UK ETA Requirements: What You Need to Apply (2026)

What Are the UK ETA Requirements?

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a digital pre-travel permission that visa-exempt foreign nationals need before travelling to the United Kingdom. For a comprehensive overview of the scheme, see our UK ETA complete guide. To apply successfully, you must meet a set of specific requirements covering your passport, identity verification, eligibility, and personal background.

This guide covers every UK ETA requirement in detail so you can prepare your application with confidence and avoid common reasons for rejection.

Passport Requirements

The UK ETA requires a valid passport as the single most important document. Your passport must be either biometric (containing an electronic chip) or machine-readable (with two lines of text data at the bottom of the photo page).

Your passport must remain valid for the duration of your stay in the UK. While there is no strict minimum validity period beyond your planned visit, applying with a passport that expires soon risks having your ETA cut short – the UK ETA is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

When applying, you will need to provide your passport number, expiry date, and country of issue. The UK ETA app can scan your passport’s biometric chip automatically if your device supports NFC, or you can upload a clear photo of the passport’s photo page.

Key passport requirements:

• Must be biometric or machine-readable
• Must be valid for the duration of your UK stay
• Must be the same passport you travel with
• Each applicant needs their own passport (including children)

Photo and Biometric Requirements

The UK ETA requires a digital passport-style photograph that meets UK government specifications. The photo must show your full face, with a plain background, taken within the last month, and in colour.

Photo specifications:

• Format: JPEG or PNG
• Size: Minimum 600 x 750 pixels
• Background: Plain, light-coloured
• Expression: Neutral, eyes open, mouth closed
• No head coverings (unless for religious or medical reasons)
• No glasses (or clear glasses with no glare)

In addition to the photo, applicants aged 10 and older must complete a face scan through the UK ETA app. This biometric scan captures your facial features and matches them against your passport photo. Children aged 9 and younger are exempt from the face scan requirement.

The face scan is performed using your smartphone camera through the UK ETA app. You need to position your face within the on-screen guide and turn your head slightly as directed. The process takes approximately 10 to 15 seconds.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a UK ETA, you must hold nationality of one of the over 80 visa-exempt countries. The full eligibility list covers nationals from:

Europe: All 27 EU member states (except Ireland), plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

Americas: United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Guatemala, Belize, Guyana, and several Caribbean nations including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Brunei, Maldives, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations such as Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu.

Middle East and Africa: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Israel, and Mauritius.

You are not eligible for a UK ETA if you already hold a UK visa, residence permit, pre-settled or settled status, or other form of UK immigration permission. In that case, your existing permission is sufficient for travel.

Application Requirements

To complete a UK ETA application, you need:

1. A valid email address – all correspondence including your decision is sent by email
2. A payment method – the UK ETA costs GBP 20 per applicant, payable by credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay
3. Access to the UK ETA app (recommended) or the GOV.UK website
4. Your passport to hand for scanning or photographing
5. A smartphone or device with a camera for the photo and face scan

The UK ETA app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Applying through the app is the fastest method, with most applicants receiving an automatic decision within minutes.

If applying through the GOV.UK website, you can upload your photo and passport details manually. The same GBP 20 fee applies regardless of application method.

Important: Apply at least 3 working days before travel to allow time for cases that require manual review.

Character and Security Requirements

All UK ETA applicants must answer a set of suitability and criminality questions as part of the application. These questions cover:

• Criminal history – convictions, cautions, and pending charges
• Immigration violations – previous overstays, deportations, or exclusion orders
• War crimes and terrorism – involvement in or support for terrorist activities, war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide
• Extremism – association with extremist organisations or activities

You must answer these questions honestly. Providing false information is a criminal offence under UK law and can result in refusal of your ETA and potential prosecution.

Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from getting a UK ETA. Each case is assessed individually. However, serious offences, particularly those involving violence, drugs, or dishonesty, may result in your application being referred to a caseworker for manual review rather than receiving an automatic decision.

Requirements for Children and Minors

Every traveller needs their own individual UK ETA, including babies and children of all ages. There is no family or group application – each person must have a separate application submitted.

Requirements for under-18 applicants:

• Their own valid passport
• A digital passport-style photo
• No face scan required for children aged 9 and younger
• Face scan required for children aged 10 and older
• Contact details of a person with parental responsibility

A parent, guardian, or responsible adult can submit the application on behalf of a child. The application process and fee (GBP 20) are the same as for adults.

Requirements for Dual Nationals

British citizens and Irish citizens do not need a UK ETA. If you hold British or Irish citizenship alongside another nationality, you are exempt from the ETA requirement.

Key rules for dual nationals:

• British citizens should travel on their valid British passport
• Irish citizens should travel on their valid Irish passport
• Dual British citizens do not need an ETA, even when travelling on another passport (but are advised to carry their British passport)
• Residents of Ireland travelling within the Common Travel Area (Ireland, UK, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man) do not need an ETA if they can prove legal residency

If you hold citizenship of two visa-exempt countries (for example, both US and French citizenship), you need only one ETA linked to the passport you intend to travel with.

Transit Passenger Requirements

UK ETA requirements for transit passengers depend on whether you pass through UK passport control:

Airside transit (no passport control): Currently exempt from the UK ETA requirement. This applies to passengers connecting at airports like Heathrow and Manchester who remain in the international transit area. This exemption is temporary and under review.

Landside transit (passing through passport control): Requires a valid UK ETA. If you need to collect and re-check luggage, change terminals, or pass through UK border control for any reason, you must hold an ETA.

Important: Airlines and transport carriers check for valid ETAs before boarding. If you are not exempt and do not hold a valid ETA, you will be refused boarding at your departure point.

What Does Not Meet Requirements

Applications that do not meet UK ETA requirements may be rejected (returned for correction) or refused (declined with consequences).

Common reasons for rejection:

• Invalid or expired passport
• Poor quality photo that does not meet specifications
• Incomplete application form
• Payment failure

Common reasons for refusal:

• Criminal history involving serious offences
• Previous immigration violations or overstays
• False or misleading information in the application
• Security concerns flagged by database checks

Key facts about refusal:

• There is no right of appeal against a UK ETA refusal
• If refused, you can reapply if your circumstances change
• Alternatively, you can apply for a standard visitor visa at a UK embassy or consulate
• A refusal does not permanently bar you from future applications

UK ETA Requirements vs Other Countries

The UK ETA requirements are broadly comparable to electronic travel authorisation systems in other countries:

All these systems share common requirements: a valid passport, an online application, a fee, and security screening. The UK ETA stands out for requiring a biometric face scan via the app and for its 2-year validity tied to passport expiry.

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