UK ETA Simplified

Understanding The UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) System

Are you planning to visit the United Kingdom (UK)? If you answered yes, you may need to obtain a UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before you book your trip.

Here, we simplify and explain everything you need about the new UK ETA system.

What is a UK ETA?

The UK ETA is a new digital travel permit that allows visa-free foreign nationals to travel to the UK for short stays. This includes those who visit for leisure, business, short-term study, landside transit, and under the Creative Worker visa concession.

An ETA is not a visa but a new requirement for all travelers who can visit the UK without one.

Several other countries have similar travel permit systems. The UK ETA is comparable to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) of the United States (US). Australia, Canada, and New Zealand also have electronic travel authorization systems.

The European Union (EU) plans to launch a similar scheme, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), in 2025.

Why is the ETA being introduced? 

The ETA is part of an extensive permission-to-travel policy that allows the British government to more effectively control its borders and track people’s movements in and out of the country.

In 2021, the UK government announced the ETA system after evidence revealed that its migration estimates are highly inaccurate. It relied heavily on survey data gathered at airports and ports, which generated unreliable figures.

The British government saw the need to accurately track the number of individuals who arrive and exit England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, especially those who can freely cross borders without a visa.

Once the ETA system is fully operational by April 2025, all UK travelers with a visa, an immigration status, or an ETA will be documented.

The ETA also allows the government to pre-screen non-visa travelers. It will help to identify and deter individuals who may pose a threat to national security from entering the UK, thereby keeping the country and its visitors safe.

The system will also help maximize time and cost and streamline travel to the UK for both visitors and officials.

When will the UK ETA be launched?

Qatari citizens have been eligible for an ETA for visiting the UK since November 2023. They are the first to benefit from the new system.

Since February 2024, citizens of the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, have been using the ETA system.

On 8 January 2025, non-European visa-exempt nationals must have an ETA before traveling to the UK. Applications have been opened for them since 27 November 2025.

European nationals must have an ETA for their trips to the UK on and after 2 April 2025. The system will be ready to receive their applications beginning 5 March 2025.

The Home Office estimates that around 30 million visitors will apply for it annually.

Who Needs A UK ETA?

All foreigners, including babies and children, who can enter the UK without a visa for short trips will need a UK ETA.

Currently, there are nearly 90 countries with visa waiver status with the UK. Citizens of the following countries/regions will need an ETA to travel to the UK, whether they are traveling by land, air or sea:

Who does not need an ETA to visit the UK?

You do not need an ETA if you have a British or Irish passport, a British Overseas Territory Citizen passport, a UK visa, or immigration status in the UK.

Travelers transiting through the UK at Heathrow and Manchester airports no longer need an ETA if remaining airside or not going through border control.

Legal residents of Irelands must not need a visa to visit the UK and should be traveling to the UK via the Common Travel Area (CTA) to be exempt.

If you plan to stay or work in the UK for over six months, you will need an appropriate UK visa.

Which destinations in the UK is the ETA valid for?

UK visitors with a valid ETA can board their carrier and travel to any part of the UK.

Upon arrival in the UK, all visitors with an ETA or visa must still submit their identity documents and go through border control. The border agency must still assess whether the visitor complies with all requirements.

Once past border security, they can freely travel between the UK’s four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Will EU holidaymakers require an ETA to visit the UK?

The ETA requirement also applies to EU holidaymakers or those going on a holiday in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. 

Before leaving their home country, they must apply for and receive a valid UK ETA. Only after receiving an ETA will they be allowed to travel to the UK.

While they do not need to apply for a visa, they must pay to obtain an ETA. 

How to apply for a UK ETA

Travelers are advised to apply for an ETA before booking their travel to the UK to avoid delays, other issues, and possible penalties.

The UK ETA application process is entirely online. There is no need to visit visa offices.  

What are the requirements for applying for a UK ETA?

• Valid, biometric, national passport from an eligible visa-exempt country
• A recent digital high-quality passport photo 
• Active email address
• An electronic payment method, such as a credit card or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay

What do you need to do to apply for an ETA?

You can access it via the UK government website or the UK ETA App.

Always check first if you are on the official government website with a gov.uk URL, or download the UK ETA app only from official app stores. 

Then, you must complete the application form, which includes submitting personal and passport information and uploading your recent photo. You must also answer security questions and pay the application fee online.

Once you have completed the ETA application, you will receive a confirmation email via the email address you have provided.

The system will automatically cross-verify the details you submitted against several security databases in the UK and worldwide to determine your eligibility for a UK ETA and travel to the country.

How much does a UK ETA cost?

An application for a UK ETA costs £10. This fee is non-refundable and charged each time an application is submitted. It is significantly cheaper than the electronic visa waiver (EVW) and priced competitively with similar digital travel permits.

When do I get my UK ETA?

Applicants usually receive their ETA confirmation in three days, more or less. This is also the case if your application is denied. 

Many travelers may receive their valid ETA within minutes or hours after submitting their application. This primarily applies to applicants with no past criminal or immigration offenses.

Applications with criminal records or immigration breaches, such as overstaying permissions, may take longer to process.

Sometimes, the Home Office may contact you to request more documents so that a human officer can fully assess your ETA eligibility. Make sure to monitor your email and respond to these requests immediately.  

Applicants who are denied an ETA should consider applying for a UK visa.

How long will the UK ETA be valid for?

Once granted, the UK ETA is valid for two years or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first.

During this period, you can travel to the UK multiple times if your visits do not last for over six months.