The UK eTA is the electronic travel document that allows certain foreigners to enter the UK with a visa waiver after Brexit.

Citizens of Switzerland can apply for UK eTA online, just like the rest of the citizens of European Union countries. The process consists of filling out an electronic application form that must be submitted to the UK government for approval.

UK eTA Requirements from Switzerland

The entry requirements to obtain a UK eTA for Swiss citizens are as follows:

  • Have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity
  • Have a credit or debit card to pay the visa waiver processing fee
  • Have an active and accessible email address

It is not necessary to upload additional documents to the application form. However, UK authorities require Swiss applicants to specify details of their accommodation (hotel, hostel, family or home address and related contact information) and the travel itinerary including return flight. The exit date from the UK must also be certain.

The UK visa waiver only accepts biometric passports, which are a new generation of travel documents that link passport holder information with the eTA. In any case, Swiss travelers must print the eTA, despite the fact that its information is interconnected with their respective passports.

Children from Switzerland traveling to the UK with their parents or legal guardians must have an eTA just like adults. To apply for it, they must also have a biometric passport. This is essential to apply for UK eTA.

Validity and Duration of Stay in the UK as Swiss Citizens with an eTA

The UK eTA is the electronic travel authorization or visa waiver that permits staying in the UK up to 3 months from the moment of entering the island.

The eTA was created for the following scenarios: tourism, business, short-term studies, and medical treatments.

How to Apply Online for UK eTA as a Swiss Citizen

Any Swiss citizen can access the online application form to obtain the UK visa waiver. They just need to follow simple and easy instructions. The first step for Swiss citizens will be to provide personal information such as:

  • First and last name
  • Date and place of birth
  • Age and gender

Then, they must also share passport and travel details such as:

  • Passport number
  • Passport expiry date
  • Passport issue date

Some questions may also be asked about the conduct of Swiss applicants. For example, if they have ever had criminal reports or charges of misconduct. These are very common questions that most countries have in visa or visa waiver forms.

After completing this information, applicants will need to pay the eTA fee. The payment method is by credit or debit card.

Processing Times to Get the UK eTA

Once payment is completed and accepted, eTA application processing will begin, which means that within no more than 3 business days, Swiss travelers will be sent an email with approval or rejection of the visa waiver.

If the eTA is approved, the visa waiver will be attached to the email. Swiss citizens must print it and carry it among their travel documents. If it is denied, an email will be sent with clarifications on the situation and options available to the applicant.

The eTA must be shown at UK border controls, regardless of whether travelers from Switzerland arrive by air, sea, or land.

UK Visas Available for Swiss Citizens

Swiss applicants who intend to arrive in the UK for other purposes, such as paid work or long-term studies, must obtain the respective type of visa offered by the UK.

Important: the UK has also created an EVW. This visa waiver is a document available only to certain Middle Eastern countries, such as Oman or the United Arab Emirates. Switzerland is not among the countries eligible for this travel document. For this reason, Swiss citizens can only apply for the eTA.