Apply for a UK ETA Online
For international travellers to the UK
For tourism, business, education
Fully Online Application Process
Travelers visiting the UK for tourism, business, family visits, medical treatment, or short-term study may need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (UK ETA) before departure.
The UK ETA application process is fully online and designed to help eligible travelers obtain travel authorization before arriving in the United Kingdom.
What Is the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (UK ETA)?
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (UK ETA) is a digital travel permission required for eligible visa-exempt visitors traveling to the United Kingdom.
The ETA allows travelers from eligible countries to visit the UK for short stays without obtaining a traditional visa in advance.
Depending on the purpose of travel, visitors may use a UK ETA for:
The UK ETA is electronically linked to the traveler’s passport, meaning no physical visa sticker is required.
Who Needs a UK ETA?
Most travelers who do not require a visa to enter the UK may need a UK ETA before traveling.
This includes many visitors traveling from:
British and Irish citizens are generally exempt from the UK ETA requirement.
Travelers should always check eligibility requirements before booking travel.
Traveling to the UK from the USA or Canada
Citizens of the United States and Canada traveling to the United Kingdom for short stays may need a UK ETA before departure.
Whether visiting London, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or other destinations across the UK, travelers should apply before boarding their flight or other transportation.
To avoid travel disruptions, it is recommended to complete the UK ETA application in advance.
Helpful guides:
👉 UK ETA for US Citizens
👉 UK ETA for Canadian Citizens
When is the travel authorization needed?
The travel authorisation is mandatory for all international tourists, exempt from travelling with visa and on one of the following reasons:
In addition to the above common reasons, eTA holders can visit the UK for the following purposes:
Working for money and staying for a longer period for education requires applying for a Traditional visas for England (those affixed to the passport) with a UK consular office.
UK ETA Requirements
To complete a UK ETA application, travelers typically need:
Applicants may also be asked to provide additional information regarding travel history or previous criminal convictions.
Travelers under 18 may require parent or guardian information during the application process.
Important Notice
UKTravelPros is an independent travel assistance website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the UK Government or GOV.UK. We provide information and optional application support services for travelers seeking assistance with the UK ETA process. Travelers may also submit their application directly through the official UK Government website.
The service fee on our website is $64 USD and includes the UK government fee of £20 GBP. Our users should know that they can apply directly through the UK government website – www.gov.uk.
To apply, the traveller must provide:
How far in advance do you need to apply?
Obtaining an electronic travel authorisation online is a simple and fast process. It takes only a few minutes to complete an online application. This can be done at any time up to a few days before departure for the United Kingdom.
Before submitting an eTA application form, it is strongly recommended to carefully check all the information provided. Any errors could lead to delays in processing the eTA form or even refusal of the eTA itself (also known as UK eVisa).
Once all the necessary information has been provided and forwarded to the competent UK authorities, your application is normally processed and a response is usually provided within 48-72 hours. After the eTA Travel Authorisation has been approved, it allows the holder a single entry to the country. The visitor can then spend 180 days (6 months) in the United Kingdom and visit any part or territory of the country.
Travel stress-free to the United Kingdom with eTA – Electronic Travel Authorisation
Once the eTA has been approved, it will be valid for travel (boarding your plane, embarking on your ferry, or other) to Great Britain starting from the date specified during the application process. Upon arrival, travellers will only need a biometric passport and a digital or paper copy of the approved UK eTA.
Once arrived at destination, the visitor must present their passport to a UK Border Force agent (England’s Immigration Agency). The designated officer will then check the document information and compare it with that in their system. Once the existence of an approved eTA with the data of the presented passport has been verified, the officer will let the traveller enter the country.
What is Great Britain’s immigration implementing?
As part of the transformation of the border and immigration system, they are introducing a universal “travel permission” requirement, which will require all those wishing to travel to the United Kingdom (except British and Irish citizens) to request permission before travel.
Currently, some citizens of specific countries are not required to have a visa for short stays or any other specific immigration status before traveling to the United Kingdom.
This means that British border control authorities have less information and time to assess whether a given visitor’s arrival might present a risk before their arrival in the United Kingdom.
Through the Nationality and Borders Bill, to fill the current gap in advance authorisations, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme has been introduced for those passengers who visit or transit through the United Kingdom and who currently do not need a visa for short-term stays, or who do not already have immigration status before travel.
The UK eta scheme will give the United Kingdom greater border control, allowing them to block entry to potential threats, while providing visitors and carriers with greater assurance about their ability to travel to the United Kingdom. Similar systems are used by the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to keep their countries safe.
How was this change designed?
The new law lays the foundation for establishing and implementing an ETA scheme, allowing the government to establish new immigration rules and administer an ETA scheme, which includes, but is not limited to:
Additionally, the bill will make it an offense to use deception or falsehood to obtain, or attempt to obtain, an ETA.
REMEMBER: All travellers must ensure they are authorised to travel to the UK before arriving in the United Kingdom.