What is an electronic travel authorisation?

An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is a digital permission that lets eligible visitors travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months. It is not a visa. You apply online or in the UK ETA app, it is linked to your passport, and it does not guarantee entry.

How an electronic travel authorisation works

An electronic travel authorisation, or ETA, lets you travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months. You can get one for tourism, visiting family or for certain other reasons.^{[1]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK} If you are coming for another reason you may need a visitor visa or another type of visa instead.^{[3]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: What you can and cannot do with an ETA}

Whether you need an ETA or a visa depends on your nationality and your reason for travel. People from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada and certain other countries usually need an ETA rather than a visa.^{[1]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK} Whether you can apply depends on the nationality shown on your passport.

An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.^{[1]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK} The Immigration Rules say permission to enter may be refused if you are required to hold an ETA and do not hold one on arrival.^{[5]Home Office, Immigration Rules: Part Suitability}

Applying for an ETA

It costs £20 to apply online or through the UK ETA app, and you cannot get a refund after you apply. You need the passport you will travel with, an email address and a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. You also upload or take a photo of the face of the person applying.^{[2]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: Apply for an ETA}

You usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days. The email contains a 16 digit ETA reference number, and you must wait for it before you travel. The ETA is linked to the passport you applied with, so you only need to show your passport when you travel.^{[2]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: Apply for an ETA}

If your application is rejected, or you need to change the details in it, you must apply again.^{[2]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: Apply for an ETA} An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can travel to the UK as many times as you want while you have an ETA.^{[2]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: Apply for an ETA}

What you can and cannot do

That is the list GOV.UK gives.^{[3]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: What you can and cannot do with an ETA} See permitted paid engagement and marriage visitor visa for the exceptions that link to those routes.

Who does not need one

You do not need an ETA if you are a British or Irish citizen, have a UK visa or have permission to live, work or study in the UK. That includes settled or pre-settled status and right of abode. Other people who do not need one include those transiting airside without passing border control, travellers with a British overseas territories citizen passport or a British National (Overseas) passport, and people waiting for a decision on an EU Settlement Scheme application.^{[4]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: When you do not need an ETA}

If you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you cannot get an ETA. You prove your citizenship with a valid British passport, another valid passport with a certificate of entitlement, or a valid Irish passport.^{[4]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: When you do not need an ETA}

Example

Hannah is a US citizen visiting her sister in the UK for 3 weeks. She applies in the UK ETA app, pays £20 and gets an email with a 16 digit reference number within a day. Her ETA is linked to her passport and lasts for 2 years or until the passport expires.

She travels with her baby son, who needs his own ETA. Hannah applies for him as well, using the same app while he is with her. She cannot take a paid job in the UK on this ETA.

What people get wrong

A frequent assumption is that an ETA is a visa or a promise of entry. It is neither. GOV.UK says an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK.

A second mistake is to leave babies and children off the list of travellers. Each person travelling needs an ETA, including babies and children.^{[1]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK} A third is paying more than necessary. GOV.UK says other websites may charge more, and you cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app.^{[1]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK[2]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: Apply for an ETA}

The bottom line

An ETA is a £20 digital permission to visit the UK for up to 6 months. It lasts 2 years or until your passport expires, each traveller needs one, and it does not guarantee entry. It does not allow work or marriage in the UK. If your plans do not fit a visit, check whether you need a visa. If you have a criminal record or were refused entry before, GOV.UK says you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead.^{[3]UK Visas and Immigration, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: What you can and cannot do with an ETA}