UK ETA: cost, how to apply and how long it takes

For a holiday in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, most visa-exempt visitors from countries including Germany, the US, Canada and Australia need a UK ETA, including babies and children. It costs GBP 20 per person; decisions usually arrive within a day but can take up to three working days. Approval lasts for up to two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. (GOV.UK)

European visitors joined the scheme on 2 April 2025. Carriers check the required permission before travel, and you cannot travel without it; the Home Office describes enforcement from February 2026. I'd finish this application once the passport is settled, before choosing which London afternoon to squeeze into the weekend.

Who needs it, and who is exempt?#

An ETA is the usual route for many visa-exempt visitors. It is not suitable for every nationality or purpose. If you need a visa, use the relevant visa process; the government checker identifies the route from your nationality and reason for travel.

The exemption page covers further status groups. A dual British or Irish citizen cannot obtain an ETA; use the appropriate citizenship evidence for travel, such as a valid British or Irish passport.

Ireland and connections: two common misunderstandings#

Travelling from Ireland alone does not create an exemption. The route also requires lawful residence in Ireland and a nationality normally eligible for an ETA. People aged 16 or over need a qualifying valid original Irish document proving residence, such as an Irish driving licence or Irish Residence Permit. A tourist visiting Dublin before Belfast is not automatically exempt. (GOV.UK)

For an airport connection, the distinction is border control. Staying airside without entering the UK falls under the current exemption. Passing through immigration to collect baggage, change airports or follow another landside route means an ETA-required visitor needs approval. If the booking leaves that unclear, ask the airline about your actual connection.

App or online form: prepare the essentials#

Have your original travel passport, an accessible email address and a payment method ready: credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. You also need a photograph of the applicant's face. The app is in English; the government application page also offers the online route. (Official application)

Every application costs GBP 20, regardless of age. Two adults and two children pay GBP 80 in government fees. GOV.UK does not refund the fee after an application is made.

Work through the application#

1. Photograph the passport page. Capture all its details clearly using the traveller's original passport.
2. Read the chip when prompted. Remove covers from the phone and passport and hold the phone still in the position the instructions describe. The official guide also explains what happens if the chip cannot be read.
3. Check the extracted details. Compare name, date of birth, passport number and other information with the original.
4. Complete the face scan and photograph as instructed. The live-person scan and face photograph are separate steps.
5. Answer the questions fully, pay and await the decision. Questions include address, other nationalities and the background information requested in the form.

The official app guide explains the device steps. Difficulty reading a chip is not a reason to pay an intermediary. The government online form remains an alternative.

Children: no face scan under ten, but a photo is required#

Applicants aged ten or over complete the face scan. Children aged nine or younger do not, but a face photograph is still required, including for babies. For under-18s, the form also asks for the contact details of someone with parental responsibility. (App guidance)

You can apply for someone else in the app when they are with you. If they are elsewhere, use the online form with the required images. Family applications can receive decisions at different times.

Know when the job is complete#

Wait for the email confirming that you have an ETA. It includes a 16-digit reference number. The ETA is digitally linked to the application passport; show that passport when travelling. GOV.UK also offers an online check for an existing ETA and its expiry date.

After three working days without a decision, check spam or junk folders, then use the UKVI contact route. The overview directs ETA enquiries to webchat, rather than telephone support. For a family, identify each outstanding person separately.

Two years of validity is not a two-year stay#

A valid ETA can cover repeated journeys. Ordinary tourist visits can last up to six months; the permission does not allow you to live in the country through successive visits or take ordinary employment with a UK company. Marriage or another particular purpose can require a different application. (Permitted activities)

A new passport requires a new ETA; the old authorisation does not transfer. Add that application to the passport-replacement task. Approval also does not replace the border authority's admission decision.

Once confirmed, connect the journey, correct passport and ETA expiry in your private records. The next weekend in Scotland then starts with a permission you can find again easily.