Guide to using an ETA to travel to the UK and how to apply for one

UPDATED 19 March 2025

Most nationals require a visitor visa for short trips to the UK such as tourism, visiting family, attending events or business trips. So-called non-visa nationals from countries such as the USA, Australia, Japan, EU nations and others who wouldn’t need a visitor visa, now need prior permission in the form of an Electronic Travel Authorisation.

As part of a programme of digitalisation of UK borders and immigration, visitors from these nations without other permission (see below), regardless of age (yes, children and babies included) are now required obtain their own ETA before making their trip to the UK. The aim is to strengthen border security and improve the process of arriving to the UK.

You will need this new digital travel permission to enter the UK as a visitor, a Creative Worker (for up to three months) or for transiting the UK. NB: those transiting through a UK airport ‘airside’, i.e. not passing through border control do not need to apply for an ETA – do check with your airline if you are not sure.

What is an Electronic Travel Authorisation?

The ETA is a prior digital travel permission operating much like the ESTA for the US or the EU’s new ETIAS for nationals who need not apply for a visa (see below). Visa nationals will need to apply for a visa instead to enter the UK.

The ETA costs £10 (£16 after 9 April 2025), permits multiple journeys and is valid for two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.​​ It allows visits to Britain for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study, or up to three months on the Creative Worker visa concession. An ETA is needed to transit a British airport if you will pass through border control.

The ETA also allows travel to the UK as a visitor under the permitted paid engagement or event rules. These apply to professional artists, entertainers, musicians, sportspersons, lawyers representing a client, experts giving lectures or speaking at a conference, academics and air pilot examiners assessing or examining students. Among the requirements, you must have an invite for the prearranged permitted event and the activity must be undertaken in the first month of your visit of up to six months.

Visitors coming to the UK to marry or enter into a civil partnership still need to apply for a marriage/civil partnership visitor visa.

While the UK immigration rules state that a person holding a valid ETA can make multiple journeys of up to six months as a visitor, it should be noted that travellers will still likely be subject to the genuine visitor requirement as set out in Appendix V. This means that while ETA holders can be granted permission to stay for up to six months at a time within the two-year period, they should not be living in the UK for extended periods through frequent and successive visits as the Home Office may not be convinced such individuals are genuine visitors. Border force may consider the typical or expected duration of proposed activities and the cumulative amount of time spent in the UK before granting entry.

Which nationals should apply for an ETA?

The ETA application process is now open for the following nationals who do not require a visa and intend to travel to the UK:

Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
The Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Kuwait
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao Special Administrative Region
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Federated States of Micronesia
Monaco
Nauru
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Oman
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Sweden
Switzerland
Tonga
Tuvalu
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uruguay
Vatican City

(NB: the lists of visa nationals and non-visa nationals change periodically, so check the UK government’s Who should apply for an ETA and  Check if you need a visa sites before travel to be certain.)

Who does not need an ETA to travel to the UK?

You do not require an ETA if:

• you are a British or Irish citizen (if you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, be sure to use your valid British or Irish passport or a valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement);
• you have a visa;
• you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode);
• 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 travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
• you are travelling with a British National (Overseas) passport
• you live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• you are a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form
• you are exempt from immigration control

How to apply to the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the ETA through the UK ETA app, but for those who are unable to for any reason (e.g., technical issues), they can also fill out an online form. Both can be found here.

There are simple questions to fill in such as name, date of birth, nationality, previous immigration history and criminal convictions.

Those applying will need to provide their biometric information, have a valid passport (biometric chipped or not) and answer a short set of questions to assess their suitability for travel to the UK.

The ETA costs £10 (£16 from 9 April) to apply and is non-refundable.

Applicants should receive a decision within three working days, but it may occasionally take longer, presumably in more complex circumstances.

Is it compulsory to have an ETA if you are eligible?

The Immigration Rules state that people “can be refused entry if they require an ETA and do not have one.” An ETA application should be made in good time before you travel to the UK, but the Home Office guidance does allow travel to the UK while waiting for a decision – presumably for urgent travel.

NB: the ETA screens arrivals when they apply for the digital pre-travel vetting scheme. It’s worth noting that it will only provide an individual permission to travel to the UK, and it cannot guarantee entry. An immigration officer may still need to authorise your admission and may ask questions about the purpose of your visit, although some nationalities may be able to use e-Passport Gates which are automatic, making this less likely.

The ETA guidance suggests applicants may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead of an ETA if they have a criminal record or were previously refused entry into the UK.

Contact us if you are unsure or need assistance via the form below, or on +44(0)207 033 9527 or enquiries@vanessaganguin.com.

What happens if an ETA is refused?

The current ETA rules list cases where applicants must be refused an ETA, such as if they have had previously breached immigration laws grounds (e.g. overstaying, using deception in relation to an immigration application), made false representations or not disclosed relevant facts in an ETA application, are not conducive to the public good because of their conduct and criminality to name a few. A previous cancelled ETA or refused visa application may also result in refusal.

NB: As part of the ETA application process, applicants are required to disclose any criminal convictions. This is mandatory and an application cannot proceed without the applicant completing a self-declaration.

Applicants will be asked:

• have you been convicted of a crime in the last 12 months?
• have you ever had a prison sentence of more than 12 months

Additional information would then be requested on the conviction, where and when it happened, the length and type of sentence.

A person who is refused an ETA has not been refused permission to enter the UK. Though there is no right to review or appeal the refusal of an ETA, applicants may still apply for a visa if they wish to come to the UK.

Contact our lawyers if you have any concerns. We offer the full spectrum of visa, sponsorship and nationality support for individuals, families and businesses. We also have a history of successful challenges of adverse Home Office decisions. The firm has a wide-reaching network of trusted tax advisers, accountants and financial institutions as well as lawyers in other disciplines and jurisdictions to advise clients on related issues if seeking to live or work in the UK.

Vanessa and her friendly colleagues have decades of experience of personal immigration applications and finding the swiftest solutions to any immigration issues that arise. The main legal guides rate our lawyers highly. According to Who’s Who Legal, Vanessa Ganguin “draws considerable praise from commentators for her exemplary immigration practice and ‘outstanding’ expertise” and “Philip Trott sits among the foremost immigration lawyers in the UK.”