The UK ETA is a new digital travel authorization for visa-free visitors traveling to the United Kingdom. We summarize the most significant information on the special ETA regulations.
UK ETA is a digital travel authorization system that allows nationals with a visa waiver access to Great Britain and Northern Ireland for short stays of up to 6 months. You can apply for an electronic travel authorization for the United Kingdom online at www.gov.uk, via the UK ETA app or at our visa partner iVISA. It is best to do this at the start of your travel planning. The UK ETA is mandatory for travelers without a visa with the following nationalities:
| UK ETA for Non-European countries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | Argentina | Australia | Bahamas |
| Bahrain | Barbados | Belize | Botswana |
| Brazil | Brunei | Canada | Chile |
| Costa Rica | Grenada | Guatemala | Guyana |
| Hong Kong | Israel | Japan | Kiribati |
| Kuwait | Macau | Malaysia | Maldives |
| Marshall Islands | Mauritius | Mexico | Micronesia |
| Nauru | New Zealand | Nicaragua | Oman |
| Palau | Panama | Papua New Guinea | Paraguay |
| Peru | Qatar | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Samoa | Saudi Arabia | Seychelles |
| Singapore | Solomon Islands | South Korea | Taiwan |
| Tonga | Trinidad and Tobago | Tuvalu | United Arab Emirates |
| United States | Uruguay | ||
| UK ETA for European countries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria |
| Croatia | Cyprus | Czech Republic | 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 | ||
An ETA authorization is not a visa, but a simpler, cheaper, and faster system for pre-approval of visa-free entry. ETA travelers are therefore subject to special rules.
| Visa vs. ETA | Visa | ETA |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Short-term stays (tourism, business, transit, and short study visits) | Long-term stays (work, study, marriage, long-term visits) |
| Validity | 2 years or until the passport expires (whichever comes first) | Varies depending on visa type (e.g., 6 months, 2 years, 5 years) |
| Duration of stay | Up to 180 days at a time, multiple entries possible | Varies depending on visa type, multiple entries possible |
Due to the simplicity of the ETA, visa-exempt UK travelers are subject to strict restrictions. These include:
With an ETA, it is not permitted to take up paid or unpaid work for a British company. This also applies to self-employed activities.
An exception is made for certain activities under the Creative Worker Visa Concession, which are permitted for a period of up to 3 months after application.
You are not allowed to apply for public funds or social benefits while you are in the UK with an ETA.
With an ETA, you may not seek permanent residence in the UK. Overly frequent or consecutive visits that indicate a long-term residence perspective are not permitted.
You may not apply for an ETA if you have plans to marry in the UK. If you wish to marry or enter into a registered civil partnership, you will need a special Marriage Visitor Visa.
Violations of the ETA requirements during your trip will lead to permanent exclusion from the ETA system. If you want to pursue activities on your UK trip that go beyond the ETA rights, you will need a UK visa from the embassy or consulate.
An ETA permit does not guarantee you entry into the United Kingdom, as the final decision is always made by the local border official. To ensure that your entry is problem-free, you should note the following points:
When you arrive at the border, you may need to present additional information or documents in addition to your passport. Have the following items ready for entry:
Residents of Ireland are generally allowed to enter the country without an ETA, but will need proof of residence in Ireland, e.g., a driving license or identity card.
The officials at the UK border may ask you questions about your visit, such as:
Always be honest and precise in your answers, as false information can lead to rejection. If your English is not particularly good, tell the border guard in advance
If you are just passing through, the rules for traveling with an ETA are slightly different. Pay attention to the following things:
Do you have an onward ticket and are simply changing planes without leaving the airport transit area? That’s an airside transit. Here, you remain in the international area of the airport without going through British border control. This means that you do not officially enter the United Kingdom.
This is often the case for short stopovers or connecting flights where you do not have to leave the airport. An ETA is required for a pure airside transit, even if you are coming from a visa-free third country.
Landside transit means that you briefly enter British territory by passing through border control. This may be the case if you are changing airports, need accommodation, or have a longer stay between two flights.
As you are entering British territory, the same entry regulations apply as for longer stays. You will need an ETA (or a transit visa if you are not ETA-eligible) and will be subject to border controls.
To prevent refusals, you should prepare your UK trip well. Check your ETA details and the validity of your passport carefully before you travel. Practice communicating in English in a friendly and respectful manner and go through your planned itinerary, length of stay, and return plans again before the interview.
If you are refused entry to the UK or Northern Ireland despite all your preparations, there may be various reasons for this, e.g.,
In such cases, you should remain calm and polite. Ask for an explanation and the possibility of submitting a new application or applying for a visa in a timely manner.