Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) FAQs

A guide to the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme: everything you need to know

The UK government has launched a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. 

The scheme raises a number of questions for UK employers and for individuals around the world. We set out here some answers to the common questions.

Please note that the questions and answers on this page are for general information only and must not be used as a substitute for legal advice. You should always take legal advice which is tailored to your specific circumstances. Contact a member of the immigration team for more information.

What is the UK’s ETA scheme?

The UK’s ETA scheme requires some people to apply in advance for a digital permission to travel to the UK.  

It is similar to the US’s ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) and similar schemes in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

 

Who needs an ETA?

Non-visa nationals who are travelling to the UK without a visa need an ETA. 

Non-visa nationals are those who do not require a visa before travelling to the UK as a visitor, in contrast to nationals of the countries on the visa national list. Non-visa nationals include EU/EEA/Swiss, US, Australian and Canadian nationals. 

Most non-visa nationals who require an ETA will be entering the UK for 6 months or less as a visitor. Those transiting the UK or entering under the Creative Worker concession without a visa also need an ETA.

Non-visa national children of any age must have their own ETA before travelling to the UK.

The following people do not need an ETA:

• British and Irish passport holders
• Anyone who has a visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa, or other permission to live in the UK, such as indefinite leave to remain or pre-settled status   
• Non-visa nationals who are legally resident in Ireland and enter the UK from the Common Travel Area (Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man).

 

What if I travel to the UK without an ETA?

We have received an informal indication from the Home Office that there will be an ‘implementation period’ – a grace period.  It would mean that the person will still be permitted to board the plane and granted entry to the UK.  They will be asked by the airline to submit an ETA application while waiting to board and if it is not approved in time they will still be able to board and travel to the UK. The end date of any implementation/grace period is currently unknown.  We do not suggest that anyone seeks to rely on any grace period as it may not materialise and is likely to cause inconvenience when travelling to the UK.

 

How do you apply for an ETA?

A UK ETA app is available for applicants to use on their smartphone.  The app is used to scan the applicant’s biometric passport and take a scan/selfie of their face.  The original passport will need to be scanned, not a copy. 

Simple questions need to be answered such as name, date of birth, nationality and details of any criminal convictions.  You do not need to enter your travel details. 

A fee will need to be paid.

The Home Office will then carry out checks related to identity, crime, immigration history and security.

On approval the applicant will receive an email confirming the ETA.

Airlines and the UK’s Border Force officials should be automatically notified that someone has an ETA.

 

How much does it cost?

£16 per person.  

 

How long does it take to obtain ETA approval?

It normally takes up to 3 working days. In many cases it will be quicker. If further checks are needed it could take longer.

 

For how long is an ETA valid?

Two years or to the expiry date of the applicant’s passport, whichever is sooner. The ETA is valid for multiple visits to the UK.

 

When can an ETA request be refused?

The ETA could be refused for a number of reasons including criminality grounds; previously breaching immigration law (such as overstaying a visa, breaching conditions of a previous visa or using deception in a previous visa application); making false representations; having a previous visitor visa application refused (and not subsequently approved); or having an ETA cancelled (without a subsequent visa application being approved).

On criminality grounds, the rules say an ETA must be refused where the applicant:

1. has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more; or
2. has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas unless more than 12 months have passed since the date of conviction.

 

What happens if an ETA request is refused?

If the ETA is refused, for example because the applicant has a criminal conviction, they will need to apply for a visa. For most people this will mean applying for a visitor visa.

For some people applying for the visa may solve the issue and mean they can travel to the UK with the visa. As they will have a visa they will then not need an ETA.

But for some people they may still have problems with the visitor visa application and it could be refused. For example, the rules say that a visitor visa application must be refused where the applicant:

(a) has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a custodial sentence of less than 12 months, unless more than 12 months have passed since the end of the custodial sentence; or

(b) has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a non-custodial sentence, or received an out-of-court disposal that is recorded on their criminal record, unless more than 12 months have passed since the date of conviction.

