ETA is a new digital travel permit mandatory for citizens of countries who can visit England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland without a visa for short trips. This includes citizens of the United States, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea.
ETA Eligibility Guidelines
To be eligible for an ETA, you must meet the following conditions:
Be a national of a country that has a visa-waiver status with the UK.
Have a biometric passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date from the UK.
Do not intend to stay, work, or study in the UK for longer than six months.
Do not have a criminal record and past immigration breaches in the UK or elsewhere.
All travelers, including children and babies, will need an ETA before traveling to the UK. Parents and guardians can apply for an ETA on their behalf.
Your ETA is linked to your passport. If you get a new passport, you will need to apply for a new ETA to come to the UK.
ETA authorization begins once you’ve been approved, not your first date of travel and is valid for up to two years upon approval.
How to Apply for a UK ETA
The UK ETA application process is entirely online and paperless, so visiting consulates or visa offices is unnecessary. It only takes a few minutes to complete once all the necessary documents and information are ready.
It is strongly advised to apply for one well in advance, at least three days before your trip, to avoid delays or other issues.
APPLYing THROUGH THE APP
We recommend applying through the app as there may be additional fees through the web version.
To apply on the app you will need:
to take a photo of yourself - if you're applying for someone else, they must be with you
the passport you will use to travel to the UK
a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
