Why do I need an ETA?
You’ll need an ETA if you are:
- Visiting the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or study.
- Visiting the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession.
- Transiting through a UK airport – including if you’re not going through UK border control.
Who will need an ETA?
You’ll need to apply for an ETA now if you’re travelling to the UK and you’re a citizen of:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
Jordanian nationals can no longer apply for an ETA.
Find out more if you're a national of Jordan
From 27 November 2024
You will need to apply for an ETA from 27 November 2024 if you're from any of the locations listed below. This will allow you to travel to the UK with an ETA from 8 January 2025 onwards.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas)
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Macao Special Administrative Region
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Taiwan (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)
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United States
- Uruguay
From 5 March 2025
You will need to apply for an ETA from 5 March 2025 if you're from any of the locations listed below. This will allow you to travel to the UK with an ETA from 2 April 2025 onwards.
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Vatican City
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
- A visa to enter the UK
- A British overseas territories passport
Check if you’re eligible for a UK visa
Is the ETA a visa to enter the UK?
No, the ETA is not a visa. All other entry requirements into the UK will remain unchanged.
Find out more information on passports, visa requirements
When will the ETA scheme be implemented?
The ETA scheme will gradually roll out from November 2023, on a nationality basis, over the next two years. The UK Government will continue to provide further details of which countries will be rolled out next in due course.
Get more information and regular updates from the UK Government
How do I apply for an ETA?
You can apply on the UK ETA app, or online at GOV.UK. Each traveller must get their own ETA, including children and babies, and you can apply on behalf of others. You’ll normally find out within 3 working days on whether your application is successful.
Please note, you must apply 3 days before you travel and applications may take longer if further checks are needed.
How much will an ETA cost?
An ETA will cost £10 per person. You cannot get a refund after you apply.
How will I receive my ETA?
You’ll get an email confirmation if your application has been approved and your ETA will be linked electronically to the passport you applied with. You must use the same passport to travel.
When does my ETA expire?
Your ETA will last for two years. It will allow multiple journeys to the UK and will be valid for two years or until your passport expires – whichever is sooner.
What if I’m refused an ETA?
You’ll 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.
