UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Guide

Introduction to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

The ETA is, essentially, a pre-arrival screening process for visa-exempt foreign nationals coming to the UK for short stays. In a bid to roll out a more secure and streamlined digital immigration system for people eligible to travel to the country without a visa, the UK government announced the implementation of the ETA scheme on 10 September 2024.

People who do not need a visa to travel short term under the UK’s immigration framework, were previously subjected to routine immigration controls whatsoever at their port of entry, where they could have been denied permission to enter if the UK border control officers considered them potential risks for the country.

With the ETA rollout, these nationals will now have to apply for an ETA. Likewise, if you were earlier eligible for an electronic visa waiver scheme, you will now need to apply for an ETA instead.

The goal is to strengthen the UK border security system by establishing a pre-screening process for visa-exempt travellers to the UK, thereby obtaining more information about non-visa visitors. For the visitors, this will also mean lesser chances of denied entry at the UK immigration control, since people with serious criminal records or previous immigration violations will not be permitted to travel at all.

Who Needs a UK ETA?

Whether you need to apply for an ETA before travelling to the UK depends on the following:

• Your nationality (as shown on your current and valid passport)
• Your purpose of travel, i.e., you are coming to the UK as a visitor for up to six months (with exception for people requiring a Marriage Visitor visa), for up to three months on the Creative Worker visa concession, for a permitted paid engagement, or to transit through the UK (applicable only for transit via land border control)
• Your date of travel
• Your other UK immigration status prior to apply for an ETA

Nationals from the following countries (including associated territories) must apply for an ETA now:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Australia
• The Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Belize
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas)
• Israel
• Japan
• Kiribati
• Kuwait
• Macao Special Administrative Region
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Oman
• Palau
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Qatar
• Samoa
• Saudi Arabia
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Taiwan*
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• United Arab Emirates
• United States
• Uruguay

(* In case you have a Taiwanese passport with the identification card number issued by the competent authority in Taiwan)

Nationals from the following countries (including associated territories) must apply for an ETA (to travel to the UK ):

• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Vatican City

People Exempt From Applying for an ETA

You will not need to apply for an ETA if you meet any of the following:

• You are a British or Irish citizen, or a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship
• You have a British overseas territories citizen passport
• You already have a valid UK visa
• You are coming to the UK for longer than six months (in which case you must apply for an appropriate UK visa)
• You are coming to the UK to get married or register a civil partnership or to give notice of the same (in which case you will need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa)
• You already have permission to live, work or study in the UK
• You have settled or pre-settled status or right of abode in the UK
• You live in Ireland and are travelling to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

How to Apply for a UK ETA

The fastest (and recommended) way to apply for an ETA is through the UK ETA App, which you can download on the App Store (for iPhone users) or on Google Play (for Android users). You may check on the Home Office website whether your phone meets the requirements for the UK ETA app.

If your phone does not meet the UK ETA App requirements, or you are applying for someone else who is not with you when you are applying, you should apply online.

Applying through the app only takes about 10 minutes. Have your passport details ready before you start. You will be asked to upload or take photos of the passport and the face of the applicant during your application. Please note that if you are travelling as a group, each person will have to apply separately.

If you are applying online, you will be required to take or upload a photo of the passport, scan your face with your device if it has a camera (children up to 9 years are exempt), and pay for your application. You must complete your application in one go as there is no option to save your progress.

Documents Required for a UK ETA

To apply for an ETA, you will need:

• Your (or the applicant’s if you are applying for someone else) original passport to travel with (photocopies or digital passports will not do)
• Access to the email you are providing for the purpose of your ETA application
• Your credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay

You will not be required to submit your travel itinerary while applying for an ETA.

UK ETA Processing Time and Fees

The Home Office usually processes ETA applications within three working days. You may get a quicker decision while, subject to your immigration circumstances, it may also take longer than three working days to receive a decision.

For group applications, people may get a decision at a different time from others even if they have applied at the same time. In any case, it is recommended to allow for some buffer time while applying for an ETA, since you will not be allowed to travel to the UK while awaiting a decision.

ETA applications cost £10 per person, including babies and children. This processing fee is non-refundable, meaning you will not get a refund even if your application is rejected or refused, or if you withdraw the application.

What Happens After Submitting an ETA Application?

If your ETA application is successful, the Home Office will send you an email to your registered email ID confirming you have received travel authorisation. Your ETA will be linked to the passport you applied with.

An ETA usually is valid for two years, and permits multiple journeys. However, if the holder’s passport expires and they obtain a new passport during this time, they will need to apply for a new ETA.

If the Home Office rejects your ETA application, they will inform you so along with the reason(s) for rejection. In such a scenario, you will be able to reapply for an ETA. On the other hand, if the Home Office refuses you an ETA, you will not have the right to appeal nor can you reapply. Instead, you will need to apply for a suitable UK visa.

Common Reasons for UK ETA Refusals

The Home Office may refuse your ETA application for many reasons. The most common scenarios when an ETA gets refused are as follows:

• If you have previously been excluded from the UK or the Home Secretary has directed you to be excluded from the country
• If you are the subject of an exclusion order or a deportation order (or that of a decision to make a deportation order)
• If you have been convicted within or outside the UK of a criminal offence carrying a custodial sentence of 12 months or more
• If you have been convicted of a criminal offence (in the UK or elsewhere), and it has been less than 12 months since the date of your conviction
• If your presence in the UK will not be conducive to the public good because of any reasons, including (but not limited to) your conduct, character, associations, or even convictions outside the purview of criminality grounds as explained above
• If you are over 18 and previously overstayed your leave in the UK (or breached a condition of your leave), unless you left voluntarily without being deported at the UK government’s expense. The Home Office is, however, required to thoroughly consider the duration of any previous overstays and your circumstances at that time to maintain a more humane approach
• If you were caught using deception or fraud in a previous immigration application
• If you made false representation in relation to a current or previous immigration application (including false documents and false information), or did not disclose relevant facts while submitting such an application
• If you have an outstanding debt of £500 or more to the NHS
• If you previously failed to pay litigation costs awarded to the Home Office
• If you have previously been refused a visit visa or permission to enter as a standard visitor (unless you have since been granted a visa or valid permission that was not cancelled)
• If your previous ETA was cancelled for any reason(s)

How Can Our Lawyers at IAS Help You?

The UK ETA application is a fast and apparently straightforward process. However, some applicants may find it a bit confusing, especially because earlier they were able to travel to the UK without going through any such process of obtaining prior authorisation.

Moreover, if your immigration circumstances fall under any of the common refusal grounds explained above, the chances of an ETA refusal are quite high. If you are refused an ETA, you will need to apply for an appropriate UK visa instead, allowing the Home Office to run a more thorough review of your eligibility to enter the UK.

Whether you are seeking overall advice with your UK ETA application, wondering what are your chances of receiving an ETA given your immigration situation, or are simply considering applying for a visa instead as your ETA has already been refused, our specialist UK immigration lawyers can assist you, regardless of how complex your situation is.

We at IAS have handled multiple cases of ETA applicants (including those who were rejected or refused an ETA) since the rollout of the scheme. Call us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 to know more about our bespoke services and to discuss your scenario.