How to apply for the UK ETA online

Three steps to complete your electronic travel authorisation before you travel to the UK.

What you need before starting the ETA application

Use the passport you will carry on the journey. Prepare the passport number and enter every name in the same order and spelling shown on its biographical page. The application is linked electronically to that passport, so submitting details from an expired, cancelled or different document can cause problems when the carrier checks your permission.

You will also need a clear image of the passport photo page, a suitable recent photograph and an email address you can access before and during travel. Keep the face fully visible and follow the image instructions shown in the application. Travel information can help you complete the form accurately, although you should not invent flight details that are not yet available. Every eligible traveller needs a separate UK ETA application, including babies and children; an adult may complete it for them using each child’s own passport.

Complete the application

Provide the passport, contact and personal details requested, checking every entry before continuing.

Receive the decision

Your decision is sent by email and an approved authorisation is linked to the passport.

Travel to the UK

Wait for confirmation and travel using the same passport entered in the application.

Mistakes that stop travellers at the gate

Applying too close to departure leaves little room for a case that needs extra checks. Many decisions arrive sooner, but allow up to three working days and do not treat a submitted UK ETA application as an approval. Carriers check digital permission before boarding, so travel only after the required authorisation or other valid immigration document has been confirmed.

Use the passport you will actually carry and copy names in the correct order from its biographical page and machine-readable information. A replacement passport needs its own linked permission. A photograph that does not meet the requirements can delay processing: use a plain background, remove glasses and hats, and keep the full face visible. Do not apply for an ETA when your nationality or travel purpose requires a UK visitor visa, and do not confuse a UK eVisa with visitor travel authorisation. One family application does not cover everyone; each eligible adult, child and baby needs an individual application.

What is the UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)?

The UK ETA — also written ETA UK, UK travel authorisation or, in American spelling, UK travel authorization — is the electronic travel authorisation that eligible visa-exempt visitors need for permitted short stays in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It is digital permission linked to the passport used to apply, not a visa and not a guarantee of admission at the border. It supports travel across the United Kingdom under the applicable visitor rules. An approved authorisation is normally valid for two years or until that passport expires, whichever comes first, and can support multiple permitted visits during its validity.

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UK visa or UK ETA: which one applies to you

The two permissions are not interchangeable. A UK ETA is intended for eligible visa-exempt travellers making permitted short visits. A UK visitor visa is the route for travellers whose nationality or circumstances require a visa before departure. Completing an ETA cannot replace a visa, so check the entry rules for your passport and purpose rather than choosing between them as if they were equivalent products.

British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA. A person who already holds a valid UK visa or other applicable immigration permission normally travels using that permission. UK Visas and Immigration also uses the term UK eVisa for a digital record of immigration status held by people who already have permission, such as qualifying work, study or settled status. An eVisa is not another version of the visitor authorisation and is not offered on this page.

The ETA is linked to one passport, normally lasts two years or until that passport expires, and supports multiple permitted visits. If the passport changes, the old link does not transfer automatically and a new application will generally be needed.

Travelling to London, Edinburgh or anywhere else in the UK

The same UK ETA covers a qualifying journey to the United Kingdom as a whole. London is in England, Edinburgh is in Scotland, and Wales and Northern Ireland use the same UK travel authorisation system. There is no separate visa for London, London ETA, visa England document or different visa for England created only by choosing that destination.

Your required permission depends on nationality, immigration status and reason for travel, not which UK city you visit. A traveller who needs an ETA for London does not apply again before continuing to Scotland or Wales. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, while the Republic of Ireland is a separate country. Journeys involving Ireland can have distinct rules, so travellers should check the route they will actually take and avoid treating Ireland and Northern Ireland as the same territory.

Why travellers apply for their UK ETA here

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Do I need a UK ETA or a UK visa?

If your nationality is eligible to visit without obtaining a visa in advance, you will generally need a UK ETA for a qualifying short visit. If the rules require a visa for your nationality or intended activity, the ETA does not replace it and you must use the appropriate route, such as a UK visitor visa.

