Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
InformationWhat onan ETA is, who can get anone ETA and how to apply before coming to the UK.
An ETA gives you permission to travel to the UK.
Who can applyget an ETA
Whether you can applyget an ETA depends on:
- the date you travel
- your nationality as shown on your passport
Check if you can apply for an an ETA.
Who does not need an an ETA
You do not need an ETA if any of these apply to you: if:
- you have a visa
- you have permission to live, work or study in the UK
(includingor - you are transiting through a UK airport and you will not pass through border control - check with your airline if you are not sure
- you are a British or Irish citizen
- you are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
- you live in Ireland and you
are - you are a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form
- you are exempt from immigration control
Dual citizens
If you are a a dual citizen with with British or Irish citizenship, you do not need an an ETA. Prove your permission to travel using a:
- valid British passport
- valid Irish passport
- other valid passport containing
a
What you can do with an an ETA
You can:
- come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study
- come to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
- come to the UK for
a -
transit through
thea UK airport ififUK(‘landside’-transit)check with your airline if you are not sure
YouIf doyou notare needcoming an ETA to transit through the UK for another reason, check if you willneed a visa instead.
An ETA does not passguarantee throughentry borderto controlthe (‘airside’UK. transit).You still need to either:
If
- see
youaareBordercomingForcetoofficer - use
theanUKePassport gate
You may want to apply for anothera reason, checkStandard Visitor visa instead if you needhave a visacriminal instead.record or you were previously refused entry into the UK.
What you cannot do with an an ETA
You cannot:
- stay in the UK for longer than 6 months
- do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession
- claim public funds (benefits)
- live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
- marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you
will
How much it costs
It costs £10 to apply.apply using the UK ETA app or online through GOV.UK. Other websites may charge more.
Everyone travelling needs to get an an ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for other people.
You cannot get a refund after you apply.
BeforeApply youfor startan ETA
The fastest way to apply is using the UK ETA app.
You need:
- the passport you will travel with - not a photocopy or digital passport
- access to your emails
- a
creditpaymentcard,methoddebit-card,you can use Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Apple Pay or Google Pay
You will need to upload or take photos of the:
- passport
- face of the person applying
You do not need to enter your travel details.
Apply for an ETA
The fastest way to apply is using the UK ETA app.
Help with the app
You can read the guide on using the UK ETA app.
If you cannot use the app
You can apply online.
If you are applying for someone else who is not with you, you should apply online.
How long it takes
You will usually get a decision within 3 working days,days. butMost youpeople may get a much quicker decision.
Occasionally, it may take longer than 3 working days.
You cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website.
Group applications
Each person must apply separately.
You may get adecisions decision at a different timetimes, from others in your group, even if you appliedapply at the same time.time as others.
If you need to travel soon
You must apply for an ETA before you travel to the UK. You can travel to the UK while waiting for a decision.
After you apply
You will get an email confirming you have got an ETA. It will be linked to the passport you applied with.
Your ETA lasts for 2 years.years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner.
You can travel to the UK as many times as you want duringwhile that time.
If you gethave aan new passport, you will need to get a new ETA.ETA.
EnteringGet the UK
help
An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. You still need to either:can:
seereadatheBorderguideForcetoofficeruseusingantheePassportUKgate,ifyouareeligible
Read more about border control.
Get help
You can ask about ETA if you need help.
You can also app
Use the ETA webchat if you still need help.
Updates to this page
Published 25 October 2023Last updated
-
Added the following points: 1) People exempt from immigration control do not need an ETA. 2) The payment methods you can use are Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Apple Pay or Google Pay. 3) Other websites may charge more for an ETA, but cannot give you a faster decision.
-
Updated the section on how dual citizens can prove their permission to travel to the UK.
-
You no longer need an ETA to transit through the UK if you will not pass through border control ('airside' transit).
-
Updated as more nationalities can now apply for an ETA.
-
'Who does not need an ETA': edited to clarify that you do not need an ETA if you are a British citizen, or you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship.
-
Added a list of nationalities that can apply for an ETA later. Jordanian nationals can no longer apply for an ETA.
-
Added a section on what you cannot do with an ETA.
-
British overseas territories passport holders do not need an ETA.
-
First published.
Update history
2025-04-09 09:00
As of 9 April, it costs £16 to apply for an ETA.
2025-03-19 16:09
From 9 April, it will cost £16 to apply for an ETA.
2025-03-13 11:12
Added British National (Overseas) passport holders to the list of who does not need an ETA.
2025-02-26 15:39
Added the following points: 1) People exempt from immigration control do not need an ETA. 2) The payment methods you can use are Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Apple Pay or Google Pay. 3) Other websites may charge more for an ETA, but cannot give you a faster decision.
2025-01-20 17:08
Updated the section on how dual citizens can prove their permission to travel to the UK.
2025-01-17 09:50
You no longer need an ETA to transit through the UK if you will not pass through border control (‘airside’ transit).
2024-11-27 10:00
Updated as more nationalities can now apply for an ETA.
2024-10-22 09:17
‘Who does not need an ETA’: edited to clarify that you do not need an ETA if you are a British citizen, or you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship.
2024-09-10 15:00
Added a list of nationalities that can apply for an ETA later. Jordanian nationals can no longer apply for an ETA.
2024-08-09 12:06
Added a section on what you cannot do with an ETA.
2024-04-04 00:01
British overseas territories passport holders do not need an ETA.
2023-10-25 10:00
First published.