Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – context

Eligibility

Visitors from visa-free countries (e.g. US, EU, Australia) need an ETA instead of a visa. Indian nationals need a visa, not an ETA. Anyone with a UK visa, eVisa or ILR does not need an ETA.

Key facts (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Full eligibility criteria (official)

When you do not need an ETA

You do not need an ETA to travel to the UK if:

• you’re a British or Irish citizen
• you have a UK visa
• you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode)
• you have permission to live, work or study in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
• you’re transiting through a UK airport without passing through border control (airside) - check with your airline if you are not sure
• you’re travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
• you’re travelling with a British National (Overseas) passport
• you live in Ireland and you’re travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• you’re a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form
• you’re exempt from immigration control or do not need to get permission to enter
• you’re waiting for a decision on your EU Settlement Scheme application

Dual citizens

If you’re a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you cannot get an ETA. When you travel to the UK you can prove your citizenship using:

• a valid British passport
• another valid passport with a certificate of entitlement that proves you have the right of abode in the UK
• a valid Irish passport

You may be able to travel to the UK using another type of permission, for example if you settled in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. Find out more about travelling to the UK as a dual citizen.

You may have British citizenship automatically if you either:

• were born in the UK
• have a parent with British citizenship

Check if you have British citizenship.

You can use webchat to ask about travelling to the UK as a dual citizen.

If you live in Ireland

You do not need an ETA if you’re both:

• from a country that would normally need an ETA to travel to the UK
• entering the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

If you’re from a country that needs a visa, you’ll need to apply for a visa before travelling to the UK.

Check if you need a UK visa or ETA.

What documents you’ll need to bring

If you’re 16 or older, you’ll need to bring one of the following:

• Irish driving licence
• Irish learner permit
• medical card
• GP visit card
• European Health Insurance Card
• Irish Residence Permit
• Permanent Residence Certificate
• National Age Card
• diplomatic identity card

The document must be:

• an original
• issued by the Irish government
• valid at the time you travel

If you’re under 16, you do not need to bring proof you live in Ireland.

Source: GOV.UK – When you do not need an ETA (checked 31 Oct 2026)

What you can and cannot do with an ETA

Whether you need to apply for an ETA depends on why you’re travelling to the UK.

An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. If you have a criminal record or you were previously refused entry into the UK, you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead.

What you can do with an ETA

You can:

• come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, on a business trip or for short-term study
• come to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
• come to the UK for a permitted paid engagement
• transit through a UK airport if you’ll pass through border control - check with your airline if you are not sure

If you’re coming to the UK for another reason, check if you need a visa instead.

What you cannot do with an ETA

You cannot:

• stay in the UK for longer than 6 months
• do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you’re doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession
• claim public funds (benefits)
• live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa

Source: GOV.UK – What you can and cannot do with an ETA (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How to apply, step by step (official)

Apply for an ETA

It costs £20 to apply online or through the UK ETA app. You cannot get a refund after you apply.

You cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app.

You’ll need:

• the passport you’ll travel with
• an email address
• a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay

When you apply, you’ll need to upload or take photos of the face of the person applying.

Applying for someone else

You can apply for someone else’s ETA on the UK ETA app if they’re with you.

If the person you’re applying for is not with you, you must apply for their ETA online.

You’ll need a photo of their passport and a photo of their face.

Apply on the UK ETA app

You’ll need to use your phone’s camera to scan your passport and your face.

Download the UK ETA app on:

• Google Play
• the App Store

If you cannot download the app on your phone, you should apply online.

Apply online

You’ll need:

• a photo of the passport
• a photo of the face of the person applying

You must follow the rules for digital photos of faces.

If the photo of the face of the person applying does not meet the rules, the application may be delayed or rejected.

Start now

After you apply

You’ll usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days.

The email will contain your 16 digit ETA reference number.

You must wait until you get an email confirming you have an ETA before you travel to the UK.

If you have not received a decision after 3 working days, check your spam or junk email folder before contacting UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You may get decisions at different times to other people you applied for.

Your ETA will be linked to the passport you applied with. You only need to show your passport when you travel to the UK.

You cannot get a refund after you apply. If your application is rejected or you need to change the details in your application, you’ll need to apply again.

How long it lasts

An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can travel to the UK as many times as you want while you have an ETA.

Check your ETA online.

You can check:

• if you have an ETA
• when your ETA expires

Get help

You can:

• read the guide to using the UK ETA app
• watch the ‘How to apply for an ETA’ video on YouTube

Source: GOV.UK – Apply for an ETA (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Processing times and faster decisions (official)

Standard: Usually within 3 working days (GOV.UK visa processing times).

• Priority service: +£500, usually a decision within 5 working days (settlement, citizenship and family-from-outside-UK: usually 30 working days).
• Super priority service: +£1,000, usually a decision by the end of the next working day after you prove your identity. Not available for citizenship.
• Availability depends on the route, the country and whether you use a UKVCAS centre or the ID Check app; there is a daily limit. You are told at the point of applying whether it is offered.

Source: GOV.UK – Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How the application works (official)

1. Check eligibility and gather documents (sections above). Sponsored routes: get your CoS/CAS reference first; endorsed routes: get your endorsement first.
2. Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (if it applies) – IHS.
3. Prove your identity: either the UK Immigration: ID Check app (if offered) or an appointment at a visa application centre (outside the UK) or UKVCAS service point (inside the UK) for fingerprints and photo.
4. Upload documents and wait for the decision. Do not travel or leave the UK before a decision if applying from inside the UK – it can withdraw your application.
5. Your permission is issued as an eVisa in your UKVI account; physical BRPs are no longer issued. Link your passport to it and use share codes to prove your rights – GOV.UK eVisas.

Path to settlement (ILR) and citizenship

n/a.

Citizenship normally needs ILR (or settled status) held for 12 months – or immediately if married to a British citizen – plus the residence, absences, good character, Life in the UK test (£50) and English B1 requirements. See GOV.UK – Settle in the UK and GOV.UK – Citizenship if you have ILR.