Non-visa Visitors (up to 6 months) need an ETA

The electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme applies to non-visa Visitors coming for up to 6 months, without a visa.

What is a non-visa national?

If your nationality is not listed in the UKVI Visa National List, you may be a non-visa national for Visitor purposes. 

Holders of the following passport or travel documents (exceptions on the visa national list) would also be included as non-visa visitors.

  • nationals or citizens of the People’s Republic of China who hold a passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; or
  • nationals or citizens of the People’s Republic of China who hold a passport issued by the Macao Special Administrative Region; or
  • nationals or citizens of Taiwan who hold a passport issued by Taiwan that includes their Taiwan-issued identification card number

Non-visa Visitors can request entry on arrival to the UK (without a visa) as long as they have an ETA. 

Check if you need a UK visa

What is the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme?

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme is roughly equivalent to the US ESTA system. According to UKVI, it's aim is to streamline and enhance the security of the UK’s border system by enabling pre-screening of non-visa Visitors before their arrival.

An ETA is required by specific non-visa visitors in advance of travel to the UK. The ETA is an advance pre-travel clearance and is linked to the passport for travel purposes. 

An application for an ETA may be granted through automated processing. An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. The holder of an ETA can travel to the UK to request 'permission to enter' as a Visitor (up to 6 months) on arrival in the UK.

Please note, a person who already holds a valid entry clearance/visa permission or immigration status for the UK is not required to obtain an ETA.

A person who is refused an ETA has not been refused a visa or permission to enter the UK. However, they won't be able to travel to the UK until they have obtained a valid Visitor visa. 

Who needs to apply for an ETA?

All non-visa nationals who wish to visit the UK without a visa. 

What visitors will need an ETA?

How to apply and obtain an ETA

Apply for an ETA

It costs £16 to apply on the UK ETA app or on the website. You cannot get a refund after you apply.

You’ll need:

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

Try to apply visa the ETA app. If you have any problems using the app, you can choose to apply on the website instead. 

You can 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.

If you cannot use the app, you can apply on the ETA website:

You’ll need a photo of:

  • the passport
  • the face of the person applying

Dual nationals: Non-visa nationals visiting the UK will require an ETA. Technically, an ETA can be linked to each passport, and therefore a person with two non visa nationalities could have an ETA for each passport (if needed). 

Applying for someone else: When you apply, you’ll need to upload or take photos of the face of the person applying. 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 for an ETA

After you apply

You’ll get a decision by email from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), usually within a day. The email will contain your 16 digit ETA reference number. Contact UKVI if you haven’t had a decision after 3 working days.

Even if you apply for an ETA at the same time as a family member or friend, you may receive ETA decisions at different times.

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

How long it lasts

An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can use an ETA to travel to the UK if you want to request entry as a Visitor (for up to 6 months maximum). 

Standard Visitor permission requirements

Further guidance

Your passport will be checked at border control. You may be asked why you’re coming to the UK.

You can use automatic Passport eGates at some airports if your passport has a ‘chip’ in it and if you're aged 18 or over.

These gates use facial recognition technology to check your identity against the photo in your passport.

You may be able to use the UK/EEA immigration lanes and automated ePassport gates, if you’re from:

  • the European Union (EU)
  • Switzerland
  • Norway
  • Iceland
  • Liechtenstein
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • United States

UK border control - What to prepare for your entry

Important Consideration:

People arriving in the UK (including via Northern Ireland) need to enter in line with the UK’s immigration framework, including obtaining an ETA if this is a requirement.

If you require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travel to the UK and you don't have this, you may be refused entry by Border Force. This would be classed as an entry refusal (permission to enter).  

How to Visit the UK


You do not need an ETA if:

Who does not need an ETA

 

Dual British/Irish citizens do not need an ETA:

  • Dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship do not need an ETA. A person with a British or Irish valid passport must show this to the airline carrier for travel to the UK. This will demonstrate that they do not need an ETA for travel to the UK.
  • Example: A US national with British/Irish dual nationality travelling from the USA should use their US passport for check,k-in but show their British/Irish passport to the airline carrier for boarding/travel to the UK. 

ETA: Republic of Ireland legal resident guidance

UKCISA: Third country non-visa nationals legally resident in Republic of Ireland


If you have an ETA and successfully enter with Standard Visitor permission, you cannot:

  • stay in the UK for longer than 6 months from date of entry
  • start paid or unpaid work/employment in the UK, do business activity or work as a self-employed person
  • claim UK public funds (benefits)
  • live in the UK through frequent or successive visits

Visitor permitted activities and restrictions


An ETA may be refused where there is traced or self-declared adverse information about your suitability. 

An application for an ETA may be automatically refused if you have previously been refused entry clearance, permission to enter or permission to stay as a Standard Visitor, unless this previous visitor permission was not cancelled as a result of that refusal.

Your ETA refusal email will explain the reasons and what you can do next. 

There is no right to an administrative review or an appeal. 

If you have received an ETA refusal and wish to come to the UK, you may need to consider making a visa application (entry clearance) instead.

You can contact us for further visa advice


Please use the UKVI ETA dedicated webchat service, if you have a general question about electronic travel authorisation (ETA). 

A new window will open to start a chat with a digital assistant when you select ‘start now’. If the digital assistant cannot help, you can ask to chat to an ETA adviser during opening hours.

Alternatively, if you have a technical issue with using the ETA app, you can choose to apply via the ETA website on a web browser.

UKVI ETA Technical Support and Webchat

Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)

Using the ETA app


Overseas Travel Risks

Important considerations

If you already entered the UK as a Standard Visitor for study of 6 months or less, you should be aware of the implications of travelling overseas during studies. This is at your own risk, and you should prepare for your re-entry date.

  • Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): If you wish to re-enter the UK after making a short trip overseas, you must get an ETA if you don't have one already. The ETA (pre-travel clearance) is linked to your passport for travel purposes. An ETA is a pre-travel clearance only and does not guarantee entry as a Standard Visitor.
  • Re-entry date: You still need to speak to a Border Force officer or use an automated eGate and meet the Standard Visitor requirements upon date of arrival.

ETA Video and factsheet

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