An electronic travel authorisation ( ETA ) lets you travel to the UK for tourism, visiting family or certain other reasons for up to 6 months. An ETA costs £16. Other websites may charge more to apply. Avoid websites that imitate government services. An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. Who needs an ETA Most visitors travelling to the UK need an ETA or a visa. What you need depends on: your nationality why you’re coming to the UK You usually need an ETA rather than a visa if you’re from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries. Check if you need an ETA or visa to come to the UK . There are some people who do not need an ETA , for example if you have: a British or Irish passport permission to live, work or study in the UK If you’re travelling as a family or group Each person travelling needs an ETA , including babies and children. You can apply for other people.

When you do not need an ETA

You do not need an ETA to travel to the UK if: you’re a British or Irish citizen you have a UK visa you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode ) you’re transiting through a UK airport and you will not pass through border control - check with your airline if you are not sure you’re travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport you’re travelling with a British National (Overseas) passport you live in Ireland and you’re travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man you’re a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form you’re exempt from immigration control or do not need to get permission to enter Dual citizens If you’re a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you cannot get an ETA . When you travel to the UK you’ll need to prove your citizenship using: a valid British passport a valid Irish passport another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement If you live in Ireland You do not need an ETA if you’re both: from a country that would normally need an ETA to travel to the UK entering the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man If you’re from a country that needs a visa, you’ll need to apply for a visa before travelling to the UK. Check if you need a UK visa or ETA . What documents you’ll need to bring If you’re 16 or older, you’ll need to bring one of the following: Irish driving licence Irish learner permit medical card GP visit card European Health Insurance Card Irish Residence Permit Permanent Residence Certificate National Age Card diplomatic identity card The document must be: an original issued by the Irish government valid at the time you travel If you’re under 16, you do not need to bring proof you live in Ireland.

What you can and cannot do with an ETA

Whether you need to apply for an ETA depends on why you’re travelling to the UK. An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. If you have a criminal record or you were previously refused entry into the UK, you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead. What you can do with an ETA You can: come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, on a business trip or for short-term study come to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession come to the UK for a permitted paid engagement transit through a UK airport if you’ll pass through border control - check with your airline if you are not sure If you’re coming to the UK for another reason, check if you need a visa instead. What you cannot do with an ETA You cannot: stay in the UK for longer than 6 months do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you’re doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession claim public funds (benefits) live in the UK through frequent or successive visits marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa

It costs £16 to apply online or through the UK ETA app. You cannot get a refund after you apply. You cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app. You’ll need: the passport you’ll travel with an email address a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay When you apply, you’ll need to upload or take photos of the face of the person applying. Applying for someone else You can apply for someone else’s ETA on the UK ETA app if they’re with you. If the person you’re applying for is not with you, you must apply for their ETA online. You’ll need a photo of their passport and a photo of their face. Apply on the UK ETA app You’ll need to use your phone’s camera to scan your passport and your face. Download the UK ETA app on: Google Play the App Store If you cannot download the app on your phone, you should apply online. Apply online You’ll need a photo of: the passport the face of the person applying Start now After you apply You’ll get a decision by email from UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ), usually within a day. The email will contain your 16 digit ETA reference number. Contact UKVI if you haven’t had a decision after 3 working days. You may get decisions at different times to other people you applied for. Your ETA will be linked to the passport you applied with. You only need to show your passport when you travel to the UK. How long it lasts An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can travel to the UK as many times as you want while you have an ETA . Get help You can: read the guide to using the UK ETA app watch the ‘What is an ETA ?’ video on YouTube watch the ‘How to apply for an ETA ’ video on YouTube

Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK

Overview

An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) lets you travel to the UK for tourism, visiting family or certain other reasons for up to 6 months.

An ETA costs £16.

Other websites may charge more to apply. Avoid websites that imitate government services.

An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK.

Who needs an ETA

Most visitors travelling to the UK need an ETA or a visa. What you need depends on:

your nationality
why you’re coming to the UK

You usually need an ETA rather than a visa if you’re from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries.

Check if you need an ETA or visa to come to the UK.

There are some people who do not need an ETA, for example if you have:

a British or Irish passport
permission to live, work or study in the UK

If you’re travelling as a family or group

Each person travelling needs an ETA, including babies and children.

You can apply for other people.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Step 1 Check if you’re eligible
Find out what activities you can do and how to prove your eligibility if you’re:
- an academic visiting to do research
- a student visiting to do research that’s relevant to your course overseas
You must meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements even if you do not need a visa.
Step 2 Check if you need a visa
Depending on the country you're from, you might be able to visit the UK without a visa or by applying for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).
1. Check if you need a visa or an ETA to come to the UK
Step 3 Apply for a visa
1. Apply for a Standard Visitor visa
A Standard Visitor visa costs £127 and allows you to stay in the UK for up to 6 months.

If you’re an academic you can apply to stay for up to 12 months. This costs £220.
or Apply for an electronic travel authorisation
1. You are currently viewing: Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
An ETA costs £16 and allows you to stay in the UK for up to 6 months.

You may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if your research will last longer than 6 months.
or Apply for a family permit
You may be able to visit on a family permit if you have a family member who is:
- a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
- a Person of Northern Ireland
- a British citizen
1. Check if you can apply for a family permit
Step 4 Check what you can bring with you
1. Check what you can bring with you
2. Check what food, animals or plants you can bring into the UK
Step 5 Check what you need to show at the UK border
1. Check what you need to show at the UK border

Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK

Overview

Who needs an ETA

If you’re travelling as a family or group

Step 1 Check if you’re eligible

Step 2 Check if you need a visa

Step 3 Apply for a visa

or Apply for an electronic travel authorisation

or Apply for a family permit

Step 4 Check what you can bring with you

Step 5 Check what you need to show at the UK border

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Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK

Overview

Who needs an ETA

If you’re travelling as a family or group

Part of Visit the UK to do research

Step 1: Check if you’re eligible

Step 2: Check if you need a visa

Step 3: Apply for a visa

or Apply for an electronic travel authorisation

or Apply for a family permit

Step 4: Check what you can bring with you

Step 5: Check what you need to show at the UK border

Also part of

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check if you’re eligible

Step 2 Check if you need a visa

Step 3 Apply for a visa

Step 4 Check what you can bring with you

Step 5 Check what you need to show at the UK border