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?

The Home Office says that from 25 February 2026 the need for an ETA will be strictly enforced. From that date, people without an ETA will not be able to board their flight or travel to the UK.

Before that date, travellers should also obtain an ETA to avoid potential issues when boarding flights and entering the UK - as some people have had difficulties. 

 

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.

You can use the Check your ETA service to check when your ETA expires.

 

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 a British citizen with dual nationality. I don’t have a British passport. Can I travel to the UK with an ETA linked to my foreign passport?

From 25 February 2026 British citizens are only allowed to travel to the UK with a British passport or a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode linked to their foreign passport.

British and Irish citizens cannot apply for an ETA. In practice, many British citizens with dual nationality have applied for and been granted an ETA linked to their foreign passport, but the Home Office’s position is that this is not allowed and the application process may be changed to prevent it.  

The requirement to travel with either a British passport or a certificate of entitlement is a problem for people who travel frequently. For instance, when someone has applied for naturalisation as a British citizen attends a citizenship ceremony they are given a certificate of naturalisation and at that point they become a British citizen, but they are not given a British passport. The passport application has to be made separately. An application for a first adult British citizen passport normally takes around 3 weeks to be processed and as part of that process you have to send any uncancelled foreign passports you hold to HM Passport Office. The alternative is to apply for a certificate of entitlement, but this can take up to 8 weeks.

In our experience the Home Office visa and nationality systems are not fully integrated, which has meant that when a foreign national with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) becomes a British citizen the ILR eVisa linked to their foreign passport is not cancelled. Legally the eVisa is invalid because British citizens have the right of abode and cannot hold ILR or any kind of visa, but in practice the system used by Border Force still shows them as having ILR so until now they have had no trouble entering the UK with their foreign passport. However, the Home Office plans to change this so that eVisas are cancelled when someone becomes a British citizen, and presumably that could also apply to existing British citizens. There is no way of knowing when this will happen. As a result, it is risky for a British citizen to try to enter the UK on the basis of an eVisa linked to a foreign passport – because the eVisa may have been cancelled. Instead they should apply for a British passport or a certificate of entitlement as explained above.

If you have an expired British passport it may be possible to travel to the UK with that passport and a valid ETA-eligible foreign passport, but according to the Home Office temporary guidance this is at the discretion of the airline so you should not count on being able to do this.

 

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.

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.

 

What clients and directories say about us

We have worked with different members of the Kingsley Napley team. They are all exceptional."

Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024

The turnaround time on my applications was incredible. Kingsley Napley couldn’t have been faster or more responsive."

Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024

The application process was explained thoroughly by Kingsley Napley. All questions and issues were addressed promptly. The lawyers went the extra mile to provide additional information when necessary."

Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024

The team at Kingsley Napley are amazing, reliable, knowledgeable and very pleasant to work with. I know if I have an immigration query to deal with I can count on their full support."

Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024