An ETA gives you permission to travel to the UK.

Who can apply

Whether you can apply depends on:

• the date you travel
• your nationality as shown on your passport

Check if you can apply for an ETA.

Who does not need an ETA

You do not need an ETA if any of these apply to you:

• you have a visa
• you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode)
• you are a British or Irish citizen
• you are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
• you live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

Dual citizens

If you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you do not need an ETA. Prove your permission to travel using your British passport, Irish passport or other passport containing a certificate of entitlement.

What you can do with an ETA

You can:

• come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study
• come to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
• come to the UK for a permitted paid engagement
• transit through the UK if you will pass through UK border control (‘landside’ transit)

If you are coming to the UK for another reason, check if you need a visa instead.

What you cannot do with an ETA

You cannot:

• stay in the UK for longer than 6 months
• do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession
• claim public funds (benefits)
• live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you will need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa

How much it costs

It costs £10 to apply. Everyone travelling needs to get an ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for other people.

You cannot get a refund after you apply.

Before you start

You need:

• the passport you will travel with - not a photocopy or digital passport
• access to your emails
• a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay

You will need to upload or take photos of the:

• passport
• face of the person applying

You do not need to enter your travel details.

How long it takes

You will usually get a decision within 3 working days, but you may get a quicker decision.

Occasionally, it may take longer than 3 working days.

Group applications

Each person must apply separately.

You may get a decision at a different time from others in your group, even if you applied at the same time.

If you need to travel soon

You must apply for an ETA before you travel to the UK. You can travel to the UK while waiting for a decision.

After you apply

You will get an email confirming you have got an ETA. It will be linked to the passport you applied with.

Your ETA lasts for 2 years. You can travel to the UK as many times as you want during that time.

Entering the UK

An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. You still need to either:

• see a Border Force officer
• use an ePassport gate, if you are eligible

Read more about border control.