UK ETA: what to check before you apply

Start with the official route

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is digital permission to travel for eligible visitors who do not need a visa. It is not a visa and it does not guarantee entry. Before applying, check the official UK route for the passport and purpose of travel. A traveller who needs a visa should not treat an ETA as a substitute.

Use the official government application service. GOV.UK states that another website or app cannot obtain a faster government decision. The current official application fee is £20. That fee is not refundable after submission, including when an application is rejected or when incorrect details mean that a new application is needed.

Prepare the correct passport

An ETA is linked electronically to the passport used in the application. Apply with the passport that will be used for the journey, and travel with that same passport. If the passport expires or is replaced, the existing ETA does not transfer to the new document. Recheck the requirement and obtain a new ETA where necessary.

Check the biographical details carefully before submission. A spelling error, incorrect passport number or use of the wrong document can prevent the electronic record from matching at check-in. Do not assume that showing an email alone will solve a passport mismatch.

Prepare the photograph and contact details

The official process asks for a passport image and a photograph of the applicant’s face. Follow the current GOV.UK photo instructions rather than cropping or editing an image based on an unofficial checklist. Poor-quality or non-compliant images can delay the process or result in rejection.

Use an email account that can be checked before departure. The decision is sent by email, and GOV.UK advises checking spam or junk folders when no message has appeared after the published processing period.

Allow time for the decision

GOV.UK says a decision is usually sent within a day but can take up to 3 working days. A small number of cases can take longer. This is processing guidance, not a guaranteed deadline. Wait for confirmation before travelling and avoid relying on a third party’s claim that payment can secure priority treatment.

Different people in one family or group can receive decisions at different times. Each traveller who is subject to the requirement needs an individual ETA, including a child. A group submission does not create a shared family authorisation.

After approval

The ETA normally lasts for 2 years or until the linked passport expires, whichever occurs first. It can support multiple journeys during that period, normally for visits of up to 6 months at a time, but the permitted activities and any separate immigration conditions still apply.

Approval is permission to travel, not a promise of entry. A border official may still check the purpose and conditions of the visit. Keep the travel plan, accommodation, onward journey and other supporting evidence available where relevant.

Use ETAApply’s destination guide and deterministic Finder as preparation aids, then rely on the official GOV.UK service for the application and the final rules applying to the journey.