Why Apply for the UK ETA?

• Streamlined entry process for international travelers
• Valid for two years
• Faster processing time because of digital verification of travel documents
• Accessible from any place with internet connection
• Inexpensive processing fee

UK ETA or Electronic Travel Authorization is a digital permission required by international travelers who want to visit the UK. As a UK ETA holder, you are not required to show your visa. It allows you to enter the UK for tourism, family visits, business, or short-term study programs. It helps in the process of pre-clearance before coming to the UK. You must apply for the ETA online before traveling to the UK.

If you are a citizen of a visa-exempt country and want to visit the UK, you must apply for the UK Electronic Travel Authorization. 

The UK ETA has a validity of 2 years, or until your visa expires, whichever is sooner. 
 

Benefits of the UK Electronic Travel Authorization

The benefits of Electronic Travel Authorization in the UK are given below.

• Come to the UK for a maximum of 6 months for tourism, visiting friends and family, business or short-term study programs.
• Transit through the UK 
• Streamlined application process 
• Faster border clearance by minimizing the waiting time at immigration checkpoints 
• Inexpensive process for international travelers
• Authorizes multiple entries within a specified period
• Digital convenience for travellers to the UK 
   

UK ETA Eligibility 

If you are a citizen of one of the following countries, you can apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization of the UK. 

Antigua and Barbuda	Chile	Malaysia	Panama	St Kitts and Nevis
Argentina	Costa Rica	Maldives	Papua New Guinea	St Lucia
Australia	Grenada	Marshall Islands	Paraguay	St Vincent and the Grenadines
The Bahamas	Guatemala	Mauritius	Peru	Taiwan
Bahrain	Guyana	Mexico	Qatar	Tonga
Barbados	Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas)	Federated States of Micronesia	Samoa	Trinidad and Tobago
Belize	Israel	Nauru	Saudi Arabia	Tuvalu
Botswana	Japan	New Zealand	Seychelles	United Arab Emirates
Brazil	Kiribati	Nicaragua	Singapore	United States
Brunei	Kuwait	Oman	Solomon Islands	Uruguay
Canada	Macao Special Administrative Region	Palau	South Korea

 

UK ETA Requirements

To apply for the UK ETA, you must provide the following documents: You must have:

• A valid passport
• Proof of confirmed return ticket
• Evidence of adequate funds for the travel
• No criminal records
   

How to Apply for the UK ETA? 

The application procedure for applying for the ETA is given below.

Step 1: Evaluate your eligibility for the ETA.

Step 2: Arrange all the documents required to apply.

Step 3: Submit the duly filled application form.

Step 4: Wait for the decision on your ETA application

Step 5: Fly to the UK. 
 

UK ETA Processing Time 

The processing time for the UK ETA application is three working days.
 

Fee for the UK Electronic Travel Authorization

The processing fee for the UK's Electronic Travel Authorization is £10.
 

Who can Apply for the UK ETA  from 5 March 2025? 

Foreign nationals from these countries can apply for the UK ETA after 5 March 2025 and travel to the UK with it from 2 April 2025.

The countries are mentioned in the table below.

Andorra	Denmark	Iceland	Monaco	Slovakia
Austria	Estonia	Italy	Netherlands	Slovenia
Belgium	Finland	Latvia	Norway	Spain
Bulgaria	France	Liechtenstein	Poland	Sweden
Croatia	Germany	Lithuania	Portugal	Switzerland
Cyprus	Greece	Luxembourg	Romania	Vatican City
Czechia	Hungary	Malta	San Marino

 

Differences between the UK ETA and Standard Visitor Visa

The table below provides detailed information about the differences between the UK Electronic Travel Authorization and the UK Standard Visitor Visa.

Factors	UK ETA	Standard Visitor Visa
Type	Digital Document	Physical Document
Eligibility	You must be a resident of the countries mentioned by the UK immigration authorities	The eligibility criteria are: • Be above 18 years • Have a valid passport • No criminal records • Have adequate funds to sponsor yourself on the trip
Requirements	The documents required for UK ETA are given below. • A valid passport • Proof of confirmed return ticket • Evidence of adequate funds for the travel • No criminal records	The documents required for a UK Standard Visitor Visa are listed below: • Valid passport • Duly filled visa application form  • Proof of sufficient funds • Detailed travel itinerary  • Passport-sized color photographs  • Invitation letter (if applicable)
Permitted Activities	These are activities you can do with the UK ETA. • Visit for a maximum of 6 months for tourism, visiting friends and  family, business, attend short-term study programs • Undertake permitted paid engagement • Transit through the UK	These are the permitted activities with the UK Standard Visitor Visa. • Tourism • Visiting family and friends  • Participate in business activities, like conferences, meetings, site visits, and signing contracts  • Attend short-term study programs • Come to the UK for medical treatment • Giving presentations or talks  • Attend professional training • Install or service the equipment of an international client
Processing Time	3 working days	3 weeks
Processing Fee	£10	£115