United Kingdom ETA
Choose your passport country to check if you qualify for online application.
Disclaimer: Eligible travelers must apply for the UK ETA to travel without a visa from April 2, 2025. The application form is accessible now.
ETA UK Information
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a visa waiver that gives permission to enter the United Kingdom (UK).
The ETA is a requirement for international travelers with passports issued by:
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries Jordan
The ETA is not a UK visa — in fact, it grants visa-free travel to passengers. It is much quicker and easier to obtain that a visa thanks to its online availability.
The ETA replaced the earlier UK Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) system. It is designed to strengthen security at UK borders and pre-screen visa-exempt travelers.
British authorities plan to expand the ETA program. Citizens of other visa-exempt countries may have to register in the future.
This will be confirmed on this website once announced by the British government.
Highlights
Valid for 2 years and multiple entries
Allows stays of up to 6 months for tourism, business, studying, visiting friends and family, or to receive medical treatment
Permits transit through the UK
Allows a stay of up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
Handy Services Include
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Efficient execution speed
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Expert review
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24/7 online support
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99% approval rate
ETA UK Processing Time 2-3 days
Government fee 13 USD
Handy Service Fee From 46 USD
- Embassy Registration
- Priority Services (12h)
- Express Services (1h)
- Fee Protection
TOTAL From 59 USD
United Kingdom ETA Requirements
The ETA is now one of the UK immigration requirements for eligible nationalities.
In order to submit the application, you first have to meet the online UK ETA requirements.
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Valid biometric passport issued by an eligible country -
Photo of your face and shoulders — the same type of photo used on passports -
Current email address to receive the approved UK ETA -
Debit or credit card to pay the ETA registration fee
Make sure you travel to the UK with the same passport you registered online in the ETA application. The ETA is only valid when this passport is presented at UK border control.
The ETA requirements are more or less the same as the now-defunct UK EVW requirements. If you have applied for the EVW before, you will find the ETA experience similar, but even more efficient.
UK ETA key features
The ETA for the UK has the following characteristics:
- Validity: 2 years from the date of approval
- Number of visits: Unlimited, within the period of validity
- Maximum length of stay: 6 months per visit
Visits covered by the online UK ETA
You can use the ETA to visit the United Kingdom for these purposes:
- Tourism
- Business
- Visiting family or friends in the UK
- Short-term study
- Medical treatment
You’ll also need the ETA to transit through the UK on the way to another destination.
You can visit the following regions with the ETA:
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
- The Isle of Man
- The Channel Islands
ETA online application for the United Kingdom
You have to complete the UK ETA application form with some basic information:
- Passport data
- Travel plans
- Personal information .
Applicants must also answer a few security questions to submit the online form and receive an approved ETA for the UK, sent by email.
Countries Eligible for UK Electronic Travel Authorization
Citizens of the countries listed below are eligible to apply online to enter the United Kingdom.
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Hong Kong (SAR)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao SAR
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan(1)
- The Bahamas
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
(1) if you have a passport issued by Taiwan that includes in it the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan
Our Application Form Steps
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Complete Online Application Form
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Confirm Payment for the eTA
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Receive Approved United Kingdom ETA
United Kingdom ETA FAQ
Consult the Visa Policy for the United Kingdom
The visa policy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) is the list of requirements and restrictions for nationals of other countries who wish to visit the UK.
The UK visa policy covers the 4 constituent countries that make up the United Kingdom:
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
It also applied to the Crown Dependencies:
- The Isle of Man
- The Channel Islands (the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey)
Travelers from the majority of countries must apply for a visa for the United Kingdom at their nearest UK Visa Application Centre.
There are a number of different types of visa for the UK. The type required depends on the foreign visitor’s nationality, length of stay, and purpose of travel.
Types of UK visa include:
- Standard Visitor visa
- Marriage Visitor visa
- UK work visa
- Various categories of student visa
Around 90 different nationalities currently do not require a visa to enter the UK for stays of up to 6 months.
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The Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) for the United Kingdom was previously used for visa-exempt nationalities. It has now been replaced by the UK ETA.
Travelers no longer need an EVW, and the system is now inactive. Visa-exempt visitors to the UK should consult the country’s visa policy to see if they need an ETA instead.
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Visitors who are not eligible for the ETA and who cannot travel visa-free must apply for a British visa.
The UK Standard Visitor visa permits a foreign national to visit the United Kingdom for the following for up to 6 months:
- Leisure
- See family and/or friends
- Volunteering for a registered charity (up to 30 days)
- Business, e.g. meetings, interviews
- School exchange programs
- "Permitted paid engagements", e.g. giving lectures or performances
- Short-term studies or exams
- Short-term placement
- Medical treatment
According to UK immigration policy, foreign nationals require a residence card to live in the country and a work visa to work in the UK economy. There are a number of different types of British work visa, depending on the length and type of work.
There are separate visas available for people who wish to get married, study, or join family already living in the UK.
Each type of UK visa has its own set of requirements.
UK visa application process
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is a division of the United Kingdom’s Home Office. It has many UK Visa Application Centres around the world where foreign nationals can attend an appointment to apply for a visa.
As part of the application process, the UK visa policy requires an international traveler to submit biometric identifiers (fingerprints, digital image of the face, etc.).
Residents of various countries and territories must be tested for tuberculosis if they plan to stay in the UK for 6 months or more.
See below the list of nationalities that require a visa to visit the UK and Crown dependencies.
- Afghanistan
- Aland Islands
- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bonaire
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Christmas Island
- Cocos Islands
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo
- Cook Islands
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guernsey
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Isle of Man
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Mayotte
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- New Caledonia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- North Korea
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestinian Territory
- Peru
- Philippines
- Pitcairn Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Reunion
- Russian Federation
- Rwanda
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Helena
- Saint Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Sint Maarten
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Swaziland
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tokelau
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United States Virgin Islands
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Wallis and Futuna
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
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Travelers of certain nationalities may need a UK transit visa in order to change flights in the country.
There are 2 types of transit visa for the UK.
The Visitor in Transit visa allows the holder to pass through border control and leave the airport for up to 48 hours between flights.
The Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV) is required by many nationalities to transit through a UK airport, even if they do not pass through border control. Airports that offer airside transit include London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Manchester.
To apply for a UK transit visa, foreign nationals need to provide proof of onward travel and proof that they have permission to enter their destination country after leaving the UK (e.g. a visa for that country).
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Citizens of over 80 countries and territories may enter the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as the Crown dependencies, without a UK visa.
This visa exemption lasts for up to 6 months. For longer stays, a visa will be required.
These include:
- EU passport holders
- Citizens of EFTA countries
- British Overseas Territories citizens (who do not have full British citizenship)
- US citizens
- Canadian citizens
- Australian citizens
- New Zealand citizens
However, if you enter the UK from the Republic of Ireland, you may only stay for up to 3 months.
Indefinite visa-free stay in the UK
Thanks to the Common Travel Area arrangement between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, Irish nationals have the right to travel to the UK and remain there indefinitely.
Citizens of Commonwealth countries who have right of abode in the UK under the Immigration Act 1971 and citizens of Gibraltar have the same right.