Electronic Travel Authorisation
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
Apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel to the UK
The Home Office have introduced a new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme for visitors travelling to the UK who do not need a visa. Visitors will need to apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation before they travel to the UK.
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What is Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)?
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) gives visitors who are not required to hold a visa to enter the UK, permission to travel to the UK. Visitors will need to apply for ETA in advance of travelling to the UK.
The ETA permits visitors to come to the UK for up to 6 months at a time for tourism purposes, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study.
An ETA does not permit visitors to stay in the UK longer than 6 months, undertake paid or unpaid work, claim public funds, live in the UK through frequent or successive visits or marry or register a civil partnership.
- Who needs to apply for ETA?
Currently, visitors from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates require an ETA to travel to the UK.
Visitors travelling on or after 8 January 2025 from all other non-EU/non-EEA/Swiss countries, who do not need to apply for a Visitor Visa in advance of travelling to the UK, will require an ETA to travel to the UK. This can be applied for now.
Visitors travelling on or after 2 April 2025 from EU/EEA/Swiss countries will require an ETA to travel to the UK. They can apply for an ETA from 5 March 2025.
- Who does not require an ETA?
You do not require an ETA if you:
- have a UK visa, for example, a student visa or visit visa.
- have permission to live, work or study in the UK, for example, settled or pre-settled status
- are a British or Irish citizen
- live in Ireland and are travelling to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
- How can you apply for an ETA?
Visitors to the UK must apply for an ETA before travelling to the UK. The application fee is £10 for each person travelling.
Applicants will need to apply using the UK ETA App.
Applicants will need their physical passport to apply and will need to upload a photo of their passport and face through the app.
Applicants should receive a decision on their application by email within 3 working days.
- Travelling to the UK with an ETA
If your ETA is granted, it will be linked to the passport you applied with. If ETA holders obtain a new passport, they will need to apply for a new ETA.
The ETA lasts for 2 years and visitors can travel to the UK multiple times during this period for a maximum stay of 6 months per visit.
Visitors holding an ETA will still need to travel though border control to enter the UK. Visitors will either need to present their passport to a Border Force Officer or eligible visitors can enter the UK through an ePassport gate.
Further Information
Further information about ETAs can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) websites:
If you have any questions about applying for an ETA, please email immigration@qub.ac.uk and our team will do our best to help.