
Children under the age of 6 do not have to look directly at the camera or have a neutral facial expression. Babies under the age of 1 do not need to have their eyes open.
The processing of a UK ETA application is largely automated, so most applicants receive their approval within three working days of submitting their application.
Once you have submitted your UK ETA application, it is no longer possible to withdraw, amend, or supplement it as part of the automated process. In some cases, only a new application is possible after your ETA approval has been refused.
An application for a UK ETA can be refused for various reasons. These include, for example
If your ETA application is rejected, you will usually be informed of the reason. In some cases, you can then submit a new application once you have rectified the deficiencies. This may be the case, for example, if your identity could not be clearly established during the initial application.
However, if the reason for the rejection of your ETA application is due to your personal suitability (or rather non-suitability), for example due to a criminal past, you will have to apply for a visa instead of a UK ETA to enter the United Kingdom.
There is no right of appeal against a decision on an ETA application. As an applicant, you only have the right to human intervention in the automatic process by an official, which has typically already happened in the event of a rejection.
The rejection of an ETA application does not mean that you are not allowed to enter the United Kingdom. You can apply for a visa instead.
A UK ETA authorization is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. The ETA permit entitles you to multiple entries to the UK during this period.
There is no set maximum number of entries as long as the stays per entry last a maximum of 180 days and are only for permitted purposes such as tourism, business travel, short-term study, or transit.
Check the current UK travel regulations before each trip, as regulations may change.
You must enter the UK with the same passport that you used when applying for the ETA. If your passport expires before you enter the UK, you will need to apply for a new UK ETA with your new passport.