© 2026 Evisa Rocket. All rights reserved.
© 2026 Evisa Rocket. All rights reserved.
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is the United Kingdom's pre-travel digital permit, mandatory since 2025 for nationals of countries that do not require a UK visa. Introduced by the UK Home Office to strengthen border security and digitise the travel system, the ETA replaces the previous arrangement where visa-exempt visitors could simply turn up at a UK airport with their passport. Today, that same passport must be backed by an approved ETA before boarding the plane.
An approved ETA is electronically linked to your passport and remains valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. During that period you can travel to the United Kingdom as many times as you wish, with each visit limited to up to six months. The ETA covers tourism, family visits, transit, short business activities, and short medical treatment — but it does not authorise paid employment, studies leading to a degree, or stays longer than 6 months. For those, you still need a traditional UK visa from a British embassy.
The application is fully online: complete a short form, upload a passport scan and a recent photo, pay the £16 / $40 fee, and receive your decision by email — most approvals arrive within minutes, the rest within 72 hours. The ETA is required for entry to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and is checked by your airline at the boarding gate. Crewmembers, transit passengers without leaving the airside zone, and certain bilaterally exempt categories (Irish citizens, those with existing UK immigration status) are out of scope — everyone else needs an ETA.
This page guides you through every step: who needs an ETA in 2026, eligibility, required documents, application process, fees, processing times, common rejection reasons, what to expect at UK Border Force on arrival, and how the ETA differs from the Standard Visitor Visa. Whether you are flying to London for a short break, transiting at Heathrow on your way to Asia, or visiting family in Edinburgh, the right ETA application is the difference between a smooth arrival and a denied boarding at the gate.
The ETA is enforced through carrier liability: airlines must verify that every passenger has a valid ETA before issuing a boarding pass. If you turn up without an approved ETA and you fall under the requirement, the airline will refuse to let you fly — fines for non-compliance start at £2,000 per passenger.
No. If you already hold a valid UK visa (Standard Visitor, Skilled Worker, Student, Settlement, Indefinite Leave to Remain) or any UK immigration status linked to your passport, you do not need an ETA. The ETA is only for visa-exempt visitors. Use whichever you prefer — your visa always takes precedence.
Most UK ETA applications are approved automatically within a few minutes after submission. A small percentage of applications are referred for manual review by the UK Home Office; these are answered within 72 hours. We recommend applying at least 3 working days before your trip to absorb any unexpected delay.
An approved UK ETA is valid for two years from the date of issue or until your passport expires (whichever comes first). During that period you can enter the United Kingdom as many times as you wish, with each visit limited to a maximum of six months.
No. The UK ETA strictly prohibits paid employment by a UK company, paid freelance work for UK clients, journalism for hire, performing for compensation, and academic enrollment leading to a degree. You can attend business meetings, conferences, negotiate contracts, and provide short consulting (paid by your foreign employer). For paid UK-based work you need a Skilled Worker visa or another work-category visa.
The official UK government fee is £16 per applicant (raised from £10 in April 2025). Evisa Rocket adds a $20 service fee that covers form pre-validation, photo compliance, multi-language support, and 24/7 chat assistance, bringing the total to approximately $40 USD per traveler. Children, infants and seniors all pay the same fee.
It depends. If you stay airside in the same airport (e.g., land at Heathrow Terminal 5 and depart from Terminal 5 the same day without crossing immigration), no ETA is needed. If you change terminals, change airports (Heathrow → Gatwick), exit the airside zone, or your country falls under the Direct Airside Transit Visa requirement, you DO need an ETA.
If your ETA is denied, you cannot enter the UK as a visa-exempt visitor for that trip. You must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa at a UK Visa Application Centre in your country (about £127, biometric appointment required, 3-week processing). Common ETA denial reasons include past UK refusals, undeclared criminal records, prior immigration violations, or simple typos. We help you re-apply or pivot to a Standard Visitor Visa if needed.
No. The 6-month limit on each ETA visit is firm and cannot be extended in-country. If you need to stay longer, you must leave the UK before your 6 months expire and apply for a Standard Visitor Visa from your home country before returning. Repeatedly visiting for 6 months at a time can also be flagged by Border Force as 'living in the UK' and result in refused re-entry.
The UK ETA covers all four nations of the UK: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It does NOT cover the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey) or the British Overseas Territories (Bermuda, Cayman, Gibraltar, etc.) — these have separate immigration rules. Travel between Ireland and Northern Ireland under the Common Travel Area continues to be unrestricted for Irish and UK citizens.
Yes. Every traveler — including newborns, infants, toddlers, and minors — must have their own valid ETA linked to their own passport. The fee is the same as for adults. Family group applications are not allowed; each ETA is individual. Children traveling without both parents should also carry a notarized authorization letter.
You must apply for a new ETA. The ETA is digitally linked to a specific passport number — when that passport is replaced, lost, stolen, or expires, the old ETA becomes invalid and a fresh application is required. The fee is the same as for a first-time application.
No. The UK ETA must be approved before you board your flight — airlines verify it digitally at check-in and will deny boarding if the ETA is missing or invalid. There is no on-arrival service at any UK airport for the ETA. Apply at least 3 working days before departure, ideally as soon as you book your flight.
No — they are two completely separate systems. The UK ETA is for the United Kingdom only; the European ETIAS (launching late 2026) is for the 30 Schengen-area countries. If you plan a trip that includes both the UK and Schengen Europe, you'll need both authorisations: a UK ETA for the UK leg and an ETIAS for the EU/Schengen leg.
Yes if you disembark at a UK port (Southampton, Dover, Liverpool, Edinburgh, etc.) and clear immigration. Most cruise lines now require all eligible-nationality passengers to hold a valid ETA before boarding the cruise. If your itinerary only passes UK waters without a port call, no ETA is needed.
Start your UK travel adventure by applying for your ETA quickly and securely online. Ensure a hassle-free entry experience today.