An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is advanced permission to travel to the UK.
This is a scheme that applies to non-visa national visitors who wish to enter the UK and soon all visitors coming to the UK for up to 6 months and not on the Visa National List will be required to obtain permission to travel before travelling. The ETA allows you to request permission to enter the UK as a Standard Visitor for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, attending your graduation ceremony or for short-term study, such as attending resit exams. Please see below when the ETA will apply to your nationality if it doesn’t already.
Who requires an ETA before travelling to the UK
Whether you need ETA will depend on your nationality and when you will travel into the UK.
If you are a national from the following countries:
The following list of nationalities, for travel to the UK on or after 8 January 2025 require an ETA before travel:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas)
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Macao Special Administrative Region
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Qatar
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- 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 Arab Emirates
- United States
- Uruguay
For travel to the UK on or after 2 April 2025
The following list of nationalities, for travel to the UK on or after 2 April 2025 require an ETA before travel:
- 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
These lists are in the UK Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List.
Who does not need an ETA
If you're a national of another country, check the Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List.
You do not need an ETA if any of the following apply:
- you have a visa
- you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (this includes holding Settled or Pre-Settled Status on the EU Settlement Scheme)
- you are a British or Irish citizen
- you are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
- if you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship
How to apply
The fastest way to apply is using the UK ETA app:
If you need help with the app, you can read the guide on using the UK ETA app.
You should only apply online if:
- You cannot download the app on your phone;
- The person you are applying for is not with you
After you apply
The GOV.UK ETA page advises you will usually get a decision within 3 working days. This may be quicker or take longer.
After you apply, you will receive an email confirming you got an ETA.
You should keep:
- The email copy of your approved ETA
- Your boarding passes and/or flight itinerary - to show when you entered the UK