UK ETA requirements

The UK ETA is a digital permit system that allows visitors from visa-exempt countries to enter the United Kingdom. We explain the requirements, process, and essential criteria for a successful UK ETA application.

The UK ETA is an electronic travel authorization for the United Kingdom that certain foreign nationals require for entry or transit. The ETA is part of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and was introduced to increase security and digitize the entry process.

To obtain a UK ETA permit for entry to the United Kingdom, you must meet the following requirements:

• Citizenship in a UK ETA approved country
• Valid passport at the time of application and for the duration of the planned UK trip
• No legal costs of debts in Great Britain or Northern Ireland
• No personal grounds for exclusion from the UK ETA program (e.g., certain criminal offenses, immigration violations, security concerns, or false statements in the application)
• No previous refusals of entry to the UK
• Payment of the UK ETA fee of £ 10 by credit or debit card, or Apple/Google Pay

At the time of your ETA application, you must not be planning to claim public funds (benefits) in the UK, live permanently in the UK, marry, or enter into a civil partnership in the United Kingdom.

The UK ETA was introduced gradually and only applies to visa-exempt nationals. The UK government has communicated the list of eligible countries and the respective introduction dates as follows:

You can already apply for an ETA at www.gov.uk, via the UK ETA app or with our visa partner iVISA. Processing usually only takes a few days.

To apply for an electronic travel authorization for the United Kingdom, you need a valid passport. Please note the following:

• Your passport must be valid at the time of application and during your trip.
• The ETA is digitally linked to the passport you used for the application. When traveling, you must use the same passport that you used to apply for your ETA.

If you have to apply for a new passport due to expiry or loss of your passport, a new UK ETA application will also be required. It is not possible to enter the country with a passport other than the document specified in the ETA application.

To apply for your UK ETA, you will need a digital passport photo, which can be taken or uploaded during the application process. Alternatively, you can use an existing digital photo taken within the last 30 days.

Your photo must meet the following requirements:

• Sharp and high-quality: The image should be clear and focused.
• Color: Black-and-white images are not accepted.
• Unprocessed: No filters, retouching, or enhancements.
• Red-eye free: Ensure there are no red eyes in the photo.
• Minimum resolution: 600 x 750 pixels.
• File size: Between 50 KB and 10 MB.
• Background: Monochrome, bright, and free of objects or other people.
• Subject positioning: The head, shoulders, and upper body must be fully visible.
• Pose: Look straight into the camera with a neutral facial expression and closed mouth.
• Hair: Should not obscure the eyes.
• Lighting: The photo must be free of shadows.
• Jewelry: No facial jewelry such as piercings or noticeable accessories.
• Headgear: Only allowed for religious or medical reasons.
• Glasses: Permitted only if absolutely necessary; sunglasses or tinted lenses are not allowed.

Children under 6 years do not need to look directly into the camera or maintain a neutral facial expression.

The automatic security check is a central part of the application process for an electronic travel authorization for the United Kingdom. It is used to identify individuals who pose a potential threat to the United Kingdom.

The applicants' biographical, biometric, and contact details are compared with international security databases. The majority of ETA applications are processed automatically. If no security risk is identified, the travel authorization is usually granted automatically.

In order for the UK authorities to check your application correctly and grant you authorization, you as the applicant must provide the following information:

• Personal and biographical data
• Passport data
• Biometric data (current facial image)
• Contact details (email address and telephone number)
• Answers to the UK ETA security questions

The UK ETA security questions asked in the application process generally relate to the following areas:

• Criminal convictions (convictions in the last 12 months, convictions in the longer past which resulted in a prison sentence of more than 12 months, and involvement in war crimes, terrorism, or extremism)
• Previous violations of immigration laws (overstaying, violations of the conditions of the residence permit, or illegal entry into a country)
• Other nationalities

If an application is forwarded to a case officer due to security concerns, they will check your answers to the security questions and other information in the application. A decision is then made whether the ETA will be granted or rejected.

In some cases, you will need to provide additional details to your self-declarations. In the case of criminal convictions, this includes, for example, the nature of the offense, the date of conviction, the country of conviction, and the nature and duration of the sentence.

If it turns out that your information is incorrect or incomplete or there are security concerns regarding your suitability, your application for an ETA will be rejected.

In order to travel to the United Kingdom under the ETA program now and in the future, you must comply with the special immigration regulations of the UK ETA:

• The UK ETA entitles you to stay for up to 180 days.
• You may only enter the country with an ETA for tourism, family visits, business appointments, study purposes, or transit.
• A UK ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. You may enter the country multiple times during the validity period.
• You may not make false statements in the ETA application or provide false documents. Your ETA authorization can also be withdrawn retroactively if false information becomes known.
• Work or longer-term study visits are not permitted with a UK ETA (you are only permitted to take up paid or unpaid work within the scope of the Creative Worker visa consession).

You can apply for an ETA at www.gov.uk, via the UK ETA app, or with our visa partner iVISA. Processing usually only takes a few days. It is best to submit the application at the beginning of your travel planning and prepare your answers in good time to ensure a smooth application process.

When you apply, you will first create a UKVI account so that you can access your ETA authorization and manage your immigration information in the future.

Each traveler — including babies and children — will need their own ETA. The cost is £ 10 per person and is non-refundable. 

It is important to know that the mere possession of a UK ETA does not entitle you to enter the United Kingdom, but is initially only a travel permit to the border.

On site, the UK border guards will decide whether you are allowed to enter the UK as an ETA traveler after a personal check of your entry documents and, if necessary, a brief interview. Alternatively, you can also use the automatic ePassport gates if requested to do so by a border guard.

Use the same passport at the UK border that you used to apply for the ETA, and follow the instructions of the border staff. Then nothing will stand in the way of your stay in the United Kingdom.