Uk Visas Immigration
An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) will soon be a requirement for people who do not need a visa to come to the UK. It will give you permission to travel to the UK, and it will be electronically linked to your passport.
Youll need an ETA to:
- come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or study
- come to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
- transit through the UK including if youre not going through UK border control
You can check if you need a visa.
This page will be updated with more details.
Who will need an ETA
If youre a national of Qatar
Youll need an ETA if youre travelling to the UK on or after 15 November 2023. Youll be able to apply from 25 October.
If youre a national of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates
Youll need an ETA if youre travelling to the UK on or after 22 February 2024. Youll be able to apply from 1 February 2024.
If youre a national of another country
You do not need to apply for an ETA now. More nationalities will be added to the scheme later.
Who will not need an ETA
You will not need an ETA if you have either:
- a British or Irish passport
- permission to live, work or study in the UK
- avisa to enter the UK
If you live in Ireland and youre not an Irish citizen
You will not need an ETA if all of the following apply:
- youre legally resident in Ireland
- you do not need a visa to enter the UK
- youre entering the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
You can prove you live in Ireland by showing any of these:
- Irish driving licence
- Irish learner permit
- medical card
- GP visit card
- European Health InsuranceCard
- Irish Residence Permit
- Permanent Residence Certificate
- National Age Card
The document must be:
- an original
- issued by the Irish government
- valid at the time you travel
If youre under 16, you will not be asked to show a document.
How to apply
Youll need to apply on the UK ETA app, or online on GOV.UK. You can apply on behalf of others.
Each traveller must get their own ETA, including children and babies.
Youll usually get a decision within 3 working days, but you may get a quicker decision.
It may take longer than 3 working days if we need to make further checks.
How much it costs
An ETA will cost 10 per applicant.
How youll get your ETA
Youll get an email confirmation if your application is approved.
Well link your ETA electronically to the passport you applied with. You must use the same passport to travel.
After you get your ETA
Your ETA will last for 2 years. If your passport expires in less than 2 years, youll need to get a new ETA.
You can use it to make multiple visits to the UK. You still need to either use anePassport gateif youre eligible or see a Border Force officer to enter the UK.
An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK.
If youre refused an ETA
You need to apply for either a:
- Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK
- Temporary Work - Creative Worker visa to come to the UK as a creative worker
- transit visa to transit through the UK
Video: what is an ETA?
Last updated 18 October 2023 +show all updates
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Temporary Residence Certificate removed from the list of documents that will be accepted as proof you live in Ireland.
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Nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will be able to apply for an ETA from 1 February 2024.
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Added information for people who live in Ireland and are travelling to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
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Added the date from when Qatari nationals will be able to apply for an ETA.
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Added the cost of an ETA.
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Added additional information on needing an ETA to transit through the UK and applying for an ETA on behalf of others.
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Corrected the date from when nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates need to get an ETA. The date is 22 February 2024, not 15 February 2024.
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First published.