British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA. People with a valid UK visa, permission to live, work or study in the UK, or another qualifying immigration status normally use that existing permission. Transit rules depend on whether you pass through UK border control, so check the circumstances of your connection before applying.

Nationalities that need the UK ETA

Eligible visa-exempt travellers can begin their UK ETA application online before departure.

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After your UK ETA is approved

The decision arrives by email and the electronic travel authorisation is linked to the passport used in the application. There is normally no separate physical document to collect, but keep the confirmation and reference accessible during the journey. Carriers can check digital travel permission against the passport details before boarding.

An approved UK ETA is normally valid for two years or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first, and can support multiple permitted trips during that period. It does not transfer to a new passport. If your passport is replaced, lost, renewed or expires, review the current procedure and expect to submit a new application using the replacement document before travelling again.

UK ETA: frequently asked questions

Clear answers about travel authorisation, visas, passports and journeys across the United Kingdom.

What is the UK ETA?⌄
The UK ETA is an electronic travel authorisation for eligible visa-exempt visitors making permitted short trips to the United Kingdom. It is linked digitally to the passport used in the application and is not a UK visitor visa.
Who needs a UK ETA?⌄
Eligible visa-exempt visitors generally need permission before travelling to the UK. British and Irish citizens do not need one, while travellers with a valid UK visa or applicable immigration permission normally use that permission instead.
How long is a UK ETA valid for?⌄
It is normally valid for two years or until the passport linked to it expires, whichever happens first. During that period it can support multiple permitted visits, but it does not guarantee entry at the border.
How long can I stay in the UK with an ETA?⌄
Eligible visitors can generally use it for permitted short visits of up to six months. A traveller planning work, long-term study or another activity outside the visitor rules may need different permission.
How long does UK ETA processing take?⌄
Many applicants receive a decision sooner, but travellers should allow up to three working days and apply before travelling. Some applications can take longer when additional checks are required, so approval should never be assumed before the confirmation arrives.
Can I travel before my ETA is approved?⌄
You should wait for confirmation before travelling. Carriers check that passengers have the required digital permission or another valid immigration document before boarding, so submitting an application alone is not the same as holding an approved authorisation.
Is the UK ETA a visa?⌄
No. It is travel permission for eligible visa-exempt visitors. If the entry rules require you to obtain a UK visitor visa, an ETA does not replace that visa. The correct document depends on your nationality, purpose of travel and existing immigration status.
Is the UK ETA the same as a UK eVisa?⌄
No. An ETA is travel authorisation for certain visitors. A UK eVisa is a digital record of immigration status for someone who already has permission, such as qualifying work, study or settled status. It is not another tourist version of the ETA.
Do I need an ETA if I am only going to London?⌄
If the rules require an ETA for your journey, the same requirement applies when London is your only destination. There is no separate London ETA or London visa: London is in England, and the permission covers travel to the United Kingdom as a whole.
What happens if I arrive at the airport without one?⌄
If you require an ETA and do not hold valid travel permission, the carrier may not allow you to board. Apply with enough time for a decision and travel using the same passport that was entered in the application.
What do I need for a UK ETA application?⌄
Prepare the passport you will travel with, its biographical photo page, a suitable personal photograph and an email address you can access. Enter names and passport details exactly as shown. Each traveller submits their own application.
Do children need a UK ETA?⌄
Yes, when the requirement applies to their nationality and journey. Every traveller needs an individual authorisation, including babies and children. A parent or responsible adult can complete the application, but it must use the child’s own passport details.
Do British or Irish citizens need a UK ETA?⌄
No. British and Irish citizens do not need this travel authorisation. Other travellers should check whether they qualify for an ETA, require a visa, or have existing UK immigration permission.
What happens if I get a new passport?⌄
The authorisation is linked electronically to the passport used in the application. It does not transfer automatically to a replacement passport, so you will generally need to apply again using the new passport details before travelling.

Ready to apply for your UK travel authorisation?

Start my UK ETA online
Start my UK ETA online