I am applying to become British. Do dual nationals need to apply for an ETA?

People travelling to the UK with a British (or Irish) passport do not need to apply for an ETA.  However, some people with more than one nationality will be British but not have a British passport.  For example, when someone applies to naturalise as a British citizen and attends their citizenship ceremony, they will be given a certificate of naturalisation and will at that point be a British citizen.  Any indefinite leave to remain in the UK they had will have been lost on becoming British.  Applying for a first time adult British citizen passport normally takes around 3 – 6 weeks to be completed.  If the person travels before they receive their British passport they will not have it to show the airline/carrier and Border Force when travelling back to the UK.

We have asked contacts at the Home Office to confirm to us whether people in this situation, who are British but do not yet have their British passport, will need to apply for an ETA before travelling to the UK.  Once the policy on this issue has been clarified we will update this FAQ.  In the meantime, we suggest that people obtain their British passport before travelling.

 

What happens if someone changes their passport?

The ETA will be linked to the passport used in the application. If the applicant changes their passport, they will need to apply for a new ETA.

Are there any issues with the ETA scheme?

• Travel delays. Last minute travel will be more difficult for non-visa nationals who do not already have an ETA and need to travel urgently.  It is best to apply for the ETA as soon as possible to help avoid this issue.
• British citizens who do not yet have a British passport. Where someone naturalises as a British citizen, once they have attended their citizenship ceremony and received their certificate they are a British citizen. First-time adult British passport applications can take up to 10 weeks (albeit are often completed much quicker) and so some people could have an issue when travelling between their citizenship ceremony and receipt of their new British passport. Airlines are very unlikely to accept a certificate of naturalisation as evidence someone is British so a person in this situation will have to apply for an ETA using their non-British passport. This will only apply if their non-British passport is a non-visa national passport. If their non-British passport is a visa national passport they will need a British passport to be able to travel to the UK (or else get a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode).
• Visitor visa delays. There is a potentially huge number of people who could be affected by refusal of an ETA (such as on criminality grounds) and the need to then apply for a UK visitor visa. The UK has already been experiencing long backlogs of visa applications and suspensions of priority services because of service standards not being met. World events such as Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine have not helped ease the backlogs but it is unclear how the Home Office will cope with the sheer number of visitor visa applications which could be submitted.
• Lack of awareness of the need to apply for an ETA.  Some people will inevitably be unaware they need to obtain an ETA before travel, in some cases despite the airline reminding them of the need to do it.  In other circumstances it may be more subtle.  For example, when a sponsored worker travels after their sponsorship has ended there is often uncertainty in relation to whether their visa has been cancelled before they travel.  If they have not obtained sponsorship from another sponsor or changed immigration category, they may need to obtain an ETA before travelling back to the UK as a visitor without a visa. 

Is the EU planning a similar scheme?

Yes. It is called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026. The exact start date is currently unknown.

It will apply to nationals of non-EU/EEA/Swiss countries who are able to enter the EU visa-free. It will apply to British citizens. 

Anyone with a criminal conviction could be refused an ETIAS travel authorisation. Equally, anyone who is being investigated by the police and invited to accept a caution should take advice from our immigration and criminal defence teams as it could affect their ability to apply in the future for ETIAS approval and the ability to travel to the EU. The scope of offences which could lead to ETIAS ineligibility is currently unknown.

In parallel to the ETIAS, the EU is planning to implement an Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025 although the full rollout could be later. This new system will for the first time electronically track the number of days spent in 29 European countries.  Non-EU national visitors to these countries are allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. If someone exceeds the limit they could be detained, fined and prevented from re-entering the EU. British citizens will not need an ETIAS travel authorisation to travel to Ireland. There is no limit on how long British citizens can stay in Ireland and this will not change.

 

How can we stay up to date on the ETA scheme developments?

Our ETA webpage has further information and blogs. 

There is also a Home Office ETA guidance page.

 

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