UK ETA — apply online
A UK ETA is an Electronic Travel Authorisation — a digital permission linked to your passport, not a visa. Travellers from eligible countries need one for short visits to the United Kingdom.
Who needs UK ETA?
- Travellers from an eligible country, visiting for a short stay — typically tourism, business or transit.
- Tourism (sightseeing, cultural experiences, attending events)
- Visiting friends and family
- Short-term business activities (meetings, conferences, negotiations)
- Transit through the UK to another destination
- Short-term study (up to 6 months)
What you'll need
- Valid Passport — A valid passport from an eligible country with at least 6 months validity.
- Good Character — No criminal convictions, deportations, or immigration violations.
- Sufficient Funds — Evidence of sufficient funds to cover your stay in the UK.
- Return/Onward Ticket — Proof of a return or onward travel ticket.
- Payment — Payment of the £20 ETA application fee.
- Digital Photo — A recent digital passport-style photo and a selfie for identity verification.
- Valid Passport — A scan of your passport data page (the page with your photo) in JPG or JPEG format.
- Selfie Photo — A clear selfie for identity verification purposes.
- Travel Details — Your intended travel dates and purpose of visit.
- Employment Details — Current employment information if applicable.
How to apply
Check you're eligible
Confirm your passport meets the validity rules and that your trip is for a purpose this authorisation covers; the covered purposes are listed on this page. Always confirm the details with the issuing authority.
Complete the guided form
Answer plain-language questions and upload the documents we ask for. We pre-check every field as you go.
We review and submit
Automated checks and our team verify everything for accuracy, then submit to the relevant authority on your behalf.
Receive your UK ETA
We email you as soon as the authority issues its decision, and your UK ETA is stored in your account. An approved UK ETA is permission to travel — entry is still decided at the border.
Processing, validity and stay
- Typical processing
- ~3 days
- Maximum Stay
- Up to 6 months per visit
- Validity
- 2 years (multiple entries)
Get it right the first time
Small, avoidable mistakes are a common cause of UK ETA refusals. These are the ones we check for before your application is submitted.
- A passport without enough validity left for your trip
- A blurry, cropped or glare-covered passport photo page
- Names or dates that don't exactly match your passport
- Leaving the application until the last day before